Tax-related scams

Updated: March 3, 2008

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued consumer alerts about e-mail and telephone scams that use the IRS name as a lure. Some are using the government's economic stimulus rebate checks as a lure. Be on the lookout for these and other IRS-related scams:

• Tax refund e-mail – This e-mail tells the recipient that he or she is eligible for a tax refund, and then instructs the recipient to click on a link in the e-mail to access a refund claim form and enter their personal information and debit card or credit card number.
   
• Audit e-mail – This scam notifies the recipient that his or her tax return will be audited and instructs the recipient to click on links to complete forms with personal and account information.
                
• Rebate phone call – The scammer identifies himself as an IRS employee, tells the targeted victim that he or she is eligible for a sizable rebate and then asks for bank account information for direct deposit of the rebate.
   
• Paper check phone call – A scammer claims to be calling because the IRS sent a check to the individual and that check has not been cashed, so the IRS wants to verify the individual’s bank account number.

These calls and e-mails are scams. Do not respond to them. The IRS does NOT ask for personal identifying or financial information or require taxpayers to use direct deposit..

If you believe you have given personal information to an illegitimate source, you should contact the three credit reporting agencies immediately and monitor your credit files and account statements closely. Immediately report any unauthorized or fraudulent transactions.

Please contact us if you have questions about these scams.

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