Most people born and raised in this country know how the IRS works, and that an IRS agent calling themselves “officer” does not call you on the phone one day and extort a payment under threat of an arrest warrant. Sounds too amazing to be real? Guess again. Just one of the scams the “bad guys” are using involves demand of full or partial payment of an overdue balance to the IRS, with the promise (or threat) that law enforcement may be speeding to your door at any minute to arrest you and toss you in IRS jail until you cough up the money they’re demanding. The story sounds like something out of a bad movie about tourists being scammed abroad in countries where the police cannot help.
In the real world, police actually are here to help you, when it comes to your reporting IRS scammers.
Tax time is a perfect time for scammers who know you may have recently filed your IRS tax return and either expect a refund or to make your tax payment(s). Many of these “bad guys” conducting the scams are calling non-native Americans and commonly targeted minority groups, hoping they find someone who does not know how the IRS really works, or worse, is fearful of being deported in the event they are not in the country legally.
One day, however, the “bad guys” called a realtor, very aware of these types of scams, and the realtor fired back at them, calling the local ABC television station to help them warn viewers about IRS refund scams. The realtor said the man who called him had a noticeably foreign accent and very quickly determined the person he was talking to did not work for the IRS.
The IRS issued responses and advisory statements to the public in light of these and other scams.
In a recent announcement the IRS stated that, “Aggressive and threatening phone calls by criminals impersonating IRS agents remain a major threat to taxpayers, but now the IRS is receiving new reports of scammers calling under the guise of verifying tax return information over the phone.[i]”
The IRS will never call and ask you to verify personal information over the phone. Everything that happens with the IRS is done with paperwork and they will send field agents to your home before calling you. If you ever receive a call from someone who says they are an IRS agent, call the IRS directly or your local police department if you suspect a scammer. The realtor who received a phony phone call from one of the “bad guys” notified his local police department, who told him they were receiving several calls from people telling similar stories about scammer phone calls.
Joseph Wrobel, Ltd., works with clients on consumer issues including bankruptcy and they can offer additional information to find out if you qualify for Chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy, and your options and rights under the law. The firm will also publish notices and warnings about consumer fraud scams to keep you aware of the “bad guys.”
Joseph Wrobel, Ltd. helps people get control of their finances and a fresh start at financial freedom. The firm’s website contains informative videos about financial issues as well as bankruptcy protection for families who want a fresh start.
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[i] IRS, Consumer Alert: Scammers Change Tactics, Once Again