With tax season underway, the IRS is reminding listeners to be aware of criminals who pose as IRS agents in hopes of stealing taxpayer money or personal information.
Officials say there are some surefire ways to spot a scam call.
They say the IRS will never call to demand immediate payment, or threaten to immediately bring in law enforcement to have the taxpayer arrested for not paying.
The agency will not demand that taxes be paid without giving taxpayers the opportunity to question or appeal the amount owed—and they won’t call you unexpectedly about your tax refund.
Taxpayers who receive these phone calls should record the number and then hang up immediately. You can make a report by calling 800-366-4484.