- IRS Imposter Scams During Tax Season
What You Need to Know
As tax season begins, scammers ramp up efforts to impersonate the IRS and frighten people into making immediate payments. Fraudsters are calling victims claiming to represent fake departments such as the “Tax Resolution Oversight Department” or the “Tax Mediation and Resolution Agency.” They threaten legal action, arrest, or wage garnishment unless the victim pays a supposed tax debt immediately. To make the scam more convincing, they may reference bogus programs like an “IRS Liability Reduction Program” and offer to connect the victim with a so-called tax specialist.
These calls are entirely fraudulent. The IRS does not have these departments or programs. Scammers often demand payment via credit card, debit card, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or gift cards—methods that are difficult to trace or recover. In some cases, they also request Social Security numbers or other personal information, putting victims at risk of identity theft. Caller ID spoofing makes the scam even more deceptive by displaying what appears to be an official IRS phone number.
What You Should Do
Remember: The IRS does not call first. The IRS always initiates contact through official mail—not by phone, text, or email.
Hang up immediately on unsolicited calls. If someone claims to be from the IRS demanding payment, do not engage. End the call.
Do not trust Caller ID. Scammers use “spoofing” to make calls appear as though they are coming from legitimate IRS phone numbers.
Never provide personal information. Do not share your Social Security number, banking details, or other sensitive information over the phone.
Refuse unusual payment methods. The IRS will never demand payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, debit card, or prepaid card.
Ignore threats of arrest or lawsuits. The IRS does not threaten immediate arrest during initial contact. High-pressure tactics are a major red flag.
Verify independently. If you believe you may owe taxes, contact the IRS directly at 800-829-1040 using the official number from the IRS website—not any number provided by the caller.
Report suspicious calls. Report IRS impersonation scams to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) or the FTC to help protect others.
Think you are being scammed? Call our scam hotline or email us for help:
(801)-724-6211
scamwatch@invisus.com
