Full Notification

Even though tax season is still a couple of months away, phone scammers work year-round and the Internal Revenue System phone scam has returned to Marin. We’re seeing an increase in “robo” calls made primarily to cell phones. The scammer leaves a prerecorded, urgent message asking for a call back. The caller claims to be from the IRS and tells victims that if they don’t call back, a warrant will be issued for their arrest. Those who do respond are told they must make immediate payment either by a specific prepaid debit card or by wire transfer. The IRS website offers tips on how to identify a fake call and what to do. Here are some things scammers often do, but the Internal Revenue Service will not:

 Initiate contact with a taxpayer by phone, email, text, or social media to ask for personal or financial information.
 Call to demand immediate payment, nor will they call about taxes owed without first having mailed a bill.
 Demand that taxes be paid without providing an opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say is owed.
 Ask for a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card or wire transfer.
 Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
 Threaten to bring in local police or other law enforcement groups to have you arrested for non-payment.

If you don’t owe taxes and have no reason to think you do:

 Do not give out any information. Hang up immediately.
 Contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to report the call. Use their IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting web page, or call 800-366-4484.
 Report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Use the FTC Complaint Assistant on FTC.gov. Please add "IRS Telephone Scam" in the notes.

If you do owe tax or think you may:
 View tax account information online at IRS.gov to see the actual amount you owe. Then review payment options.
 Call the number on the billing notice, or
 Call the IRS at 800-829-1040. IRS workers can help