Scammers are calling from, or asking potential victims to contact them at, telephone number 888-461-3098, claiming they are from the Tax Assistance Resolution Office. The "Tax Assistance Resolution Office" (or similar "Tax Resolution Team" names) scam involves fraudulent phone calls, emails, or texts claiming to resolve urgent tax issues, impersonating IRS or state tax authorities. These scams threaten fines or legal action to steal personal information or money. Hang up immediately; the IRS initiates contact via mail, not phone.
Red Flags
- Impersonation: Fraudsters claim to be from the "Tax Resolution Team," "Tax Review Unit," or IRS.
- Urgent Threats: They use alarming language about lgal action, tax fraud, or frozen accounts.
- Phishing/Smishing: Emails and texts often contain links to fake IRS websites to steal login credentials or personal data.
- Unexpected Refunds: Scammers may claim you are owed a refund (e.g., "inflation refund") to trick you into providing bank details.
Protect Yourself
- Do Not Engage: Hang up or delete the message immediately.
- Verify Independently: Never use contact information provided by the caller. Log in directly to your official IRS online account to verify notice status.
- Report the Scam:
- TIGTA: Report IRS impersonation scams on their website or call 1-800-366-4484.
- FTC: Report phishing scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Email: Report fraudulent emails to phishing@irs.gov.
- Do Not Pay: The IRS does not demand immediate payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or pre-paid debit cards.
Legitimate tax professionals will not make unsolicited calls demanding immediate payment.