GREENSBORO, N.C. — Tax day is quickly approaching on April 15, 2024. Even if you're already done with your taxes, you're not done with tax-related scams.
In 2023, consumers reported to the Federal Trade Commission that they had lost $5.8 million due to IRS imposter scams. AARP took a look at government imposter scam reports from 2019 to now in the first half of each year. The biggest jump came in 2021 with well over 160,000 reports, but even this year, you're looking at 60,000 reports made already and tax day hasn't even happened yet.
Along with tax-related scams, the top government imposter scams are the Social Security Administration, Health and Human Services, U.S. Customs, the Postal Service, and yes, even the Federal Trade Commission.
AARP has a Fraud Watch Network Helpline 877-908-3360. You don't have to be a member or over the age of 50 to call it and get free guidance about a call, email, or text you have received.
A big part of what AARP does is education. The agency has all kinds of videos to help explain how scams work. For example, one of the most popular scams is impersonating a trusted source, like a government entity. The Social Security number scam is common.
It begins with an unexpected call text or email. Often, the scammer will claim your account number has been linked to criminal activity and has been suspended. Social Security will only call you if you have already engaged in conversations with the agency. One of the ways to know what's real and what's not is to access your account directly, whether that's Social Security, the IRS, Amazon, or a bank or credit card.
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If you have to pay right now to get out of trouble-- it's a scam. Scammers want you to take action right now before you can think about it logically.
If the government official or the company wants you to pay using a gift card... it's ALWAYS a scam.