I want to make you aware of an IRS scam that we were recently alerted about. Across the country, there are numerous reports of a new IRS impersonation scam linked to the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) in which the caller claims to be an IRS personnel and demands immediate payment through a prepaid debit card. The impersonator tells the victim about two certified letters allegedly sent to the taxpayer in the mail but returned as undeliverable. The scammer threatens arrest if the tax payment is not made through a prepaid debit card and tells the targeted taxpayer that the card is linked to the EFTPS system when it’s really controlled by the scammer. The scammer also warns the victim to not contact their tax preparer, an attorney or the local IRS office until after they have made the payment.Â
If you suspect fraud is occurring, you can contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 1-800-366-4484. If you have questions or need additional assistance, please feel free to contact my Minneola office at 352-241-9220.
Congressman Daniel Webster represents The Villages in the U.S. House of Representatives.
