Fake IRS Calling Montanans in “Largest of its Kind” Scam

The Montana Department of Justice is warning Montanans to look out for a very smart, very big scam that tries to get money from taxpayers by impersonating the IRS.

The scammers behind the operation have taken many clever steps to shield the operations from suspicion.They often know a lot of surprising details about the victim too, including the last four digits of one's social security number.:"

"The scary thing is that they've even changed their caller ID to make it look as if they're actually from the IRS," said Montana Department of Justice spokeswoman Anastasia Burton. "What confuses people is that they will also send follow-up emails that make it look like it actually is from the IRS. In the second contact they will often pretend to be from the police department, or the motor vehicle department. We want to get the word out to Montanan and let them know that this is a scam. If you get a call like this, simply hang up and let us know about it."

The scam also threatens to suspend licenses, deport, or arrest victims that don't comply.

In its press release on the scam, the Montana DOJ reminds that "the IRS usually contacts people by mail, not by phone, about unpaid taxes. The IRS won’t ask for payment using a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer, nor will they involve law enforcement or immigration agencies."

Contact the Montana Department of Justice’s Office of Consumer Protection at (800) 481-6896 or (406) 444-4500, or contact them online.