Tax Alert: Largest Ever Phone Fraud Scam

Russell George, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), issued a warning last week regarding an ongoing telephone scam affecting millions of taxpayers. This scam is the largest ever of its kind.

Weaver first brought this scam to your attention in November, and it has resulted in over $1 million in losses from thousands of taxpayers. Individuals are making calls and claiming to be representatives of the IRS by using common names and fake badge numbers. Their intention is to convince victims that they owe back taxes and persuade them, often times through threats, to pay over the phone.

The scam also includes additional measures intended to fool the victim, including scammers:

• Providing the last four digits of the victim’s social security number
• Using a fake IRS toll-free number on caller ID
• Hanging up after making numerous threats and calling back pretending to be from the local police department or department of motor vehicles

We value our clients and friends and want to make you aware of this growing problem. Remember that the IRS will never ask for credit card numbers over the phone, and they will usually contact you via mail regarding any tax issues.

More information regarding this scam and the TIGTA’s statement can be found here. Additional details about this and other common tax scams can be found on the IRS website. If you have any questions about this scam or any other tax-related issue, contact us directly.