WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) warned taxpayers to remain alert and protect themselves against new deceit tactics being used by scammers.
The schemes are carried out over the phone, through e-mails and via letters with authentic looking letterheads, an IRS press release said Monday. They "trick taxpayers into providing personal financial information or scare people into making a false tax payment that ends up with the criminal."
The press release adds that the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) has received reports of about 600,000 such attempts since October 2013. Four thousand victims have also reported over $20 million in financial losses due to scams. The criminals behind these attempts initially targeted older Americans, new immigrants and non-English speakers but have since expanded their reach to "virtually anyone."
In one example, a scammer alters their caller ID to make it seem as though they are affiliated with the IRS. Using fake names and titles, he or she directs individuals to websites or addresses that they must forward payment to.
The criminals often employ scare tactics in order to woo individuals into paying, threatening police action, deportation and other situations if payment is not received.
The IRS adds that anyone who feels that they have been the victim of such a scam may call the organization at 1-800-829-1040. The incident may also be reported to the TIGTA at 1-800-366-4484.
The Federal Trade Commission's Complaint Assistant can also be used to log the incident at FTC.gov.
