IRS: Child Tax Credit scams already underway
WASHINGTON - Scammers have wasted no time taking advantage of the latest government benefit program.
The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division is warning taxpayers about Child Tax Credit-related scams, which criminals are using to steal money and personal information.
Millions of American families started receiving the advance Child Tax Credit payments last week as criminals were using phone, e-mail, text message and social media scams to take advantage of unwitting victims.
Any communication that offers assistance to sign up for the Child Tax Credit or to speed up the monthly payments is likely a scam, according to the IRS.
Responding to unsolicited calls or messages seeking personal information, invitations to click on links, or open attachments may lead to money loss, fraud, and identity theft.
“Scammers never stop and they will assuredly be trying to use the advance Child Tax Credit payments as an opportunity to swindle honest citizens,” said Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation.
Although scammers constantly come up with new schemes to try and catch taxpayers off guard, there are simple ways to identify if it is truly the IRS reaching out.
The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers via e-mail, text messages, or social media channels to request personal or financial information, even information related to the Child Tax Credit.
The IRS does not leave pre-recorded, urgent, or threatening messages. Aggressive calls warning taxpayers about a lawsuit or arrest are fake.
The IRS will not call taxpayers asking them to provide or verify financial information so they can obtain the monthly Child Tax Credit payments.
The IRS will not ask for payment via a gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency.
If you are eligible for advance payments of the Child Tax Credit, the IRS will use information from your 2020 or 2019 tax return to automatically enroll you for advance payments.
Taxpayers do not have to take any additional action. Taxpayers who are not required to file a tax return or who have not provided the IRS their information, may visit IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021 to provide basic information for the Child Tax Credit.
To report suspicious IRS-related phishing and online scams, visit IRS.gov.
