The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) is the United States’ tax and customs entity that forms a part of the US Government.
About IRS scam texts, emails and phone calls
IRS scams are typically related to tax issues. This will include threats surrounding “unpaid tax” such as the threat of arrest or lawsuits. Scams can also make promises of tax rebates and tax relief. These scams are orchestrated through unsolicited phone calls, text messages, emails and over social media. Such scams may claim –
- There are issues with a tax return such as missing information and the return needs to be resubmitted or edited by clicking a link or replying with tax return
- Issues with a tax return means the recipient may be arrested or fined
- The recipient is due tax relief and must click a link to claim
IRS scam text messages & emails
Typically scam texts or emails claiming to come from the IRS will try and trick a recipient into downloading harmful files, calling a phone number that directs to scammers or clicking a link and entering sensitive information about themselves on a spoof website. Such scams promise tax rebates or threaten fines/arrest for unpaid tax.
For example, the below message claims the recipient must call a phone number to avoid being arrested. (The number directs to scammers who pretend to be IRS agents to lure the recipient into handing over sensitive information about themselves.)
The below example makes similar claims to the above.
WARNING:(Criminal Investigation Division) I.R.S is filing lawsuit against you, for more information call on
on urgent basis, Otherwise your arrest warrant will be forwarded to your local police department and your property and bank accounts and social benifits will be frozen by government.
During 2020 and 2021, crooks have been claiming the IRS has been providing “tax relief” because of the on-going pandemic and recipients must claim their relief by clicking a link, as per below.
The below email example claims there is incorrect information on the recipient’s tax return and they must resubmit.
IRS scam phone calls
Scam phone calls claiming to come from the IRS are often threatening in nature and may be pre-recorded messages or a live person over the phone.
Such scams claim the call recipient has not paid sufficient tax. The scammers will claim that the recipient will be fined, face a lawsuit or face arrest because of unpaid tax. In all cases, the recipient of the call is pressured into paying money over the phone, often through purchasing gift cards, sending money through a courier or paying through a money transfer service like Western Union.
The IRS do not make such threatening calls demanding a payment be made over the phone.
Report an IRS phone, text and email scam.
If you believe your financial details have been compromised because of an IRS scam, you need to contact your financial institution (bank, card issuer) straight away.
How to report an IRS scam text?
Text messages can be forwarded to the IRS on 202-552-1226. You can also forward the originating phone number to this address as well. Texts are charged at the standard network rate.
How to report an IRS scam email?
Scam emails and phishing emails can be forwarded to the IRS on phishing@irs.gov.
How to report an IRS scam phone call?
The IRS recommends scam phone calls be reported to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration via their online form here.
If you're in the UK, you can ALSO report scams...
- Scam emails can be forwarded to The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) at report@phishing.gov.uk
- Scam texts can be forwarded to your phone carrier on 7726
- All types of cybercrime and fraud can be reported to the police via ActionFraud by calling 0300 123 2040 (or 101 in Scotland) or by using ActionFraud's online reporting tool here.
If you're in the USA, you can ALSO report scams...
- Scam texts can be forwarded to your phone carrier on 7726
- All types of cybercrime and fraud can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by using their complaint assistant here or by calling 1-877-382-4357 (9am-8pm ET)
From a different country? Click here.
You can also forward SMS or email scams to us at scam@thatsfake.com
Avoiding IRS phone, text and email scams
With all text and email scams claiming to come from the IRS, these links either trick visitors into downloading harmful files or lead to spoof websites designed to harvest any information entered into them and sends them to the cyber crooks.
The best course of action, as with nearly every phishing scam conducted through email or text message is to simply avoid clicking links in these messages, and don’t download any files they may link to. You should also never reply.
You can go straight to the IRS website and login to check if the IRS really do require you to do anything, or contact them using the contact information on their website.
Also watch out for texts and emails that –
- Contain bad spelling and grammar
- Attempt to pressure you into acting quickly
- Are threatening in nature.
The IRS has its own Consumer Alerts page about trending scams which you can check out here.