|
Investment Planning |
Phony IRS "Agents" May Be After Your Information
Phone and email scammers pose as IRS employees in an attempt to obtain and steal your personal financial information.
Here are a few real-world examples of how these scams work.
An individual receives an email that appears to be from the IRS containing news of a tax refund or audit. The email may request the recipient's Social Security number and credit card information.
A scammer requests that you click on links within the body of an email. Doing so relays personal information stored on your computer. If you receive one of these emails, forward it to phishing@irs.gov and then delete the message.
A caller gives news of a tax refund and then asks for personal financial information in order to process it. The caller may request a Social Security number and bank information under the pretense of depositing the refund. Normal IRS procedure is for a call to follow a letter. (The IRS never calls to establish contact with a taxpayer.) When in doubt, ask for the employee's name, occupation, ID number, and telephone number, as IRS protocol requires.
More information from the IRS regarding email and phone phishing scams can be found on the IRS website at www.irs.gov.
Tips Disclaimer
These tips contain information that may change over time as a result of new tax legislation. Although we make efforts to keep this information current, you should check with your tax advisor before taking action based upon any information contained in these tips.