Frauds & Scams

Don’t Be a Scam Victim—You’re in Control

May 16, 2016 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: June 30, 2021

IRSWith the tax season wrapping up, scammers are out in full force. Perhaps you received a phone call demanding payment from the IRS. They may threaten you with legal action if you do not pay immediately, or say things like, “we are sending the police to arrest you.” While these calls may seem scary, it is important to understand that they are not legitimate. This scam, which started in October 2013, has claimed over $29 million from its victims. Unfortunately, this is just one of many scams designed to make you believe you are speaking with a legitimate government official.

Scammers use many tactics in an attempt to force victims to give out information, and sometimes money, via telephone or email. In Social Security related scams, they often call under a guise of helping you complete a disability application, asking you for your Social Security number or banking information.

Whether they are with Social Security or the IRS, a government employee will never do some things as part of official agency business, including:

  • Call you to demand an immediate payment.
  • Demand that you pay a debt without the ability to appeal the amount you owe.
  • Require a specific means of payment, such as requiring you to pay with a prepaid debit card.
  • Ask you for your personal information or credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
  • Threaten you with arrest or deportation.

Any legitimate request from a government agency will come to you in writing. Additionally, if you do receive a call from a government official, they will be able to provide you with a telephone number and extension. If you receive one of these scam calls or emails, do not provide them with any information. You should:

  • Hang up immediately.
  • For Social Security impersonations, contact Social Security’s Office of Inspector General at https://oig.ssa.gov/report.
  • For IRS impersonations, contact the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at www.treasury.gov/tigta, using the “IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting” page.
  • Contact the Federal Trade Commission on FTC.gov.

If you are attempting to conduct business with any government agency, or you have received a notice from such an agency, please utilize the telephone numbers provided in the notification. Additionally, you can find contact information on any .gov website such as ssa.gov or irs.gov.

Did you find this Information helpful?

Yes
No
Thanks for your feedback!

Tags: , , , , , ,

See Comments

About the Author

Doug Walker, Deputy Commissioner, Communications

Deputy Commissioner, Office of Communications

Related Articles

Scams Come In Many Different Forms

Slam the Scam: Keep Your Personal Information Safe

Protect Your Online Identity With Strong Passwords

Helping You Avoid Scams this Holiday Season

Comments

  1. satta f.

    https://sattakingfirst.in/ is a great post.

  2. satta f.

    thanks for your great post.

  3. erosin

    nasty, negative, hateful attitude. None of what you state is factual, none. You have no training, education, experience, nor knowledge of anything medical, least of all mental illness, that much is glaringly obvious from your ignorant claims. And the funny thing is, your post demonstrates the point of this article – people will believe anything.
    https://shutstudio.com/

  4. Mazmur 2.

    I got a call from somebody saying he was from Social Security and told me he has my SS account number (he didn’t name the whole number) so HOW do I know he won’t be over taking my Social Security account? Mazmur

    • L.A.

      Hi Mazmur. Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
      If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.

  5. Jasa P.

    I got a call from somebody saying he was from Social Security and told me he has my SS account number (he didn’t name the whole number) so HOW do I know he won’t be over taking my Social Security account? Jasa Plisket Kain Jakarta

    • A.C.

      Hi, Jasa. Thanks for checking in with us. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.

      If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.

  6. chris l.

    There is a reason why the experts here at MotivaimCoach are known as the BEST business coaching services providers! Our strategically crafted “Business Coaching” and “C-Level Business Consulting” helps a startup with consultation and coaching needs! It is a systematic and comprehensive method that is deliberately geared to discover and address the right challenges while improving the inspirational leadership abilities of the executives!

  7. business c.

    useful content

  8. Satta k.

    Scammers use many tactics in an attempt to force victims to give out information, and sometimes money, via telephone or email. Satta king

  9. boss143

    Hi Marie and many thanks for your great interview of Rick Hanson regarding inner strength. Will certainly be watching the interview again. You did a wonderful job I

    thought of guiding Rick from stepping stone to stepping stone through some of his writing. You two created a truly helpful program together. And I totally agree with you in your obviously heartfelt expression of gratitude to Rick for his work. I too always look forward to what he has to teach us. Thanks again. With very best wishes, Ruth Whetsel
    marketkalyan

  10. John

    That was great
    Check this too:
    upvc پنجره
    Thank you so much
    good luck

Comments are closed.