Courtney Reports that Like Many in Eastern Connecticut He Received a Suspicious Call from a Person Claiming to be an IRS Official
As peak tax filing season approaches, Courtney would like to remind all Connecticut residents to be vigilant against tax scams attempting to steal personal information and money from unsuspecting victims
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) reported that similar to one year ago, he recently received a suspicious voicemail message from a person claiming to be an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) official and requesting person information. He would like to warn local residents to remain vigilant against phone and email scams which have become common during tax filing season in recent years.
“As soon as I heard the voice on the other end say that they were calling from the IRS I became suspicious – I knew it was likely a phishing scam” said Courtney. “The IRS does not initiate contact with tax filers by phone or email in order to prevent just this type of scam. I quickly erased the message and did not provide any of the information they were looking to obtain. My recommendation is never give out personal information over the phone if there is any doubt about whom you are speaking with. If you receive a call out of the blue, hang up the phone, and contact the IRS or the Connecticut Taxpayer Advocate directly.”
In January, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) reported that it has received nearly 900,000 reports of suspicious phone calls since October 2013. During that same period, TIGTA is aware of at least 5,000 victims of tax scams that have collectively lost more than $26 million dollars to tax scams. The IRS has already reported a 400 percent increase in phishing scams so far this year.
It is important for taxpayers to remember that stated IRS policy is to never: 1) call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill; 2) demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe; 3) require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card; 4) ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone; or 5) threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
For assistance with tax filing issues, as well as to report suspected fraud, residents can contact that Connecticut Taxpayer Advocate at 860-756-4555
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