Consumers are receiving a recorded message from someone claiming to be with the Internal Revenue Service or Treasury Department threatening arrest if back taxes are not paid immediately.
If calls are returned, the consumer will be instructed to use a money order, wire transfer or prepaid debit card, perhaps even an iTunes gift card to send their payment. Sometimes the scam message is delivered by email instead of by phone.
Scammers are searching for potential victims by text message. The message begins "WARNING: Criminal Investigation Unit of the IRS is filing lawsuit against you…".
It includes a phone number to call for more information, and continues "This is your last chance… arrest warrant will be forwarded to local police…"
Regardless of which method scammers use to try to scare consumers into paying money they don't owe, remember that government agencies like the IRS would never threaten with immediate arrest, or demand that you make payment using iTunes gift cards, money orders or wire transfers.
If contacted by an IRS scammer, report it to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division by calling 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or by filing a complaint online or file a real report with the real IRS.