Beware of Tax Scams, FTC Warns

According to the FTC, there has been an increase in reports of phone scammers posing as the IRS or as “tax resolution” agencies via phone calls. These scams rely on urgency and the proximity to tax season in order to make it seem as though they are legitimate and convince their targets to call them back. 

The IRS will never call you directly about your taxes, and any phone call claiming to be from the IRS should be treated as suspect.

• The scam begins with an unexpected phone call or voicemail from an official sounding, but fake, organization. 

  • A few documented names that the scammers are using: “Tax Mediation and Resolution Agency” and “Tax Resolution Oversight Department”

• This fake agency will invent a reason that you need to call them back.

  • Some of these fake reasons are: You haven’t paid your taxes, you’re eligible for an additional refund, or you have an outstanding form.

    • They may even state that “this may be our only attempt to reach you” in order to generate fear and urgency.

• The request that you call them back is key, as this is how the scammer plans to extract your personal information such as card number or SSN.

• If you get one of these phone calls, do not engage. Even answering the phone to tell them to stop calling gives the attacker critical information: your phone number is active, and someone exists at the other end. 

• Consider enabling call screening via a third-party app such as NoMoRobo or Robokiller, or through phone-native controls, in order to ensure that unknown numbers have to identify themselves before connecting with you. 

  • iPhone’s iOS 26 provides call screening under Settings > Phone > Screen Unknown Callers > Tap Ask Reason for Calling.

  • Android’s OS 16 also offers call screening under Phone > Tap the three dots > Settings > Caller ID & spam > Turn on "Filter spam calls".

    • Certain older versions of Android do not have Call Screening, and instead have the feature “Block Unknown Numbers”. If your version does not have call screening available, we recommend updating your device to the latest version, then checking again for “Call Screening” under Phone after the update is complete.

• Remember that the IRS will not initiate contact with you by phone, text, email, or social media. If you owe taxes, the IRS will first reach out by mail. A surprise call about your taxes is a signal that something isn’t right, and a good reason to hang up.

The BlackCloak Team is ready to assist you should you have any questions. Simply reach out to our team at ask@blackcloak.io or (833) 882-5625 for assistance.