As part of the ongoing efforts to protect the senior community, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a warning about the increasing threat of impersonation scams targeting older adults. These scams involve fraudsters pretending to be government officials to steal sensitive personal information and money. Posing as representatives from agencies like the IRS or other government entities, these criminals exploit their victims through fear and deceit.
IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel emphasized that scammers often target seniors, using phone calls, emails, or text messages to impersonate the IRS or other agencies. Preventing these scams requires collaboration with various federal agencies and the tax community to protect seniors and other taxpayers.
This warning is part of a broader initiative leading up to World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15. Since its inception in 2006, WEAAD has aimed to raise awareness about the neglect and abuse faced by older adults, highlighting cultural, social, economic, and demographic factors.
The IRS, in partnership with state tax agencies and the tax professional community through the Security Summit since 2015, has been dedicated to combating scams and identity theft.
The IRS has noticed a troubling trend of scammers targeting seniors by pretending to be IRS agents. These fraudsters pressure victims into making immediate payments through unconventional methods like gift cards or wire transfers, under the guise of resolving fictitious tax issues or securing false refunds. Scammers manipulate caller IDs to appear legitimate, creating a convincing facade.
Common scam tactics include:
- Impersonating known entities such as the IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare, or familiar businesses and charities by spoofing caller IDs.
- Fabricating urgent scenarios involving debts or prize winnings, claiming victims owe money or need to pay fees to claim nonexistent lottery winnings.
- Creating a sense of urgency, demanding immediate action with threats of arrest, deportation, license suspension, or computer viruses.
- Insisting on unconventional payment methods like cryptocurrency, wire transfers, payment apps, or gift cards, and requesting sensitive information like gift card numbers.
To protect against scams, individuals should hang up immediately if they receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to be from the IRS without prior mail notification. Do not return the call using the number provided by the caller. Verify the legitimacy of IRS communications by contacting IRS customer service at 800-829-1040, or for hearing impaired, TTY/TDD 800-829-4059. Taxpayers can also check their IRS individual online account on IRS.gov.
Electronic scams are also increasing, with scammers sending malicious emails and texts posing as IRS representatives. The IRS reminds taxpayers that it does not initiate contact via email, text, or social media regarding tax bills or refunds.
Report scams by visiting the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration’s Hotline page and using the IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting form or calling 800-366-4484. Various fraud reporting forms are available on the Hotline page.
Key points to remember include:
- Understanding how and when the IRS contacts taxpayers to verify the authenticity of communications.
- Most IRS communications are initiated through regular mail, but in certain situations, phone calls or visits may occur.
- The IRS will never demand immediate payment via prepaid debit cards, gift cards, or wire transfers.
- The IRS will never threaten to involve local police or other law enforcement agencies.
- The IRS will never demand payment without opportunities to dispute or appeal the amount owed.
- The IRS will never request credit, debit, or gift card numbers over the phone.
Remaining vigilant and informed can help protect taxpayers from financial loss and identity theft. The IRS and federal agencies urge caution with unsolicited communications about taxes.
The U.S. Department of Justice introduced the National Elder Fraud Hotline in March 2020 to address fraud targeting elderly Americans. Victims of elder fraud can contact the hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311), available Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, with services in English, Spanish, and other languages.
