Scam of the Week: Fake Calls from the IRS

With taxes due in the upcoming days, you should be on high alert for fraudulent calls claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service. These scammers insist that you owe money to the government. Then, they threaten you with loss of your driver’s license, arrest, or even deportation. Once they’ve caught you off guard, they’ll insist that you send the money using a prepaid card or wire transfer. Don’t do it! Remember:

• The IRS will never require a specific type of payment.
• The IRS will generally mail a bill to any taxpayer who owes taxes, and you will always have the opportunity to question or appeal the amount owed before sending a payment.
• Do not share any type of personal information with anyone you don’t know over the phone.
• If you get this type of call, hang up the phone immediately and report the call to the appropriate agency.

Stop, Look, and Think. Don't be fooled.