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IRS Warning: Beware e-Mail and Telephone Scams Using IRS Name

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Preferred
WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) warned taxpayers to beware of several current e-mail and telephone scams that use the IRS name as a lure. The IRS expects such scams to continue through the end of tax return filing season and beyond.
 
The IRS cautioned taxpayers to be on the lookout for scams involving proposed advance payment checks. Although the government has not yet enacted an economic stimulus package in which the IRS would provide advance payments, known informally as rebates to many Americans, a scam which uses the proposed rebates as bait has already cropped up.
 
The goal of the scams is to trick people into revealing personal and financial information, such as Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers, which the scammers can use to commit identity theft.
 
The most recent scams brought to IRS attention are:
 
Rebate Phone Call
 
Refund e-Mail
 
Changes to Tax Law e-Mail
 
Audit e-Mail
 
Paper Check Phone Call

 

Click here for details from the IRS about the scams and What to Do.
 

Related IRS Articles:

FS-2008-9, Identity Theft E-Mails Scams a Growing Problem
IR-2007-109, IRS Warns Taxpayers of New E-mail Scams
Suspicious e-Mails and Identity Theft


Source: IR-2008-11


See also: Avoiding Scams and Fraud on the Internet and Elsewhere




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Comments(1)

Lawrence Yerkes
RE/MAX Preferred - Medford Township, NJ
Broker Associate, Southern New Jersey Real Estate Services
Here's an example of what one of the bogus messages:


 
 

After the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity we have determined that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of $93.60. Please submit the tax refund request and allow us 6-9 days in order to process it.

A refund can be delayed for a variety of reasons. For example submitting invalid records or applying after the deadline.

To access your tax refund online, please click here

Regards,
Internal Revenue Service

Feb 05, 2008 12:30 AM