Scam calls impersonating "American Tax Advocates," "Taxpayer Advocate Service," or the IRS are common, aiming to steal money or personal data by claiming you owe back taxes or are under investigation. These fraudsters use high-pressure tactics, threatening arrest or immediate payment via gift cards. Hang up immediately; the IRS does not initiate contact this way.
Tax Scam Call
- Threats of Arrest: Scammers threaten immediate arrest, deportation, or license revocation.
- Immediate Payment Demand: Demanding payment via prepaid debit cards, gift cards, or wire transfers.
- Unexpected Contact: The IRS typically sends a letter first, not a surprise phone call.
- Request for Personal Information: Asking for Social Security numbers or banking details.
- Spoofed Caller ID: Numbers may appear to be from legitimate agencies like the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) or IRS.
Protect Yourself
TAS Will Never Ask
TAS employees will never ask for credit card numbers or anything that doesn't directly relate to your tax account, according to the Taxpayer Advocate Service (.gov).
Taxpayer Advocate Service (.gov)
If you receive these calls, do not provide any information and report the incident immediately, as explained in the IRS warning about tax scams.