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 Do you remember the old saying, “If it sounds too good to be true it probably is?” When you approach the April 15 deadline to file income taxes, beware of schemes and promises to reduce your taxes or get you a huge refund. According to the Federal Trade Commission, one in nine Americans has been a victim of this type of fraud.
Listed below are some of the most recent tax scams. The criminals remain creative. Anyone who suspects tax fraud should call the IRS at 800-829-0433 or visit www.irs.gov.
Rebate Phone Call
At least one scheme uses the word “rebate” as part of the lure. A typical consumer receives a phone call from someone identifying himself as an IRS employee. The caller tells the targeted victim that he is eligible for a sizable rebate for filing his taxes early. The caller then states that he needs the target’s bank account information for the direct deposit of the rebate. If the target refuses, he is told that he cannot receive the rebate. This phone call is a scam.
No law has ever been enacted that allows the IRS to provide advance payments to taxpayers or that sets the details of those payments. Moreover, the IRS does not force taxpayers to use direct deposit. Those who opt for direct deposit do so by completing the appropriate section of their tax return, with bank routing and account information, when they file. But the IRS never gathers that information by telephone.
Refund E-Mail
The IRS has seen several variations of a refund-related bogus e-mail which falsely claims to come from the IRS, tells the recipient that he or she is eligible for a tax refund for a specific amount, and instructs the recipient to click on a link in the e-mail to access a refund claim form. The form asks the recipient to enter personal information that the scammers can use to access the e-mail recipient’s bank or credit card account.
In a new wrinkle, the current version of the refund scam includes two paragraphs that appear to be directed toward tax-exempt organizations that distribute funds to other organizations or individuals. The e-mail contains the name and supposed signature of the Director of the IRS’s Exempt Organizations Business Division. This e-mail is a phony. The IRS never sends unsolicited e-mails about tax account matters to any individual, business, or tax-exempt entity.
Filing a tax return is the only way to apply for a tax refund; there is no separate application form. Taxpayers who wish to find out if they are due a refund from their last annual tax return filing may use an interactive application on the official IRS website called “Where’s My Refund?” (www.irs.gov).
Audit E-Mail
Another new scam contains features not seen before by the IRS. Using a technique calculated to get almost anyone’s attention, the e-mail notifies the recipient that his or her tax return will be audited. This e-mail instructs the recipient to click on links to complete forms with personal and bank account information, which the scammers will then use to commit identity theft.
In an unusual technique for a scam, this e-mail may contain a salutation in the body addressed to the specific recipient by name. Nonetheless, this e-mail is a phony. Again, the IRS never sends unsolicited, tax account-related e-mails to taxpayers.
Paper Check Phone Call
In a current telephone scam, a caller claims to be an IRS employee who is calling because the IRS sent a check to you. The caller states that the check has not been cashed and the IRS wants to verify your bank account number.
In reality, the IRS leaves it entirely up to you to decide whether or not to cash a paper check. The IRS does not need to know and does not ask for bank account or similar information, except when you indicate on your tax return that you are opting for direct electronic deposit of your refund. If you opt for direct deposit of your refund, it is your responsibility to provide the IRS with correct bank routing and account numbers on the tax return. The IRS never contacts taxpayers to verify this information. |
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