FRAUD ALERT: If You Paid Your Taxes Online, Don’t Get Fooled by Fake IRS Email
Pay your taxes online this year? Scammers are hoping to grab the attention of the many Americans who filed electronically. Watch your inbox for this latest round of phishing scams that poses as an IRS email.
How the Scam Works:
You receive an email saying your federal tax bank transfer failed. It appears to come from the Internal Revenue Service, but look closely at the “From” line, and you will see another email address.
The email gives a fake account number and urges you to check out the attached file, supposedly a Word Document explaining the details of the failed transfer. But of course, the file is really a virus.
Your income tax transfer didn’t fail. It’s just a scam.
The scammers behind this con are even craftier than usually. Some consumers have reported receiving a follow up email with the subject line “SECOND NOTICE: Your IRS federal tax bank transfer is cancelled.”
I Think I’ve Found a Scam. What Should I Do?
- As always, don’t click any attachments or links. If you did download the file, be sure to run a virus scan on your computer.
- If you receive the above message or any suspicious email posing as the IRS, forward the message to .
For More Information:
Check out the IRS website for examples of common phishing scams using the IRS name and tips for dealing with them.
The BBB is dedicated to fostering honest and responsive relationships between businesses and consumers in the U.S. and Canada, instilling consumer confidence and contributing to a trustworthy marketplace for all.
You may also enjoy reading
-
FRAUD ALERT: Fake American Express Email Messages “Thanks for Updating Your Email”
American Express card holders beware! Scammers are using the credit card company's email address for a phishing scam. Consumers nationwide reported receiving fake emails informing them that their account's email address has been changed. These scam emails are remarkably sophisticated. Not only do they use the American Express logo, they copy the business's email design and color scheme. The fake messages even contain footer links labeled "View Our Privacy Policy" and "Contact Customer Service." ... Continue Reading
-
FRAUD ALERT: Fake Groupon Deals Lure in Online Bargain Hunters
Savvy shoppers know buying online coupons from Groupon can be a great way to get a deal. But now scammers are smarting up to Groupon's potential too ... as a way to transmit a virus. How the Scam Works: A new email scam posing as a Groupon offer is infecting victims' computers with a virus. The emails pretend to come from Groupon and look just like the emails users ... Continue Reading
-
FRAUD ALERT: Bogus IRS Email Message
An email scam, purporting to be from the IRS with headers such as “Federal Tax Payment Canceled,” “Your Federal Tax Transaction,” or “Notice of Underreported Income,” has been rampantly circulating. The emails appear to be from a sender with an irs.gov email address, but these addresses have been spoofed. The emails have been known to includes highly destructive malware and/or directions to a website used to steal your personal and financial information, which could lead to identity theft. ... Continue Reading
-
FRAUD ALERT: Malicious Email Targets Bank Customer Information
A new phishing email purportedly from the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or Federal Reserve Bank is circulating. The email contains malware to gain access to users’ bank account(s). It is reported that the malware, named “Gameover” can defeat common methods of user authentication used by some financial institutions. ... Continue Reading
