IRS / tax authority impersonation

A caller or text claims to be from the IRS (or HMRC, ATO, CRA) and demands immediate payment for unpaid taxes — often in gift cards or wire transfer — under threat of arrest, deportation, or asset seizure.

• Demands payment over the phone
• Asks for gift cards, crypto, or wire transfer
• Threatens arrest, lawsuit, or deportation
• Caller ID spoofed to look official

"This is the IRS. A warrant has been issued for your arrest for tax evasion. To resolve this, you must pay $1,840 in Apple gift cards within the next hour."

1. 01Hang up. The IRS does not call demanding immediate payment.
2. 02Report to the Treasury Inspector General (TIGTA) and the FTC.
3. 03Never buy gift cards for someone you've only spoken to on the phone.