AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE WORTH REPEATING

The IRS phone scams have been ongoing for over a year now. 

According to “Phone Scams Continue to be Serious Threat, Remain on IRS ‘Dirty Dozen’ Listof Tax Scams for the 2015 Filing Season” from the IRS website -

“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) has received reports of roughly 290,000 contacts since October 2013 and has become aware of nearly 3,000 victims who have collectively paid over $14 million as a result of the scam, in which individuals make unsolicited calls to taxpayers fraudulently claiming to be IRS officials and demanding that they send them cash via prepaid debit cards.”

Here is an important message worth constant repeating –

THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE WILL NEVER INITIATE CONTACT WITH A TAXPAYER BY TELEPHONE OR EMAIL.  THEY WILL ALWAYS SEND A WRITTEN LETTER OR NOTICE VIA POSTAL MAIL.

A long-time friend and client recently received a phone call with this pre-recorded message - "We have tried to reach you many times.  This is the IRS.  Please call this number.  We are preparing a case against you."  The message then provided a phone number to call.

My friend correctly immediately emailed me.  I explained that is was a scam and told her to ignore it - and if they call again to hang-up. 

IF YOU RECEIVE A PHONE CALL CLAIMING TO BE FROM THE HANG UP.  

TTFN