With the pandemic, scammers often pose as government agencies to trick people into revealing sensitive information or sending money. The IRS warns people to never trust unsolicited calls or email from government agencies, including the Taxpayer Advocate Service and the Bureau of Tax Enforcement.

Is 03001231813 a genuine HMRC number?

The IRS also says it never initiates contact with taxpayers by email, text message or social media channels to request personal or financial information. Instead, the agency will send letters through the U.S. Postal Service.

Got a text about money from the IRS? Scammers posing as the IRS have been making calls, claiming that taxpayers owe back taxes and demanding payment immediately or threatening arrest and deportation. They may also ask for payment via gift card, prepaid debit card or wire transfer.

Another common scam involves identity theft. A thief uses your name and other personal information to file a fake return, usually for a large refund. The IRS then alerts you that someone else filed your return and that you need to pay back the refund, which is typically paid through wire transfers or gift cards.

The IRS reminds taxpayers to only use official IRS channels to file or pay your taxes, and to check the status of your refund through the Where’s My Refund? tool on the IRS website. The agency also encourages taxpayers to report suspicious calls and correspondence that claim to be from the IRS. For more information, visit the Dirty Dozen list of tax scams.

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