A. Here are some tax scam signs:
- Demand immediate payment of taxes with a prepaid debit card, wire transfer, or gift card.
- Ask for your credit card or debit card numbers over the phone.
- Intimidate you and threaten to have you arrested for nonpayment.
- Insist on payment without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they claim you owe.
- Ask you to pay a collection agency or someone else directly.
If you encounter such IRS imposters, do the following:
- Fill out the IRS impersonation scam form on the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration website (go to tigta.gov and click Contact) or call TIGTA at 1-800-366-4484.
- File a consumer complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at fte.gov. Add the words IRS Telephone Scam to the comments in your complaint.