The Internal Revenue Service released, for the first time, the “Dirty Dozen, “ a list of the top tax scams, with a warning to taxpayers about aggressive telephone scams occurring during the first couple of weeks of this year’s filing season, on February 16.
There has been a large amount of reported threatening phone calls from scam artists daily. The IRS is urging taxpayers not to give out money or any personal financial information. Phone scams and email phishing schemes are among the list of scams highlighted.
IRS commissioner, John Koskinen, ensured taxpayers, on the press release, that they’re doing everything they can to help avoid tax scams.
“Whether it’s a phone scam or scheme to steal a taxpayer’s identity, there are simple steps to take to help stop these con artists. We urge taxpayers to visit IRS.gov for more information and to be wary of these dozen scams,” Koskinen said.
As a result of illegal scams, there are penalties, interest for taxpayers, and the possibility of a criminal prosecution.
Florida A&M University graduate, Lindsay Pollard, was shocked when she found out that she’d become a victim of tax fraud.
“I felt like my privacy had been invaded. So it’s reassuring to hear that the IRS is cracking down on the issue,” Pollard said.
Reaven Cunningham, a senior Psychology student from Miami, was alarmed when the IRS contacted her and told her about a threat.
“The feeling was horrible…you feel as if a stranger has invaded your privacy and stripped you of all of the things you’ve worked so hard for,” Cunningham said.
“I advise anyone to keep up with your credit reports and important documents because you just never know,” Cunningham said.
Mark Green, IRS spokesman for Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi, says that there is currently a tax scam going on, on college campuses.
“There’s an education college scheme going on where individuals will come on campus and ask students to provide their social security numbers and they’ll give them 1,000 dollars cash.” Green said.
Green urges all college students to be aware of tax fraud situations that are familiar to those listed.
For more information and access to the list of tax scams visit IRS.gov.