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IRS Warns Public Of Ongoing Phone Scam

By Joel Hardy

08/13/2014

(KAIR)--The Internal Revenue Service continues to hear from taxpayers who have received unsolicited phone calls from individuals demanding payment while falsely claiming to be from their office.

According to IRS Spokesman Michael Devine, the scam has been ongoing since October of last year. He says taxpayers should remember that their first contact with the IRS will not be through a phone call, e mail, or social media. They will contact you through a letter sent through the United States Postal Service.

Devine adds that sometimes these scammers will use fake names and badge numbers, and may also have some personal information about the victim they are trying to scam. This can include the last four digits of a person's social security number.

Devine offers one important tip to those who may receive one of these calls. If your caller ID shows that a call is coming from the IRS, let it go to voice mail. However, if you do answer the phone and someone starts a very hard sell, or starts to threaten you, hang up immediately.

Potential victims may also be told that they owe money that must be paid immediately to the IRS or that they are entitled to big refunds.

The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration says victims have lost an estimated $5 million from the scams.

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