IRS Warns of E-mail Scams
The IRS has issued warnings of recent e-mail scams. In one scam, a "Tax Avoidance Investigation" e-mail claiming to come from the IRS "Fraud Department" informs recipients that they may have committed fraud and asks them to click a link and then complete an "investigation form." In another scam, recipients are told that they are under criminal investigation for submitting a false tax return to the California Franchise Tax Board. The e-mail asks that the recipient click a link or open an attachment to learn more information about the complaint against them.
Other e-mail scams allege that a customer has filed a complaint against a company and that the IRS can act as an arbitrator. Newer versions of e-mail scams are aimed at both business and individual taxpayers.
The IRS does not send unsolicited e-mails or ask for personal and financial information, nor does it ever ask for PINs, passwords, or similar secret access information for credit cards or bank accounts.
If you believe you have received one of these e-mails, DO NOT open any attachments or click any links contained in it. Follow the instructions provided at http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=155344,00.html and forward the e-mail to the IRS's phishing division at phishing@irs.gov.
To read more about e-mail scams, visit: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=170894,00.html.
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