WHAT? Individuals impersonating Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees are making unsolicited threatening telephone calls to taxpayers. They use the threat of arrest to obtain money from victims by falsely representing that the victims owe back taxes or other fees. The perpetrators demand that the victims send them money via iTunes cards, other prepaid debit cards, money orders, or wire transfers from their banks.
WHO? The perpetrators are individuals who falsely claim to be IRS employees and tell intended victims they owe taxes and must pay using an iTunes card, other pre-paid debit card, money order, or wire transfer. Some of them are in the United States; however, there is a strong international component to this crime as well.
WHEN/WHERE? Since October 2013, TIGTA has received reports of these fraudulent calls in every State in the country. The perpetrators are calling with multiple caller IDs from around the world. The top five States with the most losses are: (1) California – more than $10 million; (2) New York – more than $4 million; (3) Texas – more than $4 million; (4) Illinois – more than $3 million; and (5) Florida – more than $2 million.1