IRS warns of tax scams
Five tricks the crooks use to steal from taxpayers
By Craig Brenden
[Feb. 14, 2008]
Tax time is rough enough without some identity thief making false promises and trying to steal your money. But that's exactly what's happening nationwide, the Internal Revenue Service warns taxpayers.
The agency warns of several scams using the IRS name in e-mails or by telephone. The scammers will attempt to trick you into revealing personal or financial account information such as Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers. With this information, they can attempt to empty your accounts, run up charges on your credit cards, apply for new loans or credit cards, and commit other crimes.
Here are the five most common scams identified by the IRS:
- Rebate scam. A so-called IRS employee calls to explain you are eligible for a rebate for filing your taxes early. The agency just needs your financial account information to deposit the money directly into your account. [Common sense response below.]
- Refund scam. An "IRS" e-mail claims you are eligible for a tax refund. You are instructed to click on a link in the e-mail to access the refund claim form. You have to disclose your financial account information to get the refund, however.
- Audit scam. An e-mail claims that your tax return will be audited. You're instructed to click on a link in the e-mail to complete forms that ask for your personal and financial account information.
- Change in tax laws download malware. An e-mail comes to your business or your accountant about tax law changes. To retrieve new publications for businesses, estates taxes, excise taxes, exempt organizations, IRAs, and other retirement plans, you are instructed to click on a series of links. Clicking on these links may download "malware" -- malicious code that can take over your computer -- to locate and send back financial records, passwords, and other private information to the computer hacker.
- Check cashing scam. A person claiming to be an IRS employee telephones you to say the IRS has mailed you a check that has not been cashed. The caller then asks for verification of your financial account information.
What should I do if I'm contacted?
If you receive an unsolicited e-mail purporting to be from the IRS, please do the following:
- Do not open any attachments to the e-mail. They may contain malicious code (virus, spyware, malware, etc.) that may infect your computer.
- Without opening any attachments, simply forward the questionable e-mail claiming to be from the IRS to phishing@irs.gov.
A common sense response
Common sense is your best ally when receiving any unsolicited e-mail or telephone calls. Remember that:
- The IRS does not need your financial information; it already has it.
- The IRS is not anxious for you to collect a refund or cash an IRS check.
- The IRS does not send unsolicited e-mail about tax account matters to individuals, businesses, or organizations.
- The IRS does not contact individual taxpayers to verify information. [Return to top.]
Craig Brenden is the STCU fraud prevention officer.
