Scam Prevention
Each year, thousands of people lose millions of dollars and their personal information to scams. Scammers may contact you via mail, telephone, and email, impersonating businesses or individuals.
Common scams include government impersonators, fake prize or sweepstakes, computer tech support, and the grandparent scam.
Older adults are often the target of scams (NIH) in the U.S.
Protect Yourself From Scams
- Don’t give out sensitive personal information over the phone, email, social media, or text.
- Check your bank account statements and incoming bills for unauthorized charges regularly.
- Keep your smartphone and computer security software up-to-date and never click on suspicious emails or text messages.
- Don’t transfer money or purchase gift cards for strangers over the phone.
- Scammers often try to threaten or pressure you to act immediately. If it doesn’t feel right, remove yourself from the situation and call a trusted family member or friend.
Review Resources From the IRS About Tax Scams below
Note: The IRS doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information. Know the telltale signs of a scam and how to know if it’s really the IRS.
Other Resources
