The closer it gets to tax day, the more IRS scam calls
As April 18 looms closer and closer, scammers pretending to be the Internal Revenue Service start to up the ante in call volume.
Each year different government sources, such as usa.gov, issue warnings about these types of scams and how to identify and avoid falling prey to them.
One of the primary tactics used by these scammers is through threats over the phone or in the form of a letter telling the individual that they owe money to the IRS and demand a payment, often by way of a prepaid debit card or money wire transfer. You know how the
IRS prefers to be paid via sketchy prepaid gift cards?
Another frequent con is acted out through sending text messages or email verifications asking you to provide personal information one last time after doing taxes. This one can be more dubious as businesses who help people do their taxes often do send verifications though they will never ask for personal information such as social security or banking numbers. As always, never freely give out personal information, even when the other party is threatening you through phone calls or emails.
These scams can often be sloppy as well. I did my taxes in February and still receive phone calls from bots asking for verification.
Tax season can be a stressful time for many families and seniors and payments, as well as returns, can make or break the bank. Scammers feed off of this stress and fear to manipulate people into forking over their hardearned dollars.
The IRS asks those who have experienced scams like these directly to them.
“Contact the Treasury
Inspector General for Tax Administration if you think that an IRS imposter has contacted you,” a tip page at usa.gov says. “Report IRS imposter scams online or by calling TIGTA at 1-800-366-4484. Forward email messages that claim to be from the IRS to phishing@irs.gov.”
Scam of the Week generally runs every Tuesday. Readers are welcome to contact reporter Jake Hutchison to report scams and potential scams they have come in contact with by calling 828-1329 or via email at jhutchison@ chicoer.com.