involving a bogus refound. the agency says thousands have been targeted by the trick. tom costello has more on what you need to be on the lookout for. it s a new twist on an old scam. the reason of this call is to inform you that the irs is file ago lawsuit against you for tax fraud. an automated call claim to go by the irs threatening arrest if the taxpayer doesn t return an irs refund. but here is what s different. the victim actuallies has received an irs refund that the scammers have filed on his or her behalf. now the scammers want the money. call us back on our department number. 202-629 here is how it works. the scammers hack into employers or tax preparers computers stealing personal and bank account information. they then file a false tax return and request a refund check or direct deposit into the real taxpayer s bank account. then, posing as the irs or collection agency, the scammers contact the victim by e-mail or phone to go after the money.