SEATTLE— Due to ongoing scam phone calls claiming to be from the IRS, the IRS is providing taxpayers with five easy ways to spot a suspicious phone call. The scammers are calling taxpayers and demanding money and/or personal information. They even threaten pending arrest if their demands aren’t met. Here are five things to know:
The IRS will never:
1 – Call you about taxes you owe without first mailing you an official notice.
2 – Demand you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
3 – Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as prepaid debit card.
4 – Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
5 – Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested.
