NIAGARA network
The Cure for Tax Cons
Tax collection scams are among the
most persistent cons out there. Last year,
consumers nationwide reported nearly
8,000 tax scams to BBB Scam Tracker.
These scams are most often perpetrated
by phone in which an “IRS agent” says
you owe back taxes and pressures you into
paying by prepaid money card or wire
transfer. If you don’t comply, the scammer
threatens you with arrest and fines.
NARRATIVES FROM TAX
COLLECTION SCAMS REPORTED TO
BBB SCAM TRACKER ON BBB.ORG:
“I received a phone call from a man
who represented himself as an IRS
agent. He stated I owed $4,900 in back
taxes and that an arrest warrant had
been issued in my name and I needed to
pay something today in order to have it
lifted. He instructed me to purchase two
$100 iTunes gift cards. He stated that he
would send local authorities to my home
to arrest me if I hung up. After giving
him the card numbers, he then informed
me that his supervisor said $200 was
not enough to lift the arrest warrant. He
wanted $500. When I said I didn’t have
it, he told me tax agents would be at my
home at 3 p.m. the next day to work out
additional arrangements.”
“Caller left a message claiming to be the
IRS and said that there will be a warrant
for my arrest if we don’t call back in 24
hours. I knew it was scam, but the sad
part is they had personal information,
including my girlfriend’s name.”
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724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
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TIPS TO SPOT IRS PHONE SCAMS:
• You are pressured to act immediately.
Scammers typically try to push you
into action before you have had time
to think. The real IRS will give you the
chance to ask questions or appeal what
you owe, and their first contact with
you will always be by mail, not phone
or email.
• Payment must be made by wire transfer,
prepaid debit card, gift card or other
non-traditional payment methods.
These methods are largely untraceable
and non-reversible. The IRS will never
demand these forms of payment.
AVOID ONLINE SCAMS LIKE THE
PLAGUE
Another popular tax scam involves email
phishing. Scammers may try to access
your personal and financial information
by sending you emails from the “IRS.” The
emails may contain attachments that carry
malware or spyware, so be careful.
BBB SCAM TRACKER NARRATIVE:
“Received an email stating the IRS
made an error on my tax report and that I
have to open the attached word document
to see the reason of the error and respond
within 24 to 72 hours. I called the
associated phone number and it came
through as a non-working number.”