To the Editor:

Beware of IRS impersonation scammers. I received a telephone call in mid January 2016 that IRS was filing a suit against me and to call a call back number provided for more details. Since I don't owe IRS any money and hadn't heard from IRS about taxes due, I suspected the call was a scam.

I contacted the IRS tax inspector general for tax administration to find out if a scam existed and I wanted to file a complaint. I found out that, according to the Inspector General the IRS impersonation scam is widespread with scammers collecting over $23 million from October 2013 to October 2015. The scammers use various tactics to persuade people that they should pay using debit cards. They use fake IRS badge numbers, some have the last four digits of the person's social security number and call two or three times claiming to be the police or DMV.

After you get a call and you believe you owe IRS taxes, call 1-800-829-1040 to get help with your questions. If you don't owe taxes, fill out the form for the IRS impersonation scam that is on the website www.tigta.gov or call 1-800-366-3844. Add "IRS telephone scam" to the comments on your complaint form. The website also provides information about the scam. You should also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.FTC.gov.

Be alert during and after tax filing season for the scam artist contacts who prey on people for money and cause severe personal anguish.

Frank Medico

Mount Vernon