How to Spot IRS Posers

Hackers, fraudsters, and scammers are among the top reasons many people lose money in the world. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) warns that people may be after your sensitive information and may contact you impersonating an IRS agent.

Here are warning signs that the IRS is not contacting you:

• You receive a call demanding immediate payment. The IRS never calls you about your taxes without first mailing out a bill. They usually follow up a month after sending it, so you’ll have an advanced notice if they would be calling you about it.
• Receive a call or letter demanding you pay taxes and they don’t offer you with a choice to question or appeal the stated amount owed.
• Demanding payment via prepaid visa debit card or western union. The IRS will never limit your payment options to these and it’s often a sign of a scammer.
• Requesting sensitive information such as social security number, credit or debit card number is not a policy of the IRS. They request payment either through mail or via their website. If you’re asked to pay over the phone, it’s a scammer.
• Receiving phones calls threatening local police or law-enforcement agencies on you if you refuse to pay. The IRS will take you to court if they want to take action against you, so don’t listen to anyone on the phone threatening to send you to jail. They are a scammer.

These are the most efficient tips to help you watch for scammers and fraudsters who are only interested in stealing your sensitive security information. The IRS will always send a letter out to you if they need correspondence. If you feel you’re unsure if it’s the IRS contacting you, it’s best to call and ask if they sent the letter to your home.

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