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

Tax Debt Scam Calls - How to Protect Yourself
Tax Debt Scam Calls - How to Protect Yourself

Tax debt scam calls are fraudulent attempts by criminals posing as tax officials to intimidate you into sending money or revealing sensitive personal data. The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) or local tax authorities will never demand immediate payment over the phone, threaten you with immediate arrest, or ask for unconventional payment methods like gift cards or wire transfers.

How to Identify a Tax Debt Scam Call

  • Threats of arrest: Scammers often threaten immediate police arrest, deportation, or driver's license revocation.
  • Urgent payment demands: They demand immediate payment to settle an "overdue tax bill" or "penalty."
  • Unusual payment methods: They insist on payment via prepaid debit cards, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
  • Requesting personal info: They ask you to verify your Social Security Number (SSN), bank account, or credit card details.
  • Spoofed caller IDs: They alter their caller ID to make it look like the IRS or a local government agency is calling.

If You Receive a Scam Call

  1. Hang up immediately: Do not engage, press any buttons, or speak to the caller.
  2. Do not give information: Never reveal your SSN, banking details, or address.
  3. Verify your tax status: Check your official tax account online or call the official tax agency number found on their government website.
  4. Report the call: File a report with the FTC Fraud Complaint Assistant or the TIGTA IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting page.
0

Comment sectionComments / Answers (0)

Remove sensitive information from your post. Your IP address will be used to display your estimated location.

Comment count 0

waiting