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近日有不少人收到自稱是IRS(美國稅務部)的電話或者郵件,實際上這些都是惡意的電話或者郵件,美國稅務部不會通過電話或者郵件要求公民繳稅,請大家小心,不要上當。美國稅務部也在他們的網站上發出警吿,提醒公民注意保護自己,如果遇到這種情况應該怎樣處理。具體如下:
IRS Repeats Warning about Phone Scams
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Inspector
General for Tax Administration continue to hear from taxpayers who
have received unsolicited calls from individuals demanding payment
while fraudulently claiming to be from the IRS.
Based on the 90,000 complaints that TIGTA has received through its
telephone hotline, to date, TIGTA has identified approximately 1,100
victims who have lost an estimated $5 million from these scams.
"There are clear warning signs about these scams, which continue at
high levels throughout the nation,” said IRS Commissioner John
Koskinen. “Taxpayers should remember their first contact with the
IRS will not be a call from out of the blue, but through official
correspondence sent through the mail. A big red flag for these scams
are angry, threatening calls from people who say they are from the
IRS and urging immediate payment. This is not how we operate. People
should hang up immediately and contact TIGTA or the IRS.”
Additionally, it is important for taxpayers to know that the IRS:
* Never asks for credit card, debit card or prepaid card information
over the telephone.
* Never insists that taxpayers use a specific payment method to pay
tax obligations
* Never requests immediate payment over the telephone and will not
take enforcement action immediately following a phone conversation.
Taxpayers usually receive prior notification of IRS enforcement
action involving IRS tax liens or levies.
Potential phone scam victims may be told that they owe money that
must be paid immediately to the IRS or they are entitled to big
refunds. When unsuccessful the first time, sometimes phone scammers
call back trying a new strategy.
Other characteristics of these scams include:
* Scammers use fake names and IRS badge numbers. They generally use
common names and surnames to identify themselves.
* Scammers may be able to recite the last four digits of a victim’s
Social Security number.
* Scammers spoof the IRS toll-free number on caller ID to make it
appear that it’s the IRS calling.
* Scammers sometimes send bogus IRS emails to some victims to
support their bogus calls.
* Victims hear background noise of other calls being conducted to
mimic a call site.
* After threatening victims with jail time or driver’s license
revocation, scammers hang up and others soon call back pretending to
be from the local police or DMV, and the caller ID supports their
claim.
If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS,
here’s what you should do:
* If you know you owe taxes or you think you might owe taxes, call
the IRS at 1.800.829.1040. The IRS employees at that line can help
you with a payment issue, if there really is such an issue.
* If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to think that
you owe any taxes (for example, you’ve never received a bill or the
caller made some bogus threats as described above), then call and
report the incident to TIGTA at 1.800.366.4484.
* You can file a complaint using the FTC Complaint Assistant; choose
“Other” and then “Imposter Scams.” If the complaint involves someone
impersonating the IRS, include the words “IRS Telephone Scam” in the
notes.
Taxpayers should be aware that there are other unrelated scams (such
as a lottery sweepstakes) and solicitations (such as debt relief)
that fraudulently claim to be from the IRS.
The IRS encourages taxpayers to be vigilant against phone and email
scams that use the IRS as a lure. The IRS does not initiate contact
with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial
information.?This includes any type of electronic communication,
such as text messages and social media channels. The IRS also does
not ask for PINs, passwords or similar confidential access
information for credit card, bank or other financial accounts.
Recipients should not open any attachments or click on any links
contained in the message. Instead, forward the email to phishing@irs.gov.
For more information or to report a scam, go to www.irs.gov and type
"scam" in the search box.
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