![Police Warn of IRS Phone Scams](https://townsquare.media/site/87/files/2015/12/Iphone-in-article-e1448999810811.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Police Warn of IRS Phone Scams
Tax season is upon us and the scams are back in full force inciting police to issue warnings to the public.
Scammers are taking to the phones with a scare tactic that has many falling victim to the ploy. Individuals will receive a call from someone who says they are from the IRS. They will say that you owe back taxes. From there they will threaten to arrest you or revoke your license, or threaten to sue you if you don’t pay immediately. In order to make good on what you supposedly owe, the scammer will tell you to put money on a prepaid debit card and give them the card numbers or to complete a money wire transfer. DO NOT.
The police want the public to know that the real IRS will not ask you to pay with prepaid debit cards or even wire transfers. They also do not take credit cards over the phone. The IRS contacts you about unpaid taxes by mail, not by phone.
Police are advising that if you do get one of these calls, hang up the phone. They stress that individuals should never ever give out personal or financial information such as your social security number, financial information, credit card information or any passwords to these callers.
If you have tax questions, go to irs.gov or call the IRS at 800-829-1040. If you feel you have been the victim of a scam or know somebody that has, report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Call the FTC at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or TTY 1-866-653-4261. You can also go online: ftc.gov/complaint.
The IRS will officially begin accepting and processing tax returns for the 2019 tax year starting today.
More From 1240 WJIM AM
![Win Cash Spring 2024: Official Contest Rules](http://townsquare.media/site/241/files/2023/04/attachment-Featured-Image.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Are Michigan Residents Eligible For Intuit Turbo Tax $141M Settlement?](http://townsquare.media/site/878/files/2023/05/attachment-Lish-2023-05-10T101256.328.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Tax Experts Warn People To File As Soon As Possible](http://townsquare.media/site/85/files/2022/01/attachment-GettyImages-56043781.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![The IRS Wants To Monitor Bank Accounts Over $600](http://townsquare.media/site/85/files/2021/10/attachment-GettyImages-80812779.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Bills to Repeal “Tampon Tax” in Michigan Almost to the Finish Line](http://townsquare.media/site/692/files/2021/09/attachment-RS34565_GettyImages-913028698-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Warning To Michiganders About New Phishing Scam From IRS](http://townsquare.media/site/694/files/2021/09/attachment-RS20718_GettyImages-1066992808-scr-11.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![What Is a “Pink Tax” and How Could it be Ending Here in Michigan?](http://townsquare.media/site/692/files/2021/09/attachment-RS20459_GettyImages-653391000-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![We’re Still Facing Federal Tax Refund Delays](http://townsquare.media/site/656/files/2021/05/IRS-Zach-Gibson-Getty-Images.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![IRS Says More Than 46,000 Stimulus Checks Not Cashed in Michigan](http://townsquare.media/site/693/files/2021/05/RS42107_GettyImages-1220795790-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)