American Tax Advisers Scams - How to Protect Yourself

Spotting the Tactics of the Scam

• Creates Fake Urgency: They state that this is their "only attempt to contact you" to induce panic.
• Promises Unrealistic Relief: They claim they can pre-qualify you for "IRS liability reduction programs" or secure penalty waivers without checking your financial background.
• Requests Sensitive Data: They demand your Social Security Number, bank routing details, or birth date to "verify your account".
• Demands Immediate Alternative Payments: They insist on immediate payments via untraceable methods like cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or prepaid gift cards.

Knowing the IRS Security Truths

• Mail First: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) always initiates contact regarding unpaid taxes via official postal mail, never through cold calls or texts.
• Authorized Collections: If the IRS assigns your tax debt to an authorized private collection agency, you will always receive two separate letters via mail first—one from the IRS and one from the agency—before any phone call is permitted.
• Payment Protocols: Legitimate tax processing never takes place over individual phone lines via gift cards or crypto. All secure payments must be completed through official web portals like IRS Payments.

Taking Immediate Action If Targeted

• Hang Up Immediately: Do not hit any buttons, speak to an agent, or call the phone number back, as this flags your phone number as an "active target" to scammers.
• Report the Incident: Log the fraudulent call details with the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) or report online via the Federal Trade Commission Imposter Page.
• Verify Your Status Securely: If you are worried you actually owe back taxes, bypass the caller entirely. Go directly to IRS.gov and log into your official taxpayer account to view your balance.