Be on Alert for Back-to-School Scams Targeting Students and Parents
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Be on Alert for Back-to-School Scams Targeting Students and Parents

Scammers are constantly identifying fresh tactics to carry out their crimes in new and unsuspecting ways

July 30, 2025

As the new school year approaches, students and parents should be vigilant for IRS impersonation scams. Fraudsters pose as IRS agents demanding payment of fake “federal student taxes,” “verification fees” or “COVID‑relief repayments,” often using aggressive threats of arrest or legal action.

How the Scam Works

Scammers spoof caller ID to display IRS or Treasury Department numbers, then:

  • Claim you owe back taxes or fees and must pay immediately
  • Insist on payment via wire transfer, prepaid gift cards or cryptocurrency
  • Threaten to involve law enforcement or campus security if you don’t comply
  • Request personal data, Social Security numbers, bank account or credit card details—under the guise of “verification”

IRS Official Guidelines

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel advises: “The IRS will never initiate contact by phone, email or social media to demand immediate payment or threaten arrest. Always verify any claim by calling us at our published numbers.”

The IRS will never:

  • Call without first sending a written notice by mail
  • Demand payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfer
  • Threaten to involve police, campus authorities or immigration services
  • Ask for credit/debit card numbers by phone
  • Send unsolicited emails with links or attachments

Protect Yourself and Your Family

  • Hang up on unsolicited calls claiming to be the IRS
  • Never click links or download attachments in suspicious emails or texts
  • Do not provide personal or financial information over the phone
  • Verify any caller by dialing 1‑800‑829‑1040 (IRS main line) yourself
  • Check the IRS website (irs.gov) for alerts on new scams

What to Do If You’re Targeted

  • If you believe you owe legitimate taxes, call the IRS at 1‑800‑829‑1040.
  • To report a scam, contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 1‑800‑366‑4484 or at tigta.gov.
  • Report fraudulent calls to the NC Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at ncdoj.gov/complaints or call 1‑877‑566‑7226.
  • File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Staying informed and skeptical of unsolicited demands is the best defense. Share these tips with students, parents and campus communities to help everyone start the school year scam‑free.