Beware of sophisticated phone scams that try to separate you from your hard earned money.
Venice Florida Tax Scam Statistics
Florida victims of these increasingly bold scams are contacted by phone and told that they owe the IRS money immediately. If the victims seem reluctant, the scammers threaten the taxpayers with arrest, suspension of drivers or business license or even deportation. The caller becomes increasingly aggressive, even hostile and insulting.
Sometimes these callers will say that you have a refund due in order to trick you into revealing your private information. They can even alter the caller ID to make it appear as though the IRS is actually calling.
If you are called by someone on the phone claiming to be from the IRS, tell them that you are represented by an enrolled agent. Give them the name and contact information of your enrolled agent and nothing more.
In truth, the IRS never initiates contact with taxpayers by email, text, Facebook, or any kind of electronic means to request personal or financial information. And if the caller is asking for information on your bank or credit card accounts, or for PINs or passwords, you can bet he or she is NOT calling from the IRS!
The IRS has developed a list of 6 common characteristics of these scams. They are as follows:
1. Scammers use fake names and IRS badge numbers. They generally use common names and surnames to identify themselves.
2. Scammers may be able to recite the last four digits of a victim’s Social Security number.
3. Scammers will spoof the IRS toll-free number on the caller ID to make it appear it’s the IRS calling.
For remaining 3 scams please visit our website or watch the second video in this series.
Venice Florida IRS Phone Scam Video
If you receive a call from one of these phony IRS scammers, remember, tell the caller that you are represented by an enrolled agent and give them my name and contact information. You should then get off the phone and let me know about the situation as soon as possible.
Todd VanBuskirk, EA
Accucount LLC
Tax and Bookkeeping Services
Phone: 941-484-0968
Venice, Florida