Officials: Scammers target people close to tax day

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – With tax day right around the corner, the Internal Revenue Service is warning consumers to watch for scams.

Recently, U.S. Postal Inspectors said there have been fake phone calls reported, with callers claiming to be IRS employees. The scammers sound convincing and scare you into making a payment.

Often, the caller will identify himself/herself and give a bogus identification badge number, then tell you there is a lawsuit or that you owe money. If you refuse to cooperate, the caller will say you will be arrested or have your business or driver’s license suspended.

Postal Inspectors said the callers sound legitimate.

“They can find your house on Google Earth or on any other map program online, often times they can zoom in to see if you have a pool in your background or if there’s a car parked in your driveway and they can use that information against you to make you believe that they are in the neighborhood or they are local,” said Postal Inspector, Blanca Alvarez.

Officials said even if you do not answer, the callers will often leave a message asking you to call back immediately. It is important you verify who is calling, before ever making any form of payment.

Tips to Avoid Being Scammed

1. The IRS and other agencies will never demand a payment without first mailing you a bill.
2. They will not demand you pay taxes without giving you a chance to appeal the amount owed.
3. They will not require you use a specific form of payment, like cash or pre-paid card.
4. They will not ask for credit or debit cards over the phone.
5. They will never threaten to arrest you.

For more information about common tax scams, click here.