Texas IRS Scams Are Rising: Are You Falling Victim to These Red Flags?

We hear about scams all the time in Texas. Targeting vulnerable people in efforts to obtain their personal or financial information is, unfortunately, a reality we must all prepare for. This is why the Office of the Texas Attorney General and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have provided ways in which all Texans can protect their identity from online scammers.

Look Out for Imposters this Tax Season

For those who are getting ready to file your taxes, or if you have already begun filing, it's more important than ever to keep your personal information safe.

Texas AG Ken Paxton has warned us in the past about imposters seeking to trick us into handing over our passwords and banking info with threats of being arrested if we don't comply.

How to Spot a Tax Scammer

In fact, the IRS has provided a list of things they will NOT do during tax season. Do not trust the individual with whom you are speaking if they do any of the following:

• Ask for your citizenship status or take your driver's license
• Accept gift cards as payment
• Ask for payments via social media
• Mail debt resolution ads to your address
• Contact you with phone numbers or email addresses that are not directly from IRS.gov

Above all else, the number-one red flag that you must look out for while speaking with a scammer is if they threaten you with law enforcement. The IRS will not threaten to have you arrested or detained for failing to file your taxes or providing certain personal information.

While you may be contacted by the IRS for various reasons, emails and texts will only be sent with your permission. Also, legitimate phone calls, even if they are automated, will always direct you to the secure IRS.gov website to safely manage your account.

If you ever feel unsafe speaking with someone about your private information, you can ask for their proof of identification. In extreme cases, you can always hang up or stop responding to messages and call 911. They will help you figure out if you are being scammed or not.