ORLANDO, Fla. – Government officials warn that if you have recently been contacted by the IRS, it could be a scam.
IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel told News 6 that scammers have recently been targeting seniors, impersonating as IRS officials to steal money. Werfel stated that these scams happen both during and out of tax season.
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“It’s very common? Unfortunately,” Werfel said. “The number one senior scam we see are IRS impersonation scams.”
People over the age of 60 lost a combined $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023, according to data from the FBI.
Werfel said that scam artists posing as IRS personnel can alter their caller ID to make a call look official. They will often send targets a call, email or text claiming that there is a problem with their tax return or that they owe taxes to the agency, with a pressing deadline to get that balance resolved.
“They will indicate that there is some outstanding tax debt that is owed. And that’s a lie. It’s fake,” Werfel said.
Werfel said that the first step to protecting yourself from becoming a victim is knowing how the IRS works.
A real notice from the IRS will always first be a letter in the mail, not a phone call, text message or even email. The IRS also never leaves pre-recorded, urgent or menacing messages, according to Werfel, neither will it ever request immediate payments.
“We really urge taxpayers to know the signs. There are things the IRS would never do. And if you see it happening, you know it’s a scam,” Werfel said.
If you think you’ve been the victim of a Scheme or Rip-off, email LBolden@WKMG.com.
In the meantime, remember don’t fall for the scheme.
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