Feb 18, 2009 3:00 pm US/Eastern
IRS Warns Tax Payers of Scams
WASHINGTON (KDKA) ―
Taxpayers should beware of internet and telephone scams that use the IRS name as a decoy.
The IRS anticipates these scams to continue throughout the tax filing period and after.
The scams are aimed to steal people's identities by tricking people to give away personal financial information.
The IRS warns taxpayers to watch out for any e-mails or telephone calls that propose advanced payment checks.
Here are some of the most recent scams that have been brought to the attention of the IRS:
-Rebate Phone Call
In this scam, consumers receive a phone call from someone identifying themselves as an IRS employee. The caller then states that he needs the target's bank account information for the direct deposit of the rebate. No legislation has yet been enacted that would allow the IRS to provide advance payments.
-Refund E-Mail
This is a refund-related bogus e-mail which falsely claims to come from the IRS. It tells the recipient that he or she is eligible for a tax refund for a specific amount, and instructs the recipient to click on a link in the e-mail to access a refund claim form. The IRS does not send unsolicited e-mail about tax matters.
-Audit E-Mail
This e-mail notifies the recipient that his or her tax return will be audited. The e-mail instructs the recipient to click on links to complete forms with personal and account information which the scammers will use to commit identity theft.
-Changes to Tax Law e-Mail
This bogus e-mail is addressed to businesses, accountants and "Treasury" managers. It instructs them to download information on tax law changes by clicking on a series of links to publications on businesses, estate taxes, excise taxes, exempt organizations and IRAs and other retirement plans. The IRS believes that clicking on a link downloads malware onto the recipient's computer. All IRS.gov Web page addresses begin with
http://www.irs.gov/.
- Paper Check Phone Call
In a current telephone scam, a caller claims to be an IRS employee who is calling because the IRS sent a check to the individual being called. The caller states that because the check has not been cashed, the IRS wants to verify the individual's bank account number. The caller may have a foreign accent. The IRS does not contact taxpayers to verify the information.
Those who have received a questionable e-mail claiming to come from the IRS may forward it to a mailbox the IRS has established to receive such e-mails, phishing@irs.gov.
Those who have received a questionable telephone call that claims to come from the IRS may also use the phishing@irs.gov mailbox to notify the IRS of the scam.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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