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Tax season is hunting season for con artists and scammers to fleece older adults, preying on their fear of the IRS.

It seems like every week, we hear about another major data breach. The perfect example is the Equifax breach that leaked the personal information of at least 143 million Americans.

The Top Two Tax Scams Making Headlines This Year

Below we summarize the top two tax scams and provide trusted sources to help prevent the threats and get help and updates.

Scam 1. Tax identity theft

Tax identity thieves use personal information to apply for a fraudulent tax refund. Scammers often file a tax return using your older adult’s Social Security number, claim them as a dependent, or claim a tax refund using a deceased family member’s information.

Tips to help avoid tax identity theft:

Don’t give out your personal information unless you know who’s asking for it and why they need it.
Do file tax returns as early in the tax season as possible. The scammer will try to file before you
Do proactively obtain an IRS ID PIN and list it on any tax filings Not
Do shred personal and financial documents
Do make sure you know your older adult’s tax preparer
Do check the status of your older adult’s refund using the official IRS website: irs.gov/Refunds

For more information, contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490 or visit irs.gov/identitytheft.

Scam 2. IRS imposter scam

Con artists often call seniors on the telephone and claim to be IRS employees. They will say that the senior owes money for their taxes and make all kinds of scary threats to get them to pay.

AARP has created the below helpful video that illustrates how these scams might sound and how easy it is to become a victim.

ID Theft Victim’s Ordeal | Fraud Watch Network

Other AARP Scam Avoidance Videos

The IRS imposter often will:

Threaten to deport or arrest the older adult if they don’t pay
Not know all of their senior’s Social Security number, this should be a big clue
Fake the caller ID to appear they are calling from the IRS
Have older adults put the money on a prepaid debit or gift card and give the scammer the card number

Real IRS agents will never do these things

Con artists will often do things that real IRS would never do;

Real IRS agents would never:

Call to demand immediate payment for taxes owed without first sending notices in the mail
Ask for your credit or debit card number on the phone
Ask for payment via gift card or prepaid debit card
Threaten to have the taxpayer arrested for non-payment by local police or other law enforcement agencies.

If you or your older adult relative have any doubts about someone claiming to be from the IRS, ask for the agent’s ID and verify it with the IRS by calling the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040.
If you are aware of an attempted scam or concerned that your older adult relative may have been scammed, call the IRS helpline for advice at 1-877-908-3360.

Warning Signs You May be the Victim of Tax-Related Identity Theft

You receive a notice from the IRS that one or more returns were filed using your Social Security number.
You receive a notice from the IRS that you didn’t declare all your income based on wages from an employer or job you do not recognize. This usually means that someone is using your Social Security Number for employment.

Below are trusted resources to help prevent tax-related scams

The IRS

The IRS posts information about the latest scams here on its website. You can also contact them directly at 1-800-829-1040. Additional IRS contact information is also posted here.

AARP’s Fraud Watch Network

The AARP Fraud Watch Network is a trustworthy place to get helpful information on scams targeting seniors. You can also get help from their call center at 1-877-908-3360.

The Fraud Watch Network covers a wide range of scams and shares valuable tips ranging from keeping debit and credit information safe to staying safe on social media – and everything in between.

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