Here's the most recent message from the IRS regarding scammers calling
unwitting taxpayers.**Please heed these warnings and if you know of
anyone who may not read this message and could possibly be unaware of
these types of scams please inform them.
Jim Erviti
****
*
*
*IRS warns of new phone scam using Taxpayer Advocate Service numbers*
*IRS YouTube Videos:*
/Tax Scams/ – English
<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzIyOTg4NiZlbWFpbGlkPWpsZXJ2aXRpQGdtYWlsLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9amxlcnZpdGlAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&127&&&https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y5z0kWgBcM>
| Spanish
<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzIyOTg4NiZlbWFpbGlkPWpsZXJ2aXRpQGdtYWlsLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9amxlcnZpdGlAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&128&&&http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El6yHP-7ukE&feature=youtu.be>
| ASL
<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzIyOTg4NiZlbWFpbGlkPWpsZXJ2aXRpQGdtYWlsLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9amxlcnZpdGlAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&129&&&https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8Ne6yUkAms>
/Dirty Dozen/ – English
<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzIyOTg4NiZlbWFpbGlkPWpsZXJ2aXRpQGdtYWlsLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9amxlcnZpdGlAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&130&&&https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghQp0DxzY6g>
| Spanish
<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzIyOTg4NiZlbWFpbGlkPWpsZXJ2aXRpQGdtYWlsLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9amxlcnZpdGlAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&131&&&http://youtu.be/b5UJW-6xHiU>
| ASL
<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzIyOTg4NiZlbWFpbGlkPWpsZXJ2aXRpQGdtYWlsLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9amxlcnZpdGlAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&132&&&http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m00utYuncs>
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today warned the public about
a new twist on the IRS impersonation phone scam whereby criminals fake
calls from the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS), an independent
organization within the IRS.
Similar to other IRS impersonation scams, thieves make unsolicited phone
calls to their intended victims fraudulently claiming to be from the
IRS. In this most recent scam variation, callers “spoof” the telephone
number of the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service office in Houston or
Brooklyn. Calls may be ‘robo-calls’ that request a call back. Once the
taxpayer returns the call, the con artist requests personal information,
including Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification
number (ITIN).
TAS
<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzIyOTg4NiZlbWFpbGlkPWpsZXJ2aXRpQGdtYWlsLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9amxlcnZpdGlAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&133&&&https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-advocate>
can help protect your taxpayer rights
<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzIyOTg4NiZlbWFpbGlkPWpsZXJ2aXRpQGdtYWlsLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9amxlcnZpdGlAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&134&&&https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights>.
TAS can help if you need assistance resolving an IRS problem, if your
problem is causing financial difficulty, or if you believe an IRS system
or procedure isn’t working as it should. TAS does not initiate calls to
taxpayers “out of the blue.” Typically, a taxpayer would contact TAS for
help first, and only then would TAS reach out to the taxpayer.
In other variations of the IRS impersonation phone scam, fraudsters
demand immediate payment of taxes by a prepaid debit card or wire
transfer. The callers are often hostile and abusive.
Alternately, scammers may tell would-be victims that they are entitled
to a large refund but must first provide personal information. Other
characteristics of these scams include:
* Scammers use fake names and IRS badge numbers to identify themselves.
* Scammers may know the last four digits of the taxpayer’s Social
Security number.
* Scammers spoof caller ID to make the phone number appear as if the
IRS or another local law enforcement agency is calling.
* Scammers may send bogus IRS emails to victims to support their bogus
calls.
* Victims hear background noise of other calls to mimic a call site.
* After threatening victims with jail time or with, driver’s license
or other professional license revocation, scammers hang up. Others
soon call back pretending to be from local law enforcement agencies
or the Department of Motor Vehicles, and caller ID again supports
their claim.
Here are some things the scammers often do, but the IRS will not do.
Taxpayers should remember that any one of these is a tell-tale sign of a
scam.
*The IRS will never:*
* Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method
such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. Generally,
the IRS will first mail a bill to any taxpayer who owes taxes.
* Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other
law-enforcement groups to have the taxpayer arrested for not paying.
* Demand that taxes be paid without giving taxpayers the opportunity
to question or appeal the amount owed.
* Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
* Call about an unexpected refund.
*For taxpayers who don’t owe taxes or don’t think they do:*
* Please report IRS or Treasury-related fraudulent calls to
phishing@xxxxxxx <mailto:phishing@xxxxxxx?subject=IRS+Phone+Scam>
(Subject: IRS Phone Scam).
* Do not give out any information. Hang up immediately. The longer the
con artist is engaged; the more opportunity he/she believes exists,
potentially prompting more calls.
* Contact TIGTA to report the call. Use their IRS Impersonation Scam
Reporting
<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzIyOTg4NiZlbWFpbGlkPWpsZXJ2aXRpQGdtYWlsLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9amxlcnZpdGlAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&135&&&https://www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_scam.shtml>
web page. Alternatively, call 800-366-4484.
* Report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Use the “FTC Complaint
Assistant
<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzIyOTg4NiZlbWFpbGlkPWpsZXJ2aXRpQGdtYWlsLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9amxlcnZpdGlAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&136&&&https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/GettingStarted?NextQID=216&Selected=t#crnt>”
on FTC.gov. Please add "IRS Telephone Scam" in the notes.
*For those who owe taxes or think they do:*
* Call the IRS at 800-829-1040. IRS workers can help.
* View tax account online
<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzIyOTg4NiZlbWFpbGlkPWpsZXJ2aXRpQGdtYWlsLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9amxlcnZpdGlAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&137&&&https://www.irs.gov/payments/view-your-tax-account>.
Taxpayers can see their past 24 months of payment history, payoff
amount and balance of each tax year owed.
Stay alert to scams that use the IRS or other legitimate companies and
agencies as a lure. Tax scams can happen any time of year, not just at
tax time. For more information visitTax Scams and Consumer Alerts
<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMzE1LjMyNTU5NDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzIyOTg4NiZlbWFpbGlkPWpsZXJ2aXRpQGdtYWlsLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9amxlcnZpdGlAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&138&&&https://www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Scams-Consumer-Alerts>
on IRS.gov.
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