| The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in Washington, DC warns of potential E-mail and Telephone Tax Scams using the IRS name. The IRS expects that such scams will continue throughout the tax return filing season and beyond.
The intended goal of the scams is to trick people into providing their personal information such as Social Security number, bank account numbers or credit card numbers. This information will be used to commit identity theft.
The most recent scams brought to the IRS' attention are below.
REBATE PHONE CALL
The tax scam using the phone consists of the using the word "rebate." Potential victims will receive a phone call from someone claiming to be an IRS employee. The caller will say that the person is eligible to receive a large rebate. The caller will let the potential victim know that all they need to do is provide their bank account number for the direct deposit of the rebate. The target will be told that if they do not provide this information, they will not receive the rebate.
REFUND E-MAIL
Another form of this scam is the refund e-mail. There are several variations of the e-mail scam. One e-mail will claim the target is eligible to receive a specific amount for a tax refund. Instructions will be provided to click on a link to access the claim form. The recipient will be asked to type in personal and financial information. This will enable scam artists to access the recipients' bank accounts or credit card account numbers.
Another variation to the e-mail scam is to include two paragraphs that appear to be directed toward tax-exempt organizations that distribute funds to persons or organizations. The e-mail includes a phony name and signature of the Director of the IRS's Exempt Organization business division. The IRS does not send out unsolicited e-mails of this sort.
AUDIT E-MAIL
Also, be aware of an Audit e-mail. This e-mail will get attention because it threatens the recipient that their tax return will be audited. DO NOT RESPOND. Again, this e-mail will ask for personal information which will be used to commit identity theft.
Anyone wishing to access the IRS Website should initiate contact by typing the IRS.gov address into their Internet address window, rather than clicking on a link in an e-mail or opening an attachment.
The IRS has issued previous warnings on scams that use the IRS to lure victims into believing the scam is legitimate. More information on identity theft, phishing and telephone scams using the IRS name, logo or spoofed (copied) website is available on the IRS website at IRS.gov. Enter the terms "phishing," "identity theft" or "e-mail scams" into the search box in the upper right corner of the front page.
For more information about various scams, call
Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Aaron R. Jordan at ext.
3744.
For more information about reporting suspected fraud, waste or abuse to the Office of Inspector General, please call an OIG Investigator, Special Agent Tom Zigan at ext. 3104, Special Agent Jay Hancock at ext. 6991, Special Agent Cornelia Green at ext. 3315 and Special Agent Claressia Jones at ext. 3685 (TTY/TDD Users: 202-326-4115).
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