Tax Review Unit Scam - How to Protect Yourself

How the Scam Works

1. The Inbound Call or Voicemail: Victims usually receive an automated robocall or a voicemail from an official-sounding name like "Samantha from the Tax Review Unit".
2. The Hook: The message claims that you have an "open balance," "missing filings," or that your file is flagged for an upcoming tax deadline. It urges you to press a number or call a specific callback line immediately.
3. The Trap: If you call back, a scammer posing as a "tax resolution officer" will attempt to extract your Social Security number and banking information under the guise of a "credit check". Alternatively, they may demand large, upfront "pre-qualification fees" for fake relief programs, only to disappear once paid.

Red Flags to Spot this Scam

• Unsolicited Phone Contact: The IRS will always initiate contact via official U.S. mail before ever calling you.
• Aggressive Urgency: Scammers rely heavily on high-pressure tactics, threats of legal action, or sudden deadlines to panic you into acting.
• Suspicious Payment Requests: If they demand payment through prepaid debit cards, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, it is entirely fraudulent.

What You Should Do

• Hang up and do not call back: Interacting with the message or pressing buttons alerts scammers that your phone number is active, leading to a flood of additional spam calls.
• Verify your actual tax status safely: If you are genuinely concerned about your taxes, log into your secure IRS Online Account or contact the agency directly using an official number listed on IRS.gov.
• Report the fraud: You can file a scam report with the FTC Fraud Reporting Portal or directly notify the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).