IRS Impersonation Scams — DO NOT pay over phone or with gift cards

How to spot IRS impersonation

The IRS will NEVER:

  • Call you first (always letter first)
  • Demand payment in gift cards, prepaid cards, bitcoin, or wire transfer
  • Threaten to arrest you or deport you over phone
  • Demand payment without giving you opportunity to dispute
  • Use threatening or hostile tone
  • Be aggressive about urgency

Common scam tactics

  1. “We’re the IRS — you owe taxes immediately” — fake call from spoofed IRS number
  2. “You’ll be arrested in 24 hours” — uses fear to bypass thinking
  3. “Buy iTunes gift cards and read me the codes” — IRS NEVER asks for this
  4. “We’ve sent law enforcement to your address” — fake threat
  5. “Pay by bitcoin/Bitcoin/cryptocurrency” — IRS does NOT accept crypto
  6. Email/text claiming refund — IRS doesn’t email or text first; verify at IRS.gov

What to do

  1. HANG UP immediately
  2. Do NOT call back — even if they leave a callback number
  3. Verify at irs.gov/account — your real account shows owed taxes
  4. Report to TIGTA: Treasury Inspector General or 1-800-366-4484
  5. Report to FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov

Legitimate IRS contact

IRS first sends a LETTER by mail (form CP## or Letter ####). Verify the letter is real:

  • Verify case number at IRS Account
  • Call the OFFICIAL IRS number from irs.gov (not the one on letter if suspicious)

If you owe taxes legitimately:

  • Pay at irs.gov/payments
  • Set up payment plan (Form 9465)
  • Consult VITA (free tax help)

General consumer protection resources

Last verified: 2026-05-25.

General prevention information — not legal advice. If victimized, consult attorney for options.