Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.

Scam Calls From IRS - Protect Yourself
Scam Calls From IRS - Protect Yourself

IRS scam calls are aggressive attempts to steal money or personal information by posing as IRS agents, often threatening arrest, deportation, or license revocation. The IRS never demands immediate payment via gift cards/wire transfers, threatens local police, or calls unexpectedly without mailing a bill first. Hang up immediately and report the call.

Indicators of a Scam Call

  • Urgency and Threats: Claiming you will be arrested or face legal action if you do not pay immediately.
  • Specific Payment Methods: Demanding payment via prepaid debit cards, gift cards, or wire transfers.
  • Unsolicited Contact: The IRS typically mails a bill for unpaid taxes before calling.
  • Demanding Information: Asking for credit/debit card numbers over the phone.

Received a Scam Call

  1. Hang up immediately. Do not engage with the caller.
  2. Report the call to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 1-800-366-4484 or via their IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting form.
  3. Report the number to the IRS by emailing phishing@irs.gov with the subject "IRS Phone Scam".
  4. Report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

If you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS directly at 800-829-1040 to verify, rather than using the number provided by the caller.

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