{"id":30414,"date":"2017-10-25T08:00:13","date_gmt":"2017-10-25T13:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hrblock.com\/tax-center\/?p=30414"},"modified":"2021-08-09T12:56:35","modified_gmt":"2021-08-09T17:56:35","slug":"irs-phone-scam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hrblock.com\/tax-center\/irs\/irs-phone-scam\/","title":{"rendered":"The IRS Phone Scam: Does the IRS Call You?"},"content":{"rendered":"

With impersonations at a record high, you may have already encountered an IRS phone scam from an impersonator via phone, text, or other means. Each day, scammers use more and more advanced tactics to trick taxpayers into giving away personal information and money.<\/p>\n

In fact, IRS phone scams is on the IRS\u2019 Dirty Dozen list of the most common scams. As of February, 2017, over 10,000 victims have paid in excess of $54 Million to the scammers.  That\u2019s an average of $5,400 per individual.<\/p>\n

Luckily, the IRS adheres to the following protocols and modes of communication \u2013 which allows taxpayers to better identify an IRS representative from a fraudster.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fact 1: The IRS Never Initiates Contact Via Phone<\/strong><\/p>\n

The IRS initiates<\/strong> most contacts through regular mail delivered by the United States Postal Service.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fact 2: The IRS Will Not Ask Certain Things Over the Phone<\/strong><\/p>\n

The IRS behaves in predicted ways. In fact, the IRS will never call you and…<\/p>\n