Receiving an e-mail or a call that purports to be from the IRS can be unnerving. As the individual tax filing deadline approaches and many are rushing to get taxes filed (or extended), the "bad guys" appear to be increasing their efforts to catch you at a vulnerable moment -- perhaps thinking that you won't take the time to check out their story and will just pay up. We've had reports just this past week of people receiving telephone calls claiming to be from the IRS. Don't fall for it!
Here is a page on the IRS Web site from last year about these telephone call scams. It offers a few simple things you can do to make sure that the call is legitimate (TIP: it probably isn't). Here's an excerpt:
These callers may demand money or may say you have a refund due and try to trick you into sharing private information. These con artists can sound convincing when they call. They may know a lot about you, and they usually alter the caller ID to make it look like the IRS is calling. They use fake names and bogus IRS identification badge numbers. If you don’t answer, they often leave an “urgent” callback request.It seems that there is no end to people trying to get your info (and ultimately your money). We think it's best if you keep it for yourself! Oh, and don't forget about the April 15th tax filing deadline!
Craig Rhinehart
