The Internal Revenue Service recently renewed a consumer alert for email schemes after seeing an approximate 400 percent surge in phishing and malware incidents so far this tax season.
The emails are designed to trick taxpayers into thinking these are official communications form the IRS or others in the tax industry, including tax software companies. The phishing schemes can ask taxpayers about a wide range of topics. Email scan seek information related to refunds, filing status, confirming personal information, ordering transcripts and verifying PIN information. When people click on these email links, they are taken to sites designed to imitate an official-looking website, such as IRS.gov. The sites ask for Social Security numbers and other personal information. The sites may also carry malware, which can infect people's computers and allow criminals to access your files or track your keystrokes to gain information.
What to look for in these scams:
Taxpayers receive an official-looking email from what appears to be an official source, whether the IRS or someone in the tax industry.
The underlying messages frequently ask taxpayers to update important information by clicking on a web link. The links may be masked to appear to go to official pages, but they can go to a scam page designed to look like the official page. The IRS urges people not to click on these links, but instead send the email to phishing@irs.gov.
Recent email examples the IRS has seen include subject lines and underlying text referencing:
• Numerous variations about people's tax refunds.
• Update your filing details, which can include references to W-2.
• Confirm your personal information.
• Get my IP PIN.
• Get my E-file PIN.
• Order a transcript.
• Complete your tax return information.
It is important to keep in mind the IRS generally does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media channels. The IRS has information online (www.irs.gov) that can help protect taxpayers from email scams.
Call us at (219) 769-3616 with your questions, or email them to tlynch@swartz-retson.com.
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