Assuming your on the “abiding” side of the law and not looking to scam millions from your fellow Americans, tips released by the new “Fraud Watch Network” may be helpful in 2016.
Tax-related fraud has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years with Nigerian scammers moving on from their “My name is Prince Alawad and I please have eleventy million dollars in an accounting for yous response” and have taken to the phones to pretend to be government cronies from the IRS.
The scam involves telling the victim that a payment is due immediately and if they turn over payment information, no proceedings will be started against them.
With government agents kicking in doors and shooting dogs with regularity, it can be a frightening decision to make.
The Fraud Watch Network campaign is advising consumers that legitimate IRS representatives do not:
• Call you to demand immediate payment.
• Call you about taxes owed without first having contacted you by mail.
• Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card; or ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
• Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
Note that if you call the IRS, they may indeed request your bank information, which you should respond with, “crssshhhs, HELLO? Grrrrblll, YOU’RE BREAKING crsh UP! Click.”