IRS calling about your tax refund or arrest warrant
Scammer impersonates an IRS agent claiming you owe back taxes or have an arrest warrant, demanding immediate payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.
Also known as: IRS arrest warrant call, tax debt robocall, IRS gift card scam
Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes
- 1 Call your bank or card's fraud line right now. Use the number on the back of your card — not any number from the message or caller. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and freeze the account.
- 2 If you paid by gift card, wire, or an app (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App): contact that company immediately and report it as fraud. Acting fast sometimes recovers the money.
- 3 Report to the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The sooner, the better.
- ! If you installed any "support", "server", "refund", or remote-access app at their request (AnyDesk, TeamViewer, Quick Support, etc.): disconnect the internet now, then run free SeraphSecure (https://www.seraphsecure.com) to detect and remove it.
What to do right now
- 1 Hang up immediately — do not engage with the caller
- 2 Do not call back any number the caller gives you
- 3 If you genuinely think you owe taxes, call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040
- 4 If you installed any 'support' or 'server' or 'refund app' or remote-access app at the scammer's request (AnyDesk, TeamViewer, Quick Support, etc.), run free SeraphSecure (https://www.seraphsecure.com) to detect and remove it.
- 5 Report to the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI's IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov.
Was remote-access software installed?
If a scammer asked you to install AnyDesk, TeamViewer, Quick Support, or any remote-access app, your device may still be compromised.
Run SeraphSecure to detect and remove it →Red flags
- ⚠ The IRS always contacts people by mail first — never by unsolicited phone call
- ⚠ Demands immediate payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
- ⚠ Threatens arrest, deportation, or license revocation
- ⚠ Caller ID may be spoofed to show 'IRS' or a Washington DC number
Known variants
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AI-generated voice robocalls clone official IRS automated-system tones to deliver messages claiming the taxpayer owes back taxes or faces imminent arrest, directing victims to a fraudulent callback number.
Last seen: 5/22/2026