Amid tax season, IRS cautions about a spike in tax scams

SALT LAKE CITY — The IRS is warning to be wary of tax scams, and they say there is big increase in the number of those scams this time of year.

According to the IRS, more and more tax scams are being promoted through social media.

IRS spokesperson, Raphael Tulino said to watch out for red flags and to never give personal information unless you absolutely know who is one the other end.

Promoters are encouraging people to falsify W-2s to try and get a larger tax return.

“If you’re going to a tax professional for example, and they’re telling you something like don’t sign the return, don’t call the IRS or put the money in my account — all those kinds of things, I would run out of that office,” said Tulino.

Tulino said if something sounds too good to be true it probably is. He also said the IRS will never reach out through email, text, or phone call.

The IRS will only send you official letters in the mail, Tulino said.

“Anybody calling you, emailing you, texting you, in person or online, social media wise, [or] suggesting you do this and the other that seems like it’s too good to be true, using the IRS or tax information as a lure to get you to do something… Be wary of chances are you could be a bad guy looking to do some bad things to your good news.”

Related: As tax season begins, two things to keep in mind