upthecreek
02-06-2014, 09:26 AM
February 6, 2014
IRS Phone Scam
Beware of a new scam in which a phony phone call seems very realistic.
This phone scam demands immediate payment of a bogus tax bill—and uses the last four digits of victims’ Social Security numbers.
The caller ID is “spoofed” to seem as though the call comes from the IRS.
Thieves sometimes send victims a false e-mail as well—using the IRS logo and format.
The scammers say that if victims do not pay immediately, they can be arrested or deported or lose their business or driver’s license. But the IRS initiates taxpayer contact only by US mail, never by phone or e-mail…and the agency does not work *directly with police or immigration officials.
Self-defense: If you get any initial call claiming to be from the IRS, hang up and report the scam to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, 800-366-4484. If you get an e-mail, forward it to phishing@irs.gov without opening any attachments—it may contain malware.
IRS Phone Scam
Beware of a new scam in which a phony phone call seems very realistic.
This phone scam demands immediate payment of a bogus tax bill—and uses the last four digits of victims’ Social Security numbers.
The caller ID is “spoofed” to seem as though the call comes from the IRS.
Thieves sometimes send victims a false e-mail as well—using the IRS logo and format.
The scammers say that if victims do not pay immediately, they can be arrested or deported or lose their business or driver’s license. But the IRS initiates taxpayer contact only by US mail, never by phone or e-mail…and the agency does not work *directly with police or immigration officials.
Self-defense: If you get any initial call claiming to be from the IRS, hang up and report the scam to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, 800-366-4484. If you get an e-mail, forward it to phishing@irs.gov without opening any attachments—it may contain malware.