Posing as the IRS is one of the favorite tactics of criminals looking to take advantage of unsuspecting victims. Keep reading to discover how to identify a scammer and learn how to report these incidents.
Red Flags To Look Out For
Whether it’s over the phone, by text message, or in person, criminals often impersonate reputable institutions such as banks or the IRS itself.
While they are cunning and can be very convincing, the good news is that it’s easy to figure out when someone is impersonating an IRS agent. Some tell-tale signs that give scammers away include:
- They ask you to pay urgently by money wire or using gift cards
- They pressure you by threatening to call the police or immigration authorities
- Threats to revoke your passport or driver’s license
- The supposed agent or agents contact you by text or social media
- They can’t produce an official ID (more on that below)
Keep in mind that IRS revenue agents carry two types of identification:
- IRS-issued credential (also called pocket commission)
- HSPD-12 card, a government standard form of identification for federal employees
Both forms of ID have serial numbers and display the photo of the agent. You can ask to see both IDs.
What To Do If a Scammer Impersonates the IRS?
If you are contacted by in individual posing as an IRS agent or employee, you have different options to report the incident, depending on how it takes place:
- For impersonation scams, contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration or call 800-366-4484
- When it comes to phone scams, get in touch with the Federal Trade Commission
- As for email scams and phishing incidents, file a report by sending an email to phishing@irs.gov
Do you have other questions about taxes or insurance? Contact Delgado’s Insurance! We’’ll be glad to answer all your questions and offer reliable guidance.
Delgado’s Insurance: Taxes Made Easy
At Delgado’s Insurance, we have made it our mission to help you maximize your refund while staying compliant with all relevant laws and regulations.
We have locations in Riverside, California, and Bloomington, California. Contact us today by telephone (951-361-0084, 909-421-9003), email (mail@delgadosinsurance.com), or through our social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter).
