Woman mistakes real IRS for scam and ignores officer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kathy Robbins vowed not to fall for IRS scams, so when someone claiming to be with the agency left a note on her mailbox, she ignored it.

That person really was with the IRS.

She found an IRS business card and note which someone filled out some of it by hand taped to her mailbox.

"It just didn't look right," Robbins said. "I've never heard of any legitimate IRS communication where you just take an unclosed document and Scotch tape it on someone's mailbox."

She disregarded it and was so committed to warning others, she reached out to Action 9.

"I'm just hoping that we can get the word out and it won't continue," she said

In addition, she felt scammers coming to her home really crossed the line.

"That's the shocker of it all," Robbins said.

IRS officers will come to your home.

They said they try to reach most people by mail first, but if that doesn't work, they'll make house calls, usually for an overdue tax bill, or to tour a business as part of an audit or criminal investigation.

In those cases, they "may leave their business card and a copy of the original notice in someone's mailbox or on their door."

If an IRS officer visits you, he or she will always show you two forms of official identification, including a federal ID.

A business card does not count.

"[The business card and note] didn't really look too professional, but it did have professional tones to it," Robbins said.

Robbins said one of her tax returns was late and she's paying it.

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