IRS Phone Scam

by | Aug 12, 2016 | Blog

IRS_phone_scam_LARGEScam Alert: That’s Not The IRS Calling.

We continue to see a rise in the number and sophistication of phone scams, with the IRS issuing a new alert we’d like to pass along to our valued clients of Bronswick Reicin Pollack. It’s important for you to understand the nature of this latest scam so you and many others you care about are not duped by it.

“Scammers are evolving and using more and more automated calls in an effort to reach the largest number of victims possible. Taxpayers should remain alert for this summer surge of phone scams.” IRS Commissioner John Koskinen

How The Scam Works

The taxpayer receives an automated call from a scammer demanding tax payments on gift cards, claiming it to be the taxpayer’s final warning before legal action is taken, often with threats to arrest, deport or revoke the driver’s license of the victim for failure to pay. Once a victim calls back, impersonators demand payments on iTunes and other gift cards to settle tax bills. Along with these payment-by-gift-card scams, criminals are also demanding payment for a nonexistent “federal student tax,” soliciting W-2 information from payroll professionals, pretending to be from the tax preparation industry, and purporting to “verify” return information over the phone. All of these are scams, the IRS has warned.

Remember: The IRS will NEVER demand immediate payment over the phone, nor call about a tax obligation without having first mailed a bill.

The good news is you don’t have to feel like a victim for long.
 Identity theft in any form can make you feel violated and the truth is that scammers are getting craftier in their methods all the time. Bronswick Reicin Pollack can help provide the clarity you need to go from victim to taking back control of your identity.

If you’re wondering what your next move should be, give us a call today at 847.808.9800 or email us at info@BRP-CPAs.com.

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Disclaimer: The information contained in this Blog (the “Blog”) is intended solely to provide general guidance on matters of interest for the personal use of the reader, who accepts full responsibility for its use. In no event will BRP, or its partners, employees or agents, be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information in this Blog or for any consequential, special or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

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