The IRS doesn't start contact by text, email or social media, and never demands gift cards or crypto.
During tax season, scammers pretend to be the IRS, threatening arrest or promising a refund to get money or personal details. The IRS publishes a list of these scams every year.
How the IRS really contacts you
- The IRS usually makes first contact by mail.
- It doesn't start contact by email, text message or social media to ask for personal or financial information.
- It never demands immediate payment by gift card, prepaid card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency.
- It doesn't threaten to have you arrested or deported.
What to do
- Hang up on unexpected calls about taxes you owe, and don't call back the number they give.
- Don't click links in texts or emails about refunds or your tax account.
- Check your account by going to irs.gov yourself, typed into your browser.
Got one at work? Report it in Outlook using Report > Report phishing. You can also forward IRS-themed phishing emails to phishing@irs.gov.
