Scams against the public continue through various ploys, as scammers portray themselves as the IRS, the Social Security Administration, electrical cooperatives or law enforcement agencies, all with the same intent -- to separate you from your money.
If you receive a suspicious call, do not provide any personal information and hang up. Do not engage in any suspicious emails.
- Don't reply.
- Don't open any attachments. They can contain malicious code that may infect your computer or mobile phone.
- Don't click on any links. Visit our identity protection page if you clicked on links in a suspicious email or website and entered confidential information.
- Forward - preferably with the full email headers - the email as-is to us at phishing@irs.gov. Don't forward scanned images because this removes valuable information.
- Delete the original email.
Refund fraud is more prevalent than ever. Remain diligent in protecting your personal identifying information, including your Social Security number, income and withholding amounts. Beware of scammers who call, text or email about needing your personal information for a refund or a federal stimulus payment. The Comptroller’s Office will not initiate a text, email or call seeking this information.
IRS fraudulent emails:
If you receive an email claiming to be from the IRS that contains a request for personal information, taxes associated with a large investment, inheritance or lottery:- Don't reply.
- Don't open any attachments. They can contain malicious code that may infect your computer or mobile phone.
- Don't click on any links. Visit our identity protection page if you clicked on links in a suspicious email or website and entered confidential information.
- Forward - preferably with the full email headers - the email as-is to us at phishing@irs.gov. Don't forward scanned images because this removes valuable information.
- Delete the original email.
Fraudulent calls:
IRS impersonation telephone calls – as well as other types of unwanted calls (telemarketing robocalls, fake grants, tech support, sweepstakes winnings, etc.) remain popular scams.
For any fraudulent call, after listening to the message, do not provide any information and hang up. When you report the fraudulent call, please include:
- The telephone number of the caller (Caller ID)
- The telephone number you were instructed to call back
- A brief description of the communication
- The telephone number of the caller (Caller ID)
- The telephone number you were instructed to call back
- A brief description of the communication
Please report IRS or Treasury-related fraudulent calls to phishing@irs.gov (Subject: IRS Phone Scam).
From the Maryland Comptroller's Office:
