IRS Phone Call Scam
Scammers pose as IRS threatening arrest for unpaid taxes. IRS never calls threatening arrest and always starts with mailed letters.
🚩 Red Flags
- ⚠Threatening immediate arrest
- ⚠Demanding immediate payment
- ⚠Requesting gift cards or crypto
- ⚠Not allowing you to hang up and verify
🛡️ Protect Yourself
- →HANG UP: IRS never calls threatening arrest
- →DON'T PAY anyone demanding gift cards
- →KNOW: IRS sends written notices first
- →VERIFY at irs.gov or 1-800-829-1040
More Details
- “This is the IRS, you owe back taxes”
- “Police are on their way”
- “Pay immediately to avoid arrest”
- “Stay on line while you buy gift cards”
Common Questions
Never. IRS contacts by mail first, never threatens immediate arrest, never demands gift cards or crypto.
No. SSNs cannot be suspended — this is impossible. Any message saying this is 100% a scam.
Never. Warrants go through courts, not phone payments. Hang up.
Hang up. Call the agency using the number from their .gov website. IRS: 1-800-829-1040. SSA: 1-800-772-1213.
Report This Scam
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Warn Someone You Know
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Related Scams
Social Security Suspension Scam
Scammers claim your SSN has been "suspended" due to criminal activity. This is impossible—SSNs cannot be suspended.
Cryptocurrency Payment Demand Scam
Scammers demand Bitcoin payment because it's untraceable. No legitimate entity ever accepts cryptocurrency for payments or fines.
Law Enforcement Impersonation Scam
Scammers pose as police, FBI, or DEA claiming warrant for your arrest. Real police never call demanding payment.
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73% of Americans targeted(Pew, 2025)
|$470M lost to text scams in 2024(FTC)
|$16.6B total losses(FBI IC3, 2024)