ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York officials are warning about a tax-season scam in which email fraudsters pose as company executives to get employees' Social Security numbers. State tax officials say at least 65 companies with New York employees have been victimized by the identity thieves, compromising 7,100 Social Security numbers. Scammers posing as company executives send emails to payroll and human resource departments requesting lists of employees and personal information.
The IRS also will never:
- Call to demand immediate payment over the phone, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you several bills.
- Call or email you to verify your identity by asking for personal and financial information.
- Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
- Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
- Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone or email.
- Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.