The IRS is reporting a new kind of tax scam and Delaware officials want to make First State residents aware.
Scammers are using information obtained from identity theft to file fraudulent tax returns on the victim’s behalf. The scammer then calls the victim, posing as a member of the IRS, and asks for the money back.
Holly Reynolds is a Tax Examination Investigations Manager with the Delaware Division of Revenue Fraud Team.
She says this scam was first reported fairly recently.
“The actual, real, true taxpayer, or the identity theft victim, contacted the IRS saying they received a refund they were not expecting, or they hadn’t filed yet. That’s how this scam was determined,” said Reynolds.
Reynolds notes this scam has not yet been reported in Delaware, but residents should still be cautious.
“The Delaware Division of Revenue has not experienced this yet, but what tends to happen it starts with the IRS level and it does tend to trickle down to the states as well,” said Reynolds.
Reynolds says Delawareans should know the IRS never calls taxpayers by phone.
She says if taxpayers believe they have been victimized by this scam to alert the IRS and the Delaware Division of Revenue.