The IRS Criminal Investigation Division is warning taxpayers about a new wave of scams related to the second round of federal relief payments designed to ease the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The federal government approved payments of $600 to taxpayers earning up to $75,000 a year, $1,200 to couples earning up to $150,000 year and $600 for dependent children younger than 17.
The Criminal Investigation Division said in a written statement on Friday (Jan. 15) that it has seen a variety of scams and other financial schemes designed to steal money and personal information from taxpayers after relief payments have been issued. The IRS also said more scams are expected as tax filing season approaches.
“IRS-CI, along with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, are prepared to investigate and bring to justice those who seek to take advantage of taxpayers who are the intended recipients of these economic impact payments,” said David Talcott, acting special agent in charge. “We urge taxpayers to continue to protect their personal information.”
The Criminal Investigation Division said common scams include
■ Text messages asking taxpayers to disclose bank account information under the guise of receiving the $1,200 economic impact payments.
■ 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 disease.
■ Bogus opportunities to invest in companies developing COVID-19 vaccines while promising the “company” will dramatically increase in value as a result.
The IRS does not send unsolicited texts or emails or call people with threats of jail or lawsuits, nor does it demand tax payments through gift cards, the agency said.
COVID-19 scams should be reported to the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or submitted through the NCDF web complaint form.
Taxpayers may also report fraud or theft of their economic impact payments to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Reports may be made online at tips.tigta.gov.
Taxpayers who receive unsolicited emails or social media attempts to gather information that appear to be from either the IRS or an organization closely linked to the IRS should forward the message to phishing@irs.gov.
To learn more about COVID-19 scams and other financial schemes, go to IRS.gov.
Information about COVID-19 and economic impact payments may be found on the Coronavirus Tax Relief page on the IRS website.
