This holiday season, remember – gift cards are for gifts, not for making tax payments.

Many people give gift cards as a convenient gift for any occasion. Scammers use gift cards to steal your money. Here’s how this usually works:

  1. The scammer may call you, impersonating an IRS agent, or contact you by text, email, or social media.
  2. The criminal calls or leaves a voicemail with a callback number, claiming that you are linked to criminal activity.
  3. The scammer will harass you, demanding you pay a bogus tax penalty.
  4. The scammer instructs you to buy gift cards from various stores.
  5. Once you buy the gift cards, the scammer asks for the card number and PIN.

Don’t fall for it! Visit IRS.gov/scams to learn more.