WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — As the threat of impersonation scams targeting the senior community rises, the Internal Revenue Service issued a comprehensive warning on Wednesday.
In a release, the IRS said that scams are targeting older adults by pretending to be government officials, as criminals look to obtain sensitive personal information and money. The fraudsters use fear and deceit to exploit their victims by pretending to represent agencies such as the IRS.
“Scammers often target seniors, attempting to steal personal information through phone calls, emails or text messages by pretending to be from the IRS or other agencies or businesses,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel in the release. “Preventing these types of scams requires assistance from many different places. By partnering with other federal agencies and others in the tax community, we can reach more seniors and other taxpayers to help protect them against these terrible scams.”
On Saturday, June 15, the IRS will join other federal agencies in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The day of observance has been recognized since June 15, 2006, and aims to create a stronger understanding of the neglect and abuse millions of older adults face. The IRS hopes to focus attention on the contributing cultural, social, economic and demographic factors.
According to the release, since 2015, the Security Summit partnership between the IRS, state tax agencies and the country’s tax professional community has worked on long-term efforts to protect residents against scams and other related schemes such as identity theft.
The IRS has observed a concerning trend in which fraudulent actors target unsuspecting people, including senior citizens, by pretending to be IRS agents. Victims get pressured into making immediate payments through unsecure methods such as gift cards or wire transfers. While they’re really being scammed, victims are promised that their tax liabilities will be resolved or false refunds will be secured, the release said.
To complete the scams, fraudulent actors often impersonate known entities such as the IRS, Social Security Administration or Medicare. They can deceive victims into believing they are legitimate by spoofing caller IDs, according to the release.
Scammers also create urgent scenarios such as outstanding debts or promises of significant prize money, as victims are falsely informed that they owe money, are owed a tax refund or must pay fees to claim non-existent lottery winnings.
Pressuring victims into immediate action is also a known behavior of scammers, the release said. The fraudulent actors demand that victims act right away without giving them time to think. Threats of arrest, deportation, license suspension or computer viruses are often used by scammers to create a false sense of urgency.
According to the IRS, if you receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to be from the IRS without having been notified by mail about any issues with their IRS account, you should hang up immediately. If taxpayers are concerned about the legitimacy of IRS communications, they can call IRS customer service for verification at 800-829-1040. The hearing impaired can contact 800-829-4059.
The IRS said that electronic scams are also on the rise, as criminals send malicious emails and texts posing as IRS representatives to steal personal information. The IRS never initiates contact via email, text or social media regarding tax bills or refunds.
Most IRS communications are initiated through regular mail delivered by the U.S. Postal Service, but in some situations the IRS may make phone calls or visit homes or businesses. According to the IRS, those situations involve having an overdue tax bill, an unfiled tax return or missing employment tax deposit.
The IRS listed several realities that it is important to remember. First, the IRS will never demand immediate payment using prepaid debit cards, gift cards or wire transfers. If taxes are owed, the IRS will most often send a bill by mail.
Second, the IRS will never threaten to involve local police or other law enforcement agencies, and the IRS will never demand payment without allowing opportunities to dispute or appeal the amount owed.
Lastly, according to the release, the IRS will never request credit, debit or gift card numbers over the phone.
“Remaining vigilant and informed about these scams can help protect taxpayers from financial loss and identity theft,” the release said. “The IRS and partnering federal agencies urge everyone to be cautious, especially when dealing with unsolicited communications concerning taxes.”
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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