It's tax time. Time for lots of IRS scamming

vaxvms

It's tax time. It's also time for IRS message phishing. Be alert.
From the IRS.GOV website https://www.irs.gov/help/how-to-know-its-the-irs

Ways we contact you
We typically contact you the first time through regular U.S. mail delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. To verify the IRS sent the letter or notice, you can search for it on IRS.gov. Some letters are sent from private collection agencies.

Other ways we may contact you:
• Email - We email you only with your permission, with a few exceptions like criminal investigations.
• Text message - We text you only with your permission.
• Phone - We might call to discuss your case, verify information or set up a meeting.
• Fax - We might send a fax to verify or request employment information.
• In-person visit - These are rare. Find out how and when IRS employees visit you or your business. We generally send a letter before we visit.

We don't:
• Contact you or take payment on social media. Get trusted tax information on our official social media accounts.
• Accept gift cards or prepaid debit cards as payment
• Threaten to call law enforcement or immigration officials
• Take your citizenship status, driver's license or business license
• Leave pre-recorded voicemails (robocalls)
• Mail tax debt resolution advertisements

A list of common IRS scams https://www.irs.gov/help/tax-scams/recognize-tax-scams-and-fraud

OmegaWolf747

I remember being told that the IRS never calls, emails, or texts people, snail mail only. So this has changed? How would you tell an IRS phone call from a scammer? Caller ID can be spoofed.

vaxvms

10 Tips from McAfee
https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-protect-yourself-from-tax-related-scams-in-2025-10-expert-tips/

vaxvms

IRS Dirty Dozen tax scams for 2025
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen-tax-scams-for-2025-irs-warns-taxpayers-to-watch-out-for-dangerous-threats

The IRS’ annual Dirty Dozen campaign lists 12 scams and schemes that threaten taxpayers. While the Dirty Dozen is not a legal document or a formal listing of agency enforcement priorities, the education effort is designed to raise awareness and protect taxpayers and tax pros from common tax scams and schemes.

“Scammers are relentless, and they use the guise of tax season to try tricking taxpayers into falling into a variety of traps. These red flags can lead to everything from identity theft to being misled into claiming tax credits for which they’re not entitled,” said Terry Lemons, IRS communications senior adviser. “For more than two decades, the IRS has highlighted the Dirty Dozen through far-reaching communications and education campaigns as part of a wider effort by the agency to protect taxpayers from being scammed.”

They include Email phishing scams, Bad social media advice (Reddit and Facebook providing bad information???!!! Never!), Fake charities, …

Should you get any of these cowpie please report it to the IRS using Form 14242 https://www.irs.gov/dmaf/form/f14242

CYA and help others CYA. /Public service announcement