Hello? Is This Really the IRS, or Just a Scam?

No one enjoys getting a call from the IRS, but getting a call from someone who claims to be from the IRS, but who is really just a scammer, is even worse. However, according to the country’s top tax agency, that is exactly the kind of sophisticated and elaborate scam that has been going on lately.
The IRS says that the scam has occurred all over the country and has even taken aim at recent immigrants. According to the IRS, the scammers use fake names and IRS ID numbers. The scammers also apparently already have detailed information about the people they call and they are also able to alter their caller ID number so it appears to be coming from the tax agency.
The con artists then claim that the taxpayer owes money to the IRS and demand prompt payment for the debt. They also threaten jail time, license suspension or even deportation in some cases. The IRS absolutely does not use these kinds of tactics.
According to the IRS website it will never do the following things when it calls:
- Demand immediate payment. In fact, the IRS won’t even call you about taxes owed until mailing you first.
- Demand that you pay taxes without letting you question or appeal the amount you reportedly owe.
- Require you to use a specific payment method, like a prepaid debit card, for your taxes.
- Ask for debit or credit card numbers over the phone.
- Threaten to have you arrested by any law-enforcement groups for not paying your debt.
You can learn more about this and other tax-related scams by visiting the IRS consumer alerts page. You can also contact us at GROCO by clicking here.
Which States Take the Most From the Wealthy?
Which States Take the Most From the Wealthy? No one likes paying taxes. That being said, most people recognize the need for taxes. But they still do everything they can to keep their tax bill as low as possible. Minimizing taxes is especially important for the wealthy because they pay the majority of the country’s…
Are Changes Coming to Capital Gains Taxes?
Are Changes Coming to Capital Gains Taxes? If you’re still trying to catch up with all the changes brought about by the Tax Cut and Jobs Act, then you might want to have a seat. That’s because republican lawmakers aren’t done yet. At least, they don’t want to be. Lawmakers in Washington have been busy…
Seven Important Tips that will help you crush your next Interview
Seven Important Tips that will help you crush your next Interview 1) Learn about the company It’s important to do research on the company for which you are interviewing. Take some time to research the position, the company, the culture, and some perks/drawbacks of the job. You can often find out more about a job…
The Key Asset to Building Top Performers
The Key Asset to Building Top Performers Are you a manager, or a team leader? If you are, then one of your goals is likely building the best team possible. After all, in most work situations, leaders are only as good as the teams they lead. So how do you build the best team? What…