As the tax season heats up, so does the activity of the scammers. These scammers, who feed on people’s innate fear of the IRS, use this opportunity to place themselves right at the top of their game. I have heard of many instances of people receiving calls from individuals purporting to be IRS officers, who are making demands for payment of taxes on underreported income, and threatening imprisonment and/or seizure of assets if you do not comply with their demands. Also, they seek to obtain your personal information in the process.

Allow me to state categorically that these people are NOT IRS officers! When the IRS raises an assessment, they NEVER contact you initially by telephone. The typical MO of the IRS is to send you a written notice in the mail. This notice gives you the opportunity to either object to the assessment, or agree—which of course, you must do within the time frame specified in the notice.

If you were to receive one of these calls, my advice to you is that you hang up at once, or even better, let the perpetrator know that you are actually recording the conversation, and that you will be making the recording available to the FBI. Never agree to give them money, and never ever give them your personal information!

The IRS will never demand payment from you or threaten you with imprisonment or asset seizure over the phone. Be very vigilant during this tax season, and be on the lookout for these unscrupulous crooks. The main objective of these criminals is to steal your money and/or your identity!