Telling the IRS from the crooks — and how to fight back

December 26, 2023 9:00 AM

It seems only natural that scammers would try to latch themselves onto familiar entities that automatically intimidate the public.

Enter the Internal Revenue Service. Lately a growing number of scams leverage the tax agency (or the threat of it), probably figuring that if you're going to make up muscle to threaten somebody, how can you do better?

Here are some details behind the most recent frauds trumpeting the IRS and how taxpayers can fight back.

They don't call, they don't text …

Stefani Reynolds/Photographer: Stefani Reynolds/B

IRS impersonation scams involve fake text messages, social media accounts, email and phone calls. One key to spotting a rip-off is remembering that the IRS does not initiate unexpected contact using any of these — and it sure doesn't contact folks for payment now or else, demanding credit or debit card numbers. Scammers are, of course, rooting for personal information, PINs, passwords and other data.

Straight to voicemail

In phone scams, victims are told that if they do not call back, a warrant will be issued for their arrest. Other verbal threats include revocation of driver's licenses, deportation or police at the door. Crooks fake caller ID numbers to appear to be anywhere in the country, including from an IRS office but also on occasion from sheriff's offices, DMVs, federal agencies and other places.

Refund madness

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In one recent rip-off, a mailing arrives in a cardboard envelope from a delivery service. Your attention is arrested. The enclosed letter includes the IRS masthead and says the notice is "in relation to your unclaimed refund." Also, like many scams, the letter includes contact information and a phone number that do not belong to the IRS, not to mention English of questionable design. But the letter does want a variety of your personal information for "filing" of the refund.

Say cheese

Ivelin Radkov/Ivelin Radkov - Fotolia

Another refund scam wants "A Clear Phone of Your Driver's License That Clearly Displays All Four (4) Angles, Taken in a Place with Good Lighting." The communication plows on to request more info, including your cellphone number, bank routing information, Social Security number and bank account type.

Red flags

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This letter contains a variety of warning signs, including odd punctuation and a mixture of fonts as well as inaccuracies — saying, for instance, that the deadline for filing tax refunds is Oct. 17 (it was Oct. 16) and that those owed refunds from last year have time beyond that. "You'll Need to Get This to Get Your Refunds After Filing. These Must Be Given to a Filing Agent Who Will Help You Submit Your Unclaimed Property Claim. Once You Send All The Information Please Try to Be Checking Your Email for Response From The Agents Thanks." You're welcome.

Where to report

Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

Targeted taxpayers should report sketchy caller ID or callback numbers to the IRS by emailing phishing@irs.gov with the subject "IRS Phone Scam." They should copy entire suspicious texts and send them to that same irs.gov email address; include the caller ID, date, time and time zone, and the number that received the message. They can also report scams to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration or the Internet Crime Complaint Center. And they should never click on any unsolicited communication claiming to be the IRS — that could load malware or ransomware.

Get a number

Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

A six-digit Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) prevents ID thieves from filing a tax return using a taxpayer's Social Security number or ITIN. It also helps the IRS verify the taxpayer's identity when they file your electronic or paper tax return. Confirmed victims of tax-related ID theft with resolved tax account issues also get a CP01A Notice with a new IP PIN each year.