IRS Phone Scam

The IRS phone scam has been the top-reported government-impersonation scam in the US for over a decade. Real IRS contact is by mail. A phone call demanding immediate payment or threatening arrest is, with very rare exceptions, fraud.

Warning signs

• Aggressive, threatening tone — "officers are on their way to your address".
• Demand for payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.
• Refusal to send anything in writing.
• Spoofed caller-ID showing "IRS", "Washington DC", or "202".
• Quoting fake "badge numbers" and "case file IDs".

Real-world scripts

• "This is Officer Daniels with the IRS. There is a federal warrant out for your arrest…"
• "You owe $4,800 in back taxes. We will accept Apple Gift Cards as payment today."
• "Failure to pay will result in cancellation of your Social Security number."

If you receive this call

• Hang up. Do not engage, do not argue.
• Verify directly: 1-800-829-1040 (the IRS public line).
• Report the call at TIGTA at tigta.gov or 1-800-366-4484.
• File at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
• Add the number to GhostCallers so other people see the pattern.

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