Criminals never stop looking for ways to trick taxpayers out of their money. One scheme that made the IRS’s 2020 list of the top 12 tax scams to avoid (the “Dirty Dozen”) involves fake payments. It starts when a thief files a bogus tax return and has the related refund deposited into the taxpayer’s account. After the deposit is completed, the fraudster, posing as an IRS agent, contacts the victim, claiming that the refund was erroneous and demanding repayment using specific gift cards. The IRS states that it will never demand payment by a specific method. If you receive an unexpected deposit, followed by a demand for repayment, contact your bank and the IRS. Reach out to Cg with questions. © 2020