COMMUNITY ALERT: Phone scam, Fake IRS agent calls
Citizens around the U.S. are receiving fraudulent calls from con-artists who are posing as IRS agents.
DETAILS
CAIR-Chicago recently received complaints from community members who have received threatening, fraudulent phone calls from unknown callers who claim to be IRS tax agents. These phone scams are targeting recent immigrants, throughout the U.S. Victims are informed that they owe money to the IRS. The callers provide fake names and IRS badge numbers, and they may have the victim's Social Security Number, family information or other personal information. They urge their victims to promptly send the money via wire transfer or a pre-loaded debit card.
If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are subsequently threatened with arrest, deportation, litigation or suspension of their business or driver’s license. Often, the caller's tone is threatening.
Victims may receive follow up calls posed as local police or DMV in order for further intimidation. Background noises may be heard as to imitate a call site.
The caller may request confirmation of your personal information like a home address, family member name/location, and may request money, bank account number, credit card number, etc. They may leave a message requesting you to call them back, and name your family member names.
ACTION Do not provide or confirm any personal or financial information. Do not engage in a discussion with the caller. Hang up the phone.
Contact CAIR-Chicago and make a complaint with our Civil Rights Department at (312) 212-1520 or by filling out our contact form.
You may also file a police report with your local police department in person for telephone harassment/fraud.
If you know or think you might owe taxes, call the IRS at 800-829-1040. The IRS employees at that line can assist you with the issue.
If you know or are fairly certain you do not owe taxes, then call and report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 800-366-4484.
If you are a victim of these scams, you should also contact the Federal Trade Commission and use their “FTC Complaint Assistant” at FTC.gov. Please add "IRS Telephone Scam" to the comments of your complaint.
RESOURCES
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