Hearing loss is a real struggle that affects every aspect of life. Whether it’s having coffee with your friends, answering the phone, babysitting the grandkids, or a normal day at the office, hearing loss makes it difficult to understand all the things happening around you and makes communication a challenge. As if hearing loss wasn’t already hard enough, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is warning about a new wave of scams targeting deaf and hard of hearing citizens.
Who’s at Risk?
Identity thieves aren’t known to be merciful. They target anyone and everyone relentlessly. Those who struggle with hearing loss are especially at risk, since they have difficulty following conversations and can miss key details, particularly over the phone. Have you ever received a phone call that didn’t feel quite right? Maybe something in the person’s tone of voice seemed off, or they were asking too many personal questions. For those who struggle to hear, these cues are harder to catch, so if you have hearing loss you might be the next victim.
The Video Relay Scam
The IRS is warning about a scam they’ve been seeing a lot recently: the video relay scam. Video relay technology has greatly improved communication for the deaf and hard of hearing community. It’s a video telecommunication service that connects the hard of hearing individual and the caller using a sign language interpreter. It allows for real-time communication like never before, and has allowed deaf Americans the same ability to connect as everyone else. However, the sign language interpreter’s job is to help you understand the person on the other end, not protect you from fraud. Scam artists are taking advantage of the trust deaf and hard of hearing individuals have in video relay calling to perform scams.
Scam artists who pretend to be from the IRS want to steal your money, personal information, or even identity. Using video relay services gives them a degree or credibility, but don’t trust someone just because they’re coming to you through a service you trust, and never give personal or financial information to anyone you don’t know.
What to Expect from the Real IRS
The IRS is responsible for collecting taxes, not creating fear. Don’t become a victim of fraud! Here’s what you need to know about the IRS to keep yourself safe.
The IRS will never make aggressive or threatening phone calls. In fact, if you receive a call from the IRS and aren’t expecting to hear from them, it’s probably a scam. They follow strict, respectful procedures for those with tax issues, and never make harassing calls. The IRS will always contact you via mail first, and you will receive a letter explaining the taxes you owe.
A real IRS agent will never demand money on the spot, or request bank or credit card numbers to finalize payment over the phone. The IRS won’t threaten to involve law enforcement or call in the police, so don’t fall for a scare tactic. In fact, a real IRS agent will never force payment without giving you time to appeal the amount or question the procedure.
What to Do If You Received a Suspicious Call
If you receive a suspicious call, don’t disclose any personal information. Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 to speak to an agent, confirm your tax payment status, and check for any red flags in your account.
You can also report the phone call to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 800-366-4484, or file a complaint form with the FTC Complaint Assistant.
The Next Step for Scam Victims
Think you’ve been a victim of identity theft or another scam? Warning signs include a letter from the IRS about a suspicious claim, or having your claim rejected since another claim has already been filed with your social security number. Take action to protect yourself! Fill out the Identity Theft Affidavit form available on the IRS website, place a fraud alert on your credit account by contacting the credit bureau, and close any accounts that have been tampered with. Be patient, since it will take some time for the IRS to resolve the issue.
If you want to find out more about the scams targeting honest tax payers, visit the IRS website at irs.gov, and use the search box to find more information about current scams.