We’re in the heart of income tax season, and the scam artists are all over it. It happens every year. Scammers contact taxpayers by telephone, posing as the IRS, telling the tale that the taxpayer owes a back income tax debt of several thousand dollars. They will threaten things like arrest, deportation, or driver’s license revocation if the tax bill is not paid immediately. And they will insist that this bill be paid by credit card.
You can see where this is going. The victim gives the credit card number to the phony IRS agent on the phone and then the fraudulent charges happen. This leaves the victim with a huge mess to clean up.
So here’s what you need to know. If you are surprised that the IRS is contacting you, then it’s more than likely NOT the IRS contacting you. The IRS will never call you to collect a tax debt without having first sent a paper bill by US Mail. The IRS will never ask for a credit card number over the phone. If you think you may owe a tax debt, you should contact the IRS directly at their phone number, 1-800-829-1040. If you happen to hear from one of these scammers…hang up. Do not return their calls. And if you feel ambitious….report them to the authorities. You can learn more here.
