A major phone scam has cost thousands of taxpayers more than $1 million.
"The calls involve an IRS impostor who says you owe taxes right now with a prepaid debit card or a wire transfer. The scammers threaten everything from an arrest to deportation." (Via WKYC)
According to ABC, this scam has targeted thousands of people in all 50 states.
And there are multiple reports saying the phone scam could be one of the largest in history. More than 20,000 people have filed reports saying they were targeted. (Via KMOV)
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration called the high number of potential victims "alarming." It comes with less than a month before income tax returns are due to the IRS.
Earlier this month, a Forbes writer claimed she was targeted over the phone.
She said a scammer tried to get her to give up $5,000. The person on the other end of the phone also knew where she worked and even the last four digits of her Social Security number.
And the reported scam continues to grow. Politico reports 100 to 200 unsuspecting taxpayers are targeted every day.
The IRS says you should be suspicious if someone says they're calling you from the IRS. According to CNN, the IRS typically sends mail asking about money first and doesn't ask for direct payment over the phone.
If you think you're receiving one of these suspicious calls, the IRS says you should immediately hang up and report it back to them. Investigators are working to find out where the scam is coming from.
