IRS E-Mail Scam:  A new scam e-mail that appears to be a solicitation from the IRS and the U.S. government for charitable contributions to victims of the recent Southern California wildfires has been making the rounds. A link in the e-mail, when clicked, sends the e-mail recipients to a Web site that looks like the IRS Web site, but isn't. They are then directed to click on a link that opens a donation form that asks for personal and financial information. The scammers can use that information to gain access to the e-mail recipients' financial accounts. The IRS does not send e-mails to taxpayers soliciting contributions to a charitable cause.   Updated Nov. 2, 2007.  The above information is from: (http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=170894,00.html)

 

IRS E-Mail Scam:  Updated Sept. 19, 2007 — Another recent e-mail scam tells taxpayers that the IRS has calculated their "fiscal activity" and that they are eligible to receive a tax refund of a certain amount. Taxpayers receive a page of, or are sent to, a Web site (titled "Get Your Tax Refund!") that copies the appearance of the genuine "Where's My Refund?" interactive page on the genuine IRS Web site. Like the real "Where's My Refund?" page, taxpayers are asked to enter their SSNs and filing status. However, the phony Web page asks taxpayers to enter their credit card account numbers instead of the exact amount of refund as shown on their tax return, as the real "Where's My Refund?" page does. Moreover, the IRS does not send e-mails to taxpayers to advise them of refunds or to request financial information.  The above information is from: (http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=170894,00.html)

IRS E-Mail Scam:  Updated Aug. 24, 2007 — The Internal Revenue Service today warned taxpayers of a new phishing scam, in which an e-mail purporting to come from the IRS advises taxpayers they can receive $80 by filling out an online customer satisfaction survey. The IRS urges taxpayers to ignore this solicitation and not provide any requested information. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers through e-mail.  The above information is from: (http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=170894,00.html)

IRS E-Mail Scam:  Updated June 19, 2007 — In another recent scam, consumers have received a "Tax Avoidance Investigation" e-mail claiming to come from the IRS' "Fraud Department" in which the recipient is asked to complete an "investigation form," for which there is a link contained in the e-mail, because of possible fraud that the recipient committed.  It is believed that clicking on the link may activate a Trojan Horse.  The above information is from: (http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=170894,00.html)

April 2005:  A Marine's E-mail: A California Judge ordered Yahoo! to turnover a Marine's e-mails to the Marine's family.  The Marine died in 2003 while on duty.  Updated April 28, 2005.