Common Income Tax Scams: What to Know

ANNAPOLIS, MD — As residents file their income taxes, Anne Arunde County Police are sharing a warning on common tax scams.

Here is one example:

You receive a call from someone claiming to be an Internal Revue Service agent who says a routine audit has determined you owe an additional payment of "X" number of dollars. The bogus agent claims that an income tax evasion warrant has been issued for you.

To keep from being arrested, the faux agent says, a down payment can be made to partially satisfy the account or a payment in full can be made. Usually you are told to obtain pre-paid debit cards, available at most convenience stores.

Once you purchase the cards, you are instructed to contact the "agent" and give them the card number. The "agent" then claims that the money is immediately removed. Your money goes to a fraudulent account and you are out the money.

The IRS says it has seen an estimated 400 percent surge in phishing and malware tax scams so far this year.

The emails are designed to trick taxpayers into thinking these are official communications from the IRS or others in the tax industry, including tax software companies. The phishing schemes can ask taxpayers about a wide range of topics. E-mails can seek information related to refunds, filing status, confirming personal information, ordering transcripts and verifying PIN information.

Variations of these scams can be seen via text messages, and the communications are being reported across the country.

When people click on these email links, they are taken to sites designed to imitate an official-looking website, such as IRS.gov. The sites ask for Social Security numbers and other personal information, which could be used to help file false tax returns. The sites also may carry malware, which can infect people's computers and allow criminals to access your files or track your keystrokes to gain information.

Report instances of IRS-related phishing attempts and fraud to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484.

»Images of scam emails from Anne Arundel County Police via Facebook