Scammers still targeting SWFL claiming to be IRS

Published:
MGN

People across Southwest Florida continue to receive calls claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service.

About one month ago, our Call for Action team put out a warning about fake IRS calls. But scammers are still targeting our area, bombarding people with robocalls. One of the phone messages we listened to said in part, “… the reason for this call is to inform you that the IRS is filing a lawsuit against you. To get more information about this case file please call immediately on our department number…”

The call is trying to intimidate you. The phone number the person in the message asks you to call is not the real IRS.

Remember, the IRS will never demand payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill. They will never demand you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe and they’ll never ask for a credit or debit card over the phone.

If you get a phone call like this, there are a few things you can do to avoid being scammed.

–Write down the employee’s name, badge number and the phone number that appears on the caller ID then hang up
–Call the IRS back on its direct line 1-800-366-4484 to see if the person is a real IRS employee and if you do have an issue

If you think you’ve received a phone call, email, or letter that is a scam, click on this link for a list of recommendations from the IRS and for directions on how to report the crime.

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