Identity thieves are now posing as “helpful” folks from the IRS.
These scammers email you with the disturbing news that your tax return has been flagged for further examination.
Posing as representing the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service, they offer help in “resolving” the problem, if you’ll just click a link and provide them information.
They even provide a fake case number.
Stop!
Add this offer of “help” to the collection calls threatening arrest if you don’t pay the caller money as the latest scams referencing the IRS.
These are scams. How do I know?
Tax authorities don’t use email
Neither the IRS nor its Taxpayer Advocate Service use email, text messages, phones, or social media to contact taxpayers.
I’ve had trouble, as a lawyer, trying to email IRS personnel about our ongoing work on a client’s tax problem. They are so skeptical about email that the tax official and I had to develop a code to identify the case in question.
Tax authorities almost always initiate contact with you through the mail. It’s safe to say that if the IRS phones, faxes, or emails you about a tax problem, it’s a scam.
Report those posing as the IRS
If you receive an email purporting to be from the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service, don’t open it.
Certainly don’t click any links in the email. Nothing good will come of it.
Instead, forward the email to the IRS at [email protected]. The IRS has examples of these phishing scams, and instructions on how to report an array of tax impostors on its site.
Dirty Dozen tax scams
The IRS released its list of tax scams ranging from phishing, false collectors to fraudulent tax preparers.
These schemes become particularly prevalent at tax time, reports the IRS Commissioner.
Identity theft heads the list of tax scams. If you have been the victim of identity, you can call the IRS to secure your tax account at 800-908-4490. Find other IRS tips on dealing with identity theft.
Stay safe out there.
