IRS Phone Call Threatening Arrest — Why It's Always a Scam
A voicemail or live call claims to be from the IRS saying you owe taxes and will be arrested if you do not pay immediately. They demand payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. The IRS initiates contact by mail, not phone calls. They never threaten arrest or demand unusual payment methods. This remains the number one government impersonation phone scam in America.
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How This Scam Works
Critical Risk — The IRS Never Threatens Arrest by Phone
The IRS initiates contact by mail, not by phone. They never threaten arrest, demand immediate payment, or accept gift cards. Any such call is a scam.
Note: This scam typically arrives via phone call, not email. If you received a suspicious email, forward it to check@scam.support for a free risk assessment. For phone scams, report to the FTC — see all reporting agencies.
A voicemail or live call claims to be from the IRS saying you owe taxes and will be arrested if you do not pay immediately. They demand payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. The caller may use aggressive language and claim that local police will arrive at your door.
According to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), the IRS impersonation scam has been the number one government impersonation phone scam in the United States for years, with TIGTA receiving reports of millions of contacts and hundreds of millions of dollars in losses. The IRS has stated that it always initiates contact by mail and never demands immediate payment or threatens arrest.
Red Flags
- Caller claims to be from the IRS and threatens arrest
- Demands immediate payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
- The IRS always contacts you first by mail — never by phone
- Caller ID may be spoofed to show an IRS number
- Creates extreme urgency — pay now or face consequences
What You Should Do
What To Do
- Hang up immediately
- Remember the IRS always initiates contact by mail
- Check your tax status at irs.gov if you have concerns
- Call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 to verify any claimed debt
- Report the call to TIGTA and the FTC
Sources
- Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) — IRS impersonation scam resources
- IRS official guidance — How to know it's the IRS