IRS Tax Refunds Scam: Beware Of Fake IRS Letter Trying To Steal Your Identity

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been forced to issue information about a scam that is being used to steal people’s identities.

The aim of the scam is to make people believe that they are owed a tax refund by the IRS, when they’re not.

The IRS’ Warning About Tax Scams

The statement from the IRS explains what to look out for with this latest tax scam.

“The new scheme involves a mailing coming in a cardboard envelope from a delivery service,” a statement from the IRS started.

“The enclosed letter includes the IRS masthead and wording that the notice is ‘in relation to your unclaimed refund’.

“Like many scams, the letter includes contact information and a phone number that do not belong to the IRS.

“It also seeks a variety of sensitive personal information from taxpayers – including detailed pictures of driver’s licenses – that can be used to by identity thieves to try obtaining a tax refund and other sensitive financial information.”

One Of Many IRS Tax Refund Scams

“This is just the latest in the long string of attempts by identity thieves posing as the IRS in hopes of tricking people into providing valuable personal information to steal identities and money, including tax refunds,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel.

“These scams can come in through email, text or even in special mailings.

“People should be careful to watch out for red flags that clearly mark these as IRS scams.”

What Does The IRS Tax Scam Letter Say?

In order to help people spot the scam and not have their identity stolen, the IRS has included quotes from the scam letter.

There are poorly worded phrases such as “A Clear Phone of Your Driver’s License That Clearly Displays All Four (4) Angles, Taken in a Place with Good Lighting”.

The letter might also say “You’ll Need to Get This to Get Your Refunds After Filing” or “Once You Send All The Information Please Try to Be Checking Your Email for Response From The Agents Thanks”.

 

Source: MARCA