IRS scam calls: how to tell if it's really the IRS

"This is Officer Brooks with the Internal Revenue Service. A lawsuit has been filed in your name for tax evasion. Press 1 to speak with an agent before a warrant is issued." IRS impersonation is one of the oldest phone scams in the country, and it keeps working because almost everyone has a nagging worry about their taxes.

What the call sounds like

The wording changes, but most IRS scam calls follow one of a few scripts. These are illustrative examples, not real quotes:

• The robocall threat: a recorded voice says the IRS is suing you or that your tax ID is being suspended, and asks you to press 1 or call back at a number like (202) 555-0147.
• The live "agent": someone with a badge number and a name says you owe back taxes and will be arrested, lose your driver's license or be deported unless you pay today. They often know your name and address already.
• The refund or credit: a friendly caller says you're owed a refund or a tax credit and just needs your Social Security number and bank details to send it.
• The pile-on: a second call from someone posing as "local police" or the sheriff to make the first call seem real, or a text or email with an official-looking "IRS notice".

Then comes the payment. Scammers ask for gift cards (often from several different stores, so a cashier doesn't get suspicious), a wire transfer, a payment app, cryptocurrency through a Bitcoin ATM, or cash handed to a courier. They'll tell you to stay on the line while you do it.

How the real IRS contacts you

The IRS's own guidance is clear about what it does and doesn't do:

• Mail comes first. The IRS normally makes first contact by letter through the U.S. Postal Service. If you really owe money, you'll have paper notices with a notice number you can look up.
• No surprise emails or texts. The IRS only emails or texts you if you've opted in, and it never sends direct messages on social media.
• No threats or rush. A call that threatens you, pressures you to pay right now, or asks for personal or financial information out of the blue is a warning sign, according to the IRS.
• Payments go to the U.S. Treasury. The IRS does not accept gift cards. Real payments are made to the "United States Treasury", for example through IRS.gov/payments.
• Home visits are rare. The IRS generally sends a letter first. Real IRS employees carry two forms of official identification, and you can ask to see both.

Red flags

• A threat of arrest, deportation or license suspension.
• A demand to pay today, in a way you can't take back: gift cards, wire, crypto, a payment app or cash.
• Being told to keep the call secret or to stay on the phone while you go to a store.
• A refund you didn't expect that requires your bank login, card number or Social Security number.
• Caller ID that says "IRS" or shows a Washington, D.C. number. Caller ID is easy to fake. See how caller ID spoofing works.

How to check if you really owe

Hang up. Then check on your own terms:

1. Sign in to your IRS Online Account at IRS.gov/account (type it yourself) to see any balance owed and notices sent.
2. Or call the IRS on the number on its website (for individuals that's 800-829-1040), not a number the caller gave you.
3. If you have a paper notice, look up its notice number on IRS.gov.

If you already paid or shared information

• Gift cards: call the gift card company right away using the number on the back of the card, tell them it was used in a scam, and keep the cards and receipts.
• Bank, card, wire or payment app: call your bank or the payment company immediately and ask them to stop or reverse the payment.
• Cryptocurrency: contact the exchange or ATM operator you used and report the transaction.
• Social Security number: go to IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan, and consider getting an IRS Identity Protection PIN at IRS.gov/ippin so no one else can file a return in your name.

For a step-by-step checklist, see what to do if you've been scammed.

Where to report IRS scams

• Phone calls: the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) investigates IRS impersonation. Report online at tigta.gov or call 800-366-4484.
• Emails: send them to [email protected] (the IRS asks you to attach the email or forward it as an attachment).
• Texts: email the details to [email protected] with "Text" as the subject (include the sender's number, the message, and the date and time you got it), and forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) for your carrier.
• Any scam: tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Look up the number first. Many IRS scam numbers already have government impersonation reports and FTC complaints on ShadyCall.