FAQ > Consumer Protection FAQs > I have received a call from someone claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the U.

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I have received a call from someone claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the U.S. Treasury. They left a message telling me to call a certain phone number, or claim that I must take action to avoid arrest or legal repercussions. What should I do?
Hang up the phone and do not call the phone number provided in a message. If you receive an unexpected phone call from someone who threatens to arrest you for not paying taxes, be very skeptical, especially if you never received any written notice. The real IRS will not demand immediate payment, refuse to provide written information, or demand payment methods preferred by scammers such as a wire transfer or a prepaid card.