New wave of COVID-19 scams headed taxpayers’ way
The Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), is warning Wisconsin taxpayers, about a new wave of COVID-19-related scams, as the agency delivers the second round of Economic Impact Payments (EIP).
In the last several months, the IRS-CI has seen a variety of EIP scams and other financial schemes, designed to steal money and personal information from taxpayers. Criminals are taking advantage of the second round of EIP – as well as the approaching filing season – to trick honest taxpayers out of their hard-earned money.
“Criminals will look for any opportunity to take what they are not entitled to and this is no exception,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Tamera Cantu, of IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago field office. “This payment is meant to help those that are struggling to get by as a result of the economic downturn, caused by the pandemic.”
Some common COVID-19 scams include the following:
• Text messages asking taxpayers to disclose bank account information, under the guise of receiving the $1,200 EIP.
• Phishing schemes using email, letters and social media messages, with key words such as “Coronavirus,” “COVID- 19” and “stimulus,” in varying ways. These communications are blasted to large numbers of people, and aim to access personally identifying information and financial account information (including account numbers and passwords).
• The organized and unofficial sale of fake at-home COVID- 19 test kits (as well as offers to sell fake cures, vaccines, pills and professional medical advice, regarding unproven COVID-19 treatments).
• Fake donation requests for individuals, groups and areas heavily affected by the virus.
• Bogus opportunities to invest in companies developing COVID-19 vaccines, while promising that the “company” will dramatically increase in value as a result.
Although criminals are constantly changing their tactics, taxpayers can help protect themselves by acting as the first line of defense. The best way to avoid falling victim to a scam, is knowing how the IRS communicates with taxpayers.
The IRS does not send unsolicited texts or emails. The IRS does not call people with threats of jail or lawsuits, nor does it demand tax payments on gift cards.
IRS-CI continues investigating hundreds of COVID19-related cases with law enforcement agencies domestically and abroad, and educating taxpayers about scams.
COVID-19 scams should be reported to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline, at 1-866-720-5721 or submitted through the NCDF Web Complaint Form.
