Watch Out for IRS-Related Phishing Scams

The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) is warning taxpayers about criminals who have been impersonating Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees, both over the phone and through email.

To spot an IRS phone scammer, look out for these signs:

  • The caller uses threatening language
  • The caller aggressively demands immediate payment to avoid being criminally charged or arrested
  • The caller insists that you send them money through prepaid debit cards, money orders, or wire transfers
  • The caller asks for a credit card number
  • There is an automated robocall machine on the call
  • The caller may threaten that hanging up will result in an immediate arrest warrant

The IRS will never ask you for prepaid debit cards, money orders, wire transfers, or your credit card information over the phone. Normally, the IRS will first contact you through the mail if you owe taxes, with an official US government envelope.

To spot an IRS email scammer, look out for these signs:

  • The email asks for any type of personal information
  • The email asks you to download a file from “Google Drive”, Microsoft’s “OneDrive”, or “Dropbox”

As our IT department always says: Don’t be “too quick to click.” Make sure that any email sent to you is legitimate and intended for you. Avoid clicking on links within emails unless you have notification that it is being sent to you beforehand.

If you get a call or email from someone claiming to be with the IRS asking for a payment and you owe federal taxes, or think you might owe taxes, you should call the IRS immediately at 800-829-1040. IRS workers can help answer payment questions.

If you do not owe taxes, fill out the “IRS Impersonation Scam” form on TIGTA’s website, https://www.treasury.gov/tigta/, or call TIGTA at (800) 366-4484.

If you receive a call or an email, feel free to contact Nisivoccia at (973) 298-8500, as we can help you determine whether or not the contact is legitimate.

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