The Internal Revenue Service today warned taxpayers to remain vigilant to
scams as they continue to be reported around the country. Phishing, phone scams
and identity theft top the list of items normally reported. However, following
hurricanes and other disasters, the IRS urged taxpayers to be on the lookout
for schemes stemming from these recent events.
“These scams evolve over time and adjust to reflect events in the news, but
they all typically are variations on a familiar theme,” said IRS Commissioner
John Koskinen. “Recognizing these schemes and taking some simple steps can
protect taxpayers against these con artists.”
While individuals and businesses deal with the devastation of Hurricanes Harvey,
Irma
and Maria and wildland fires in the West, criminals may take advantage of
this situation by creating fake charities to get money or personal information
from sympathetic taxpayers. They may also attempt to con victims by
impersonating a relief agency or charity that will provide relief. Such
fraudulent scams and solicitations for donations may involve contact by
telephone, social media, e-mail or in person.
Below are some of the more typical scams the IRS has seen:
Email Phishing Scams
The IRS has recently seen email schemes that target tax professionals,
payroll professionals and human resources personnel in addition to individual
taxpayers.
In email phishing attempts, criminals pose as a person or organization that
taxpayers trust and recognize. They may hack an email account and send mass
emails under another person’s name. They may pose as a bank, credit card
company, tax software provider or government agency. If a person clicks on the
link in these emails, it takes them to fake websites created by fraudsters to appear
legitimate but contain phony login pages. These criminals hope victims will
take the bait and provide money, passwords, Social Security numbers and other
information that can lead to identity theft.
Scam emails and websites also can infect computers with malware without the
user knowing it. The malware can give the criminal access to the device,
enabling them to access sensitive files or track keyboard strokes, exposing
logins and other sensitive information.
If a taxpayer receives an unsolicited email that appears to be from either
the IRS or a program closely linked to the IRS, such as the Electronic Federal
Tax Payment System (EFTPS), report it by sending it to phishing@irs.gov. Learn more by going
to the Report
Phishing and Online Scams page.
The IRS generally does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to
request personal or financial information. This includes any type of electronic
communication, such as text messages and social media channels. The IRS has information
online that can help protect taxpayers from email scams.
Phone Scams
The IRS does not call and leave prerecorded, urgent messages asking for a
call back. In this tactic, the victim is told if they do not call back, a
warrant will be issued for their arrest.
The IRS recently began sending letters to taxpayers whose overdue federal
tax accounts are being assigned to one of four private-sector
collection agencies. Because of this, taxpayers should be on the lookout
for scammers posing as private collection firms. The IRS-authorized firms will
only be calling about a tax debt the person has had – and has been aware of –
for years. Taxpayers also would have been previously contacted by the IRS about
their tax debt.
How to Know It’s
Really the IRS Calling or Knocking on Your Door
The IRS initiates most contacts through regular mail delivered by the United
States Postal Service.
However, there are special circumstances in which the IRS will call or come
to a home or business, such as when a taxpayer has an overdue tax bill, to
secure a delinquent tax return or delinquent employment tax payment, or to tour
a business as part of an audit or during criminal investigations.
Even then, taxpayers will usually first receive several letters (called
“notices”) from the IRS in the mail. For more information, visit “How
to know it’s really the IRS calling or knocking on your door” on IRS.gov.
Tax Refund Fraud --
Identity Theft
Tax-related identity theft occurs when someone uses a stolen Social Security
number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to file a tax return
claiming a fraudulent refund.
In 2015, the IRS joined forces with representatives of the software industry,
tax preparation firms, payroll and tax financial product processors and state
tax administrators to combat identity-theft refund fraud and protect the
nation's taxpayers. This group -- the Security Summit -- has held a series of
public awareness campaigns directed at taxpayers called "Taxes.Security.Together."
For tax professionals, the “Protect
Your Clients; Protect Yourself” and “Don’t
Take the Bait” campaigns encourage the tax community to take steps to
protect themselves from identity thieves and cybercriminals.
Security Reminders
for Taxpayers
The IRS and its Summit partners remind taxpayers they can do their part to
help in this effort. Taxpayers and tax professionals should:
- Always use security software with firewall and
anti-virus protections. Make sure the security software is always turned
on and can automatically update. Encrypt sensitive files such as tax
records stored on computers and devices. Use strong passwords.
- Learn to recognize phishing emails, threatening phone
calls and texts from thieves posing as legitimate organizations, such as a
bank, credit card company and government agencies. Do not click on links
or download attachments from unknown or suspicious emails.
- Protect personal data. Don’t routinely carry Social
Security cards, and make sure tax records are secure. Treat personal
information like cash; don’t leave it lying around.
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