What's New: Phishing Hits The IRS

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service is warning users to beware of fraudulent e-mails that seek to coerce account numbers and private information from users. The IRS cited phishing e-mails from sites pretending to participate in the IRS's free online filing service, where at the end of the return the user's refund would instead be sent to a different bank account number. Other users have received e-mails offering to direct a refund to a credit card account, which then ask for the user's account information. Security experts also expect tax-related phishing e-mails to continue for the next several months by claiming to need additional information to process a return or refund.

Overall the best advice is that the IRS does not typically communicate via e-mail. If you receive such an e-mail, call the IRS directly rather than clicking any links in the e-mail.

Monday, Apr 16, 2007 02:25 pm CDT

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