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Scammers know the holidays make you busier and more distracted, which is why this is one of their favorite times to pretend they are the IRS and pressure you to pay a fake tax bill with gift cards. Before you pick up the phone or respond to a message, let me walk you through the red flags that can keep you from becoming their next victim.
Gift card scams happen year-round, but they tend to spike during the holidays. Since 2019, the IRS reporting system has received over a thousand gift card phishing emails, and most of them do not mention the IRS at all.
I want you to be absolutely clear on this. The IRS never asks for or accepts gift cards as payment for a tax bill.
During the holidays, scammers use a variety of tricks to pressure you into acting quickly. They may call you, text you, email you, or even message you on social media pretending to be from a government agency. Sometimes they pose as IRS agents and claim you are connected to criminal activity. Other times, they try to intimidate you with fake tax penalties. They usually want you to rush to a store, buy gift cards, and read them the numbers and PINs. Once they have that information, the money is gone.
So how can you tell if a call or message claiming to be from the IRS is real? There are a few key things to remember.
- The IRS will not call you demanding immediate payment. You will always get a bill in the mail first if you owe taxes.
- The IRS will not insist that you pay with gift cards, prepaid debit cards, or wire transfers.
- The IRS will not threaten to arrest you, send police to your home, or revoke your licenses or immigration status.
- The IRS will not demand payment without giving you the chance to ask questions or appeal the amount they say you owe.
If someone is using fear or urgency to pressure you, it is almost certainly a scam.
If you ever find yourself targeted, there are steps you can take. Report phone scams to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. You can use the IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting webpage or call 800-366-4484. You can also report scammers to the Federal Trade Commission or forward suspicious emails to phishing@irs.gov. If you are unsure if you owe a balance, contact the IRS directly to verify your account status.
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My goal is to make sure you feel confident and informed. You deserve a holiday season that is joyful, safe, and free of unnecessary worry.
