Warning about Scams

International Services Office

Beware of identity theft, scams and phishing. The United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will never contact you via email. Any unrequested email appearing to originate from the IRS should not be opened. Never give personal information in an email (social security number, ITIN, passwords, date of birth, etc.). For more information, read about Suspicious Emails and Identity Theft. Anyone who wants additional information about telefraud scams generally, or preventing identity theft or fraudulent use of their identity information, may obtain helpful information via USCIS website, the FTC phone scam website and the FTC identity theft website. You can report scams to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Or you can call 1-877-FTC-HELP.

There are ongoing reports that some taxpayers receive emails or phone calls, allegedly from some office related to federal or state taxes. These emails and phone calls are a scam; do not engage with the phone caller or click on a link in an email. The IRS never requests PINs, passwords or similar information for credit cards, banks or other financial institutions by email or phone. The emails are a phishing scam and the phone calls are also designed to lure unsuspecting victims to provide personal financial information. Please be aware that the IRS and the California State Franchise Tax Board will only communicate by paper letters, if communication is needed.

If you receive an email that appears to be a scam regarding your personal tax information, do not respond. Instead, please forward it to phishing@irs.gov and note that you believe you received an illegitimate email phishing for your personal information. Likewise, hang up if someone tries to get your information over the phone, allegedly on behalf of a government agency. Government agencies do not make phone calls.