New phone scam - IRS imposters

[Black Bart]

http://money.cnn.com/2014/03/20/pf/taxes/irs-phone-scam/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

On the news this morning. I think somebody here on the board mentioned recently that one of his clients got such a call.

[DaveO]

I see this sort of scam as one of the big downsides to the DIY and free file movement. If one of my clients got such a call they would be on the phone to me in minutes. Those who prepare their own returns or use "seasonal preparers" have no one to turn to for such a simple question. The IRS is encouraging this sort of scam by making people think because they can use TurboTax that they are now experts and no longer in need of professional advice. I won't even start on the topic of the release of the PTIN database with email address.

[luke]

scammers

and IRS is making a big deal out of ONE MILLION dollars taken in scam so far!! HOW ABOUT the MULTI million dollars lost EVERY year to EIC scams and Fraudulent returns??

[David1980]

Those who prepare their own returns or use "seasonal preparers" have no one to turn to for such a simple question.

I think that depends - most people I deal with would be able to call the IRS or use Google to find their answer. There's a lot of scams out there that don't claim to be the IRS and most people seem to do OK. Not that many people sending money overseas so that they can receive their inheritances from long lost princes and that sort of thing. Of course, the scammers don't need there to be a lot of people susceptible. The folks who fall for it would fall for other scams too though so not sure the push to DIY is really to blame.

[David1980]

and IRS is making a big deal out of ONE MILLION dollars taken in scam so far!! HOW ABOUT the MULTI million dollars lost EVERY year to EIC scams and Fraudulent returns??

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's billions. But the IRS wouldn't want to advertise that now would they.