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Bogus "IRS" Emails
In a release dated July 7, 2006, the IRS warned taxpayers about a series of bogus emails claiming to be from the tax agency. The phony emails suggest that the taxpayer is eligible for a refund of $63.80. To secure that refund, the email asks the taxpayer to respond to the IRS by providing both their social security number and credit card information. Of course, this information would allow the sender of the bogus email to steal the recipient’s identity and perhaps access financial assets, open a credit card account, or accomplish other theft.
As the IRS notice emphasized, it does not send out emails asking for personal information. Additionally, the IRS never asks for PIN numbers, passwords or similar data regarding credit card or bank accounts.
The latest scam uses an email heading that appears to be a genuine IRS logo. The recipient is directed to a website that has similarities to the genuine IRS site, but the information has been modified to request detailed personal and financial information from the email recipient.
The home page of the actual IRS website (www.irs.ustreas.gov) has information on these “phishing” incidents, and contains an illustrated example of the most recent bogus email. In addition, the IRS has established an electronic mailbox for taxpayers to send information about suspicious emails that they receive which claim they come from the IRS. Those emails should be forwarded to phishing@irs.gov.
As always, we ask our clients to inform us immediately of any IRS correspondence. Even legitimate requests from the IRS for information can have tax implications, and we can advise as to the proper response.
In a release dated July 7, 2006, the IRS warned taxpayers about a series of bogus emails claiming to be from the tax agency. The phony emails suggest that the taxpayer is eligible for a refund of $63.80. To secure that refund, the email asks the taxpayer to respond to the IRS by providing both their social security number and credit card information. Of course, this information would allow the sender of the bogus email to steal the recipient’s identity and perhaps access financial assets, open a credit card account, or accomplish other theft.
As the IRS notice emphasized, it does not send out emails asking for personal information. Additionally, the IRS never asks for PIN numbers, passwords or similar data regarding credit card or bank accounts.
The latest scam uses an email heading that appears to be a genuine IRS logo. The recipient is directed to a website that has similarities to the genuine IRS site, but the information has been modified to request detailed personal and financial information from the email recipient.
The home page of the actual IRS website (www.irs.ustreas.gov) has information on these “phishing” incidents, and contains an illustrated example of the most recent bogus email. In addition, the IRS has established an electronic mailbox for taxpayers to send information about suspicious emails that they receive which claim they come from the IRS. Those emails should be forwarded to phishing@irs.gov.
As always, we ask our clients to inform us immediately of any IRS correspondence. Even legitimate requests from the IRS for information can have tax implications, and we can advise as to the proper response.