The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently warned taxpayers they might receive a letter in their mailbox that looks like an official document from the federal agency. The correspondence is the latest work of scam artists trying to steal your money. The group behind the scam uses an official-looking letter with a demand for tax payments and a phone number. The letter may threaten a lien or levy on the taxpayer’s property. Once the taxpayer calls the phone number, the individual answering the phone will demand payment and may threaten to have the taxpayer arrested if they do not pay immediately.
The goal is to get a taxpayer to give financial information out over the phone.
This latest scam is just one of many. Others the IRS warns taxpayers to watch out for include:
- Robocalls. Scammers will send out robocalls with various threats to get taxpayers to call back and provide personal information over the phone. The most recent threat used in these robocalls involves canceling the taxpayer’s social security number.
- Emails. Taxpayers may receive an email from someone claiming to be with the IRS. This email will request personal or financial information, something the agency would not do through email.
Taxpayers should note that the IRS will not demand payment over the phone and will not threaten the taxpayer.
Those who are contacted by the IRS and have a legitimate tax issue have options to protect their rights. The attorneys and Goldburd McCone can use their experience in this niche area of the law to protect your interests.