Consumer Alert: Scams During Tax Season, who is "really" asking for your information?

Scams and phishing schemes are designed by cyber criminals who attempt to lure unsuspecting victims into revealing their personal and financial information, usually through unsolicited emails or phone calls. You can avoid becoming a victim of fraud if you know what to look for.

The IRS warns consumers to be aware of impersonators: Scams take many shapes and forms, such as phone calls, letters and emails. Many IRS impersonators use threats to intimidate and bully people into paying a fabricated tax bill. They may even threaten to arrest or deport their would-be victim if the victim doesn’t comply.

If you receive any suspicious activity claiming to be from the IRS:

1. Do not respond or click on any email links or open any attachments.

2. Forward the email in its original form to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.

3. Delete the email from your inbox and trash folder.

4. Report any suspicious phone calls, faxes, text messages and mailed letters to phishing@irs.gov.

5. Report monetary losses to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the Federal Trade Commission websites.

You can find out more by visiting the official IRS website article " How to know it’s really the IRS calling or knocking on your door": https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/how-to-know-its-really-the-irs-calling-or-knocking-on-your-door