Be On the Lookout for Sophisticated Tax Scams

Imagine that you have just received an email from the IRS informing you that an error was made on your return and that you are due a refund. The email directs you to a website so you can update some personal information that is necessary for the refund to be processed. Sound too good to true? Sound a little fishy? Actually, this is what is commonly known as a “phishing” scam. The most common phishing scams request information from an individual to supposedly process a return or update records. The scammers take the data and then use the data to steal a person’s identity and/or cash. While phishing scams target victims through email, telephone scams also exist.
In a recently reported telephone scam, taxpayers receive a phone call from an alleged IRS agent. The phony agent informs the taxpayer that the taxpayer owes a large sum of money to the IRS and that the sum needs to be paid in full immediately. The phony agent gives the taxpayer the option of paying the sum with either a prepaid debit card or a wire transfer. If the taxpayer does not agree to make the payment, the conversation then turns hostile with the phony agent becoming agitated and insulting towards the taxpayer. If these tactics do not work to get the taxpayer to agree to one of the payment methods, then the agent may threaten the person with arrest, loss of a business or driver’s license, or even deportation. This scam often targets individuals who have recently immigrated to the United States.
To help keep yourself from becoming the victim of an IRS scam, be on the lookout for these typical “scam-related” warning signs:
• Be wary of any form of unsolicited communication that requires you to provide the IRS with detailed personal and/or financial information.
• Remember that there is only one official website for the IRS which is irs.gov. Steer clear of any communication that directs you to another site such as irs.com, irs.net, or irs.org.
• Do not be fooled by logos. Scammers can be very sophisticated and may try to use fake logos and websites in correspondence with you. Do not assume that an email is from the IRS just because it contains official looking graphics.
• If you receive what looks to be a mass email purporting to be from the IRS—be suspicious. As a general rule, the IRS does not send mass emails. Moreover, an email from the IRS would not request your important personal and/or financial information such as social security number, PIN numbers, and bank account information.
• Select your tax professionals wisely. Make sure that you work only with a qualified tax preparer. Not only are you, as a taxpayer, legally responsible for the information contained on your return, but each year taxpayers are victimized by phony preparers.
• Trust your gut. If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to work for the IRS and your intuition tells you something seems “off”, end the communication. If you receive an unsolicited email informing you of an IRS error in your favor, the news is probably too good to be true.
Contact the IRS if you think that the phone call or email you received is a scam. You can also visit the irs.gov website for an up-to-date list of recent known scams. You also want to alert the IRS immediately if you believe you have been the victim of a scam.
If you are unclear of your tax-related obligations, you need the advice of an experienced Louisiana tax attorney. Call us today at 504-302-4949 to schedule a free consultation. Attorney Paul A. Grego will carefully assess your particular tax situation and make sure that all of your questions are answered.