Beware of IRS Phone Scam

          We are sending this important note to alert you to an IRS phone scam that some of our clients have experienced this week.

          Individuals impersonating IRS agents have called our clients at their homes and indicated that there is an issue with their tax returns, either for current or past years, and that there is a warrant out for their arrest.  This is a phone scam!  We want to protect you from unnecessary anxiety or aggravation from this scam and have included some information from the IRS about this scam. 

          This scam has hit taxpayers in nearly every state in the country. The IRS does not ask for credit card numbers over the phone, nor request a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer for payment. The IRS would not threaten police arrest, deportation or license revocation if you don’t pay immediately.  In addition, the initial IRS contact with taxpayers on a tax issue is likely to occur via mail.

Other characteristics of this scam include:
        • Scammers use fake names and IRS badge numbers. They generally use common names and surnames to identify themselves.
        • Scammers may be able to recite the last four digits of a victim’s Social Security Number.
        • Scammers spoof the IRS toll-free number on caller ID to make it appear that it’s the IRS calling.
        • Scammers sometimes send bogus IRS emails to some victims to support their bogus calls.
        • Victims hear background noise of other calls being conducted to mimic a call site.
        • After threatening victims with jail time or driver’s license revocation, scammers hang up and others soon call back pretending to be from the
          local police or DMV, and the caller ID supports their claim.

If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, here’s what you should do:
        • If you know you owe taxes or you think you might owe taxes, call us to discuss the current state of your issue.
        • If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to think that you owe any taxes, then call and report the incident to the Treasury
           Inspector General for Tax Administration 1-800-366-4484.
        • If you’ve been targeted by this scam, you should also contact the Federal Trade Commission and use their “FTC Complaint Assistant” at
          FTC.gov. Please add "IRS Telephone Scam" to the comments of your complaint.
        • If the individual threaten that they are coming to your house at a particular time, call your local police department and request that they
           be  present at that time.

          Please call us if you have any questions or concerns about this matter.  Remember, We’re Here For You.