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IRS Scam Phone Numbers

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IRS Scam Phone Numbers

 

Have you recently received a call from the “IRS”?  The person on the other end claims you are in danger of being arrested if you don’t pay right now, typically an amount less than $5,000. They inform you if you don’t pay, there will be a Sheriff with an arrest warrant showing up at your door any moment.

Along with all the other scams we receive on our home or cell phones, this one causes the most concern, because it they mention the IRS. The first thing to know is the IRS will not call you, so there’s no reason to panic if you receive one of these calls. 

We will go through how these scams work, how to tell that it’s fake and what to do if you are a victim of one of these calls.

 

How Do These IRS Scam Calls Work?

The scam calls are made to a home or cell phone and used to be made by an actual person.  Now, it is a robot calling hundreds of numbers every hour in hopes of landing on a person to take advantage of the fear of the IRS.  They won’t say who specifically they are calling for but will say there is a warrant for your arrest if you don’t call such and such a phone number right away.

My goodness, you think to yourself as you wonder if this could be true or if it is a scam.  On one hand you can’t remember if you owe the IRS and on the other hand if you do, will you really be arrested?  These scammers prey on the fear that is instilled in Americans as soon as the IRS is mentioned.  It’s that fear of the unknown wondering if it is really the IRS or not.

Unfortunately, they continue calling as sometimes their scam does work and an unfortunate taxpayer just sent money to a person in another country and in no way will the IRS ever receive that payment.  Instead, this taxpayer’s hard-earned money is going to pay for someone they don’t even know, thousands of dollars, and there’s no way to get that money back.

 

How to Know It’s an IRS Phone Call Scam

First, it’s important to know what the IRS does not do when contacting taxpayers.

1. The IRS will not call to demand immediate payment via a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer.

2. The IRS will not threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement to have taxpayers arrested for not paying.

3. The IRS will not demand payment without giving taxpayers an opportunity to question or appeal the amount these scammers say you owe.

4. The IRS will not ask for a credit or debit card over the phone.

Lastly, it’s important to know your rights as a taxpayer.  There is a Taxpayers Bill of Rights, which can be found here: https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights

 If you have any questions or doubts if it’s a scam or IRS, hang up and call the IRS. 1-800-829-1040 for Individuals or 1-800-829-4933 for Businesses.

 

What to Do if You Receive an IRS Telephone Scam Call

If you receive a phone call from someone who claims to be with the IRS, follow these steps to protect your personal information and avoid an IRS phone scam.

  • Ask for their name and employee ID number. Typically, the name will be William Brown or John Smith.  An IRS employees ID number usually starts with 1000 or 1001 followed by six numbers. These scammers will give a number like 4879 or 2300, etc.
  • Do not give out any information. Hang up immediately.
  • Contact TIGTA to report the call. Use their IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting” webpage. Alternatively, call 800-366-4484.
  • Report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Use the “FTC Complaint Assistant on FTC.gov. Please add "IRS Telephone Scam" in the notes.

Again, if there is ever a doubt, call the IRS directly to discuss your case.  In addition, if you are felling overwhelmed and calling the IRS gives you just as much anxiety as these scammers, reach out to Legacy Tax & Resolution Services, LLC for help! We will help resolve your tax debt and protect your identity.

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