For more information regarding the IRS Scams, contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration through their website or by calling (800) 336-4484.

General tips to help you avoid the various phone scams:

• Never give out personal identifying information, such as bank account or credit card account numbers, to anyone you do not know.
• Be wary of anyone attempting to collect a debt by telephone or email.
• For calls from alleged utility companies or government agencies: Do not give out any personal information until you have verified the identity of the caller.  Ask the caller for their name, department, and business phone number.  Confirm that information by calling the organization at a phone number found on the internet or through official correspondence/billing statements.  If the caller refuses to provide this information, terminate the call.
• For calls from an alleged grandchild, or other family member:  Do not fill in the blanks for the caller. Often, they do not know the name of your loved one, but are relying on you to provide that information. Ask callers to identify themselves. (If you do not provide them any information, they will likely hang up.)  Also, verify the whereabouts of the alleged caller by contacting other family members – or use a number you already have on file to reach the person they claim to be. Do not use telephone numbers provided by the caller.
• Seniors are more susceptible to be victimized in these types of scams, so keep your elderly relatives informed about these incidents.