Beware of Fake IRS Calls and Emails
Recently there have been an influx of calls and emails to citizens of Sonoma County from people claiming to be from the IRS. This is a known scam and is an ongoing issue. Here are some tips from the IRS website on how to identify a fake call from the IRS and what to do:
“The IRS reminds people that they can know pretty easily when a supposed IRS caller is a fake. Here are five things the scammers often do but the IRS will not do. Any one of these five things is a tell-tale sign of a scam. The IRS will never:
1. Call to demand immediate payment, nor will we 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.
5. Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
If you get a phone call […]