Today the Internal Revenue Service issued a warning about the rising threat of impersonation scams that are targeting older adults by pretending to be the IRS, Social Security Administration, or Medicare. 

By spoofing caller IDs, scammers can deceive victims into believing they are receiving legitimate communications. A common tactic is to create a sense of urgency, demanding that victims take immediate action and usually insist on unconventional payment methods, including cryptocurrency, wire transfers, payment apps or gift cards. 

Remember, the IRS will never demand immediate payment without allowing opportunities to dispute or appeal the amount owed, nor will they request credit, debit or gift card numbers over the phone. The IRS will never threaten to involve local police or other law enforcement agencies.

If you are uncertain about the legitimacy of IRS communications, do not return a call. Instead contact IRS customer service for verification.