How scammers are using AI deepfakes to steal money from taxpayers - Singletary, WaPo

My husband and I owe the IRS absolutely nothing. Yet in the last two weeks, I’ve been getting calls to my mobile number that make it seem as if the government has an issue with our tax situation. The implication is that we owe Uncle Sam, and there’s help available to sort it all out.

“Hello, this is Parker Ashland calling from the account review and compliance with the tax mediation and account support center,” a woman’s voice says. My account is “listed for verification,” she says, and she’s making a “courtesy outreach” to assist me. If I want, “this center can review IRS payment options, abatement programs, or resolution solutions,” the message says.

(snip)

You may have received similar calls recently that are probably using generative artificial intelligence to create more convincing scams, including deepfakes. Last month, the Federal Trade Commission warned that the agency has seen a “big wave” of reports about phone scams in which fraudsters claim to be from the IRS or another official-sounding government agency, or use a company name like “Tax Resolution Oversight Department.” You may be told that you haven’t paid your taxes or be offered an opportunity to connect with a “tax resolution officer,” who can help you apply for an “IRS liability reduction program.”

(snip)

Here’s how fraudsters make those fake messages. In many cases they are using a recording of a real person who sounds like an American professional. They grab these snippets from social media videos on Instagram or TikTok, or from spam calls, where people might repeatedly say “Hello?” after answering a robocall.

(snip)

If the message contains real information, such as the last four digits of your Social Security number, you might be inclined to believe that you are actually communicating with the IRS. Here’s what’s really scary about the use of AI. Criminals can target more people even faster using “vishing” (voice phishing) techniques that involve making phone calls or leaving messages that pretend to be from a government agency or a reputable company.

Even if you owe back taxes, the IRS will first contact you by mail, not by phone, the FTC warns. If you get one of these calls, hang up immediately. Don’t call back, even out of courtesy, because then you let them know they’ve reached a real person, and you could end up on a list passed around to other scammers. The IRS says it will never text or email you without your permission. If you get a suspicious text message or email, do not click on any links or open any attachments. Forward the email to phishing@irs.gov and then delete it. Report the text message to your carrier or forward it to 7726 to help block similar messages in the future.

The IRS will never ask you to pay your taxes using a gift card. The agency will not ask for debit or credit card numbers over the phone. If someone calls claiming to be from the IRS, hang up immediately unless you initiated the contact.

https://wapo.st/4rBKOK0

free