We thought we would repost this article from earlier this year as in the last couple weeks we have had numerous calls from clients who have received fraudulent IRS calls.  Just a reminder, the IRS will only contact you by mail.

There has been an increased number of reported IRS scams recently.  We have heard from a number of our clients that this problem persists, and it’s important to be aware of what to do!  The number one thing to keep in mind here is that the IRS will always contact you by US mail.  Any phone call, e-mail, fax, or any other communication from anyone alleging to be from the IRS is a fraudulent claim, and should be reported.  Typically, the caller will claim that they represent the IRS, and that an immediate payment is required to prevent being arrested.

From the IRS Website:

Characteristics of this scam include:

  • Scammers use fake names and IRS badge numbers. They generally use common names and surnames to identify themselves.
  • Scammers may be able to recite the last four digits of a victim’s Social Security Number.
  • Scammers spoof the IRS toll-free number on caller ID to make it appear that it’s the IRS calling.
  • Scammers sometimes send bogus IRS emails to some victims to support their bogus calls.
  • Victims hear background noise of other calls being conducted to mimic a call site.
  • After threatening victims with jail time or driver’s license revocation, scammers hang up and others soon call back pretending to be from the local police or DMV, and the caller ID supports their claim.

There is more information on what to do if you receive a suspicious IRS-related communication here:

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Report-Phishing

If you think you’ve been targeted in one of these false claims there are things you can do to help!  You can always call us, we’ll take any information you have and report it to the IRS on your behalf.  You can call the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and report the incident at 1-800-366-4484.  You can also fill out a report with TIGTA at http://www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_scam.shtml .  Finally, you can report any incidents directly to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov

If you’re ever unsure of the validity of a communication from someone claiming to be from the IRS, you can always call us!  We’re here to help!