The IRS and taxpayers are under scrutiny, financial devastation is occurring, and criminals are cheating the system. After receiving numerous complaints from taxpayers regarding “tax refund” scams, the IRS issued an official statement addressing the matter. Put simply, “scammers frequently use tax season as a way of tricking people” (IRS.gov). But instead of an internet scam, this one is via the US Postal Service Mail.
The mass production of spoofed letters delivered to American homes, falsely claiming the IRS owes individuals tax refunds, has risen. These letters include non-existent phone numbers. Victims typically reveal personal information in response consisting of their bank account, social security, and phone numbers, as well as drivers license pictures. Depending on the amount lost, legal action may not be an affordable option.
Scammers have made a canny move by utilizing physical mail instead of the internet, the IRS’s primary point of contact. Physical mail tends to elicit credibility. Online scams are abundant, and more easily identifiable by the average tech user. This is because text messages and emails are often ignored or redirected to spam folders. Physical mail is less likely to arouse suspicion, with “official” letterheads. Letters and items in packages are seldom audited by the United States Postal Service, with the exception of high profile individuals including politicians and celebrities. Nevertheless, the internet assisted in the creation of these falsified letters, so nothing is truly safe.
The IRS reiterates they never initiate contact with taxpayers other than through the United States Postal service, tricking more people into this scam. Alternatively, through a meeting in the person’s home. However, if they were to show up at the individual’s home, a notice would still be mailed in advance. They never contact individuals online by email, text, calls, or social media platforms due to the private nature of information involved.
To report potential and past scams, individuals can email vog.sri@gnihsihp or file a complaint with the FBI Crime Complaint Center.
Furthermore, the IRS publishes an annual “dirty dozen” list on their official website, IRS.gov, highlighting 12 common scam complaints they receive. Tax refund scams fall under the “Phishing and smishing” category, second on the list.
Many suspect the scammers responsible for fraudulent activity operate from overseas, evident from the poor wording in the correspondence. For instance, many letters demanded individuals provide “A clear phone of your driver’s license that clearly displays all 4 angles, taken in a place with good lighting.” Additionally, “you’ll need to get this to your refunds after filing” (CBS). An online translator was most likely used.
Another sign exposing the scam is the false filing deadline mentioned in the letters. It indicates October 17 instead of the actual deadline of October 16, also available at IRS.gov.
In the age of internet banking, online transactions, artificial intelligence, mail, and other technological advances, it is becoming increasingly challenging to place trust in anything. Unfortunately, “thousands of people have lost millions of dollars and their personal information to tax scams” (IRS.gov).
Drastic financial losses are generating a lot of fear, as well as many news reports about mail and online fraud, as evidenced by stories in the New York Post, CBS News, and Forbes Magazine. It appears that law enforcement agencies are not giving this issue the priority it deserves, creating a national uproar.
Once scammed, the consumer may not want to incur further expense by going to court for redress, and therefore it is clearly a less popular option than dealing with the institution directly.
