The Internal Revenue Service says it’s that time of year again – but not for the reasons you might think.
It’s time for scammers, phishers, fakers and fraudsters to start trying to work over unsuspecting taxpayers. Each year there are people who try to trick victims into giving away information in order to steal their refund. The scams involve phony Web sites, e-mails and phone calls, which, IRS spokespeople say, is not how they do business.
One of the scams involves a phone call from a person claiming to be an IRS representative. That person will say he needs to verify your information, such as Social Security number or address. Do not give this information out over the phone. The IRS does not call consumers to verify this type of information.
There are also hundreds of Internet phishing sites that are imposters. The only legitimate IRS site can be found at www.irs.gov. Be sure to check the URL, and it it says anything other than the official address, do not click on any links or provide any information within the phony site. The IRS will not send e-mail to consumers to solicit or confirm information.
There have also been reported incidents of scam attempts against the military. Reports have come in of scammers contacting military families and offering to help them take advantage of military tax benefits for a fee. The IRS does not do this, nor does it charge a fee for any information requested.
Remember, the IRS only contacts consumers via letters in the mail – never via the Internet or telephone. If the IRS has a question about your tax return, you’ll receive a letter. It’s the only form of communication the agency will use.
If you receive any suspicious-looking correspondence, e-mails or phone calls, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.
