Tax Rebate Scams – Are they phishing for YOU?

By now, we are all aware that none of us has unknown, rich relatives that die tragically overseas and leave us money. But the scammers are becoming more and more crafty. Now that our congress is contemplating a tax “rebate”, they are taking advantage of the opportunity.

Here are some new ways scammers are trying to get your information, and with it, your money.

Rebate Phone Call

The scammer calls you on the telephone and offers you a substantial rebate for filing your taxes early. The catch? You have to provide your bank account information so they can direct deposit. The reality? The IRS will not call to offer you anything. The only time you need to provide your banking information to them is on your annual income tax form (1040) if you want your refund direct deposited.

Refund e-Mail

The same thing, but by e-mail. You have to click on a link to fill out the refund/rebate form. The catch? Again, you provide personal and banking information. The reality? The IRS will not contact you by e-mail to offer you money.

Audit e-Mail

This one is brand-new. You are sent an e-mail informing you that you are being audited. This one is addressed to you personally. The catch? You are required to give them your personal information. The reality? The IRS does not send out unsolicited e-mails of any kind. Besides, audits are bad enough without being told via e-mail. Even the IRS isn’t that cruel.

Changes to tax law e-Mail

This bogus e-mail is addressed to businesses, accountants and "Treasury" managers. It instructs them to download information on tax law changes by clicking on a series of links to publications on businesses, estate taxes, excise taxes, exempt organizations and IRAs and other retirement plans. The Catch? Clicking on and especially downloading these files can give scammers full access to your computer. This action can also download mal-ware that can destroy your information and/or your hard drive. The reality? All IRS web page addresses begin with http://www.irs.gov/ , if the link does not begin exactly this way, don’t follow it, delete the e-mail.

Paper Check Phone Call

In this scam, you get a call from the IRS claiming that you didn’t cash last year’s refund check, or it doesn’t show that the direct transfer was made to your account. The catch? By now you know that they need your banking information to verify. The reality? Honestly, the IRS couldn’t care less if you ever cash the check. They don’t keep track, and they don’t need your banking information after you file your return.

Sound familiar?

Forward these e-mails straight to: phishing@irs.gov, using instructions contained in an article on IRS.gov titled "How to Protect Yourself from Suspicious E-Mails or Phishing Schemes." Following the instructions will help the IRS track the suspicious e-mail to its origins and shut down the scam. Find the article by visiting IRS.gov and entering the words "suspicious e-mails" into the search box in the upper right corner of the front page.

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Shirley Roosevelt
Information in this blog obtained in part from http://www.businessknowhow.com/