Email scam: IRS Tax Refund Notification
By Katherine J.Trimnal ktrimnal02@aol.com 

Since January, residents across South Carolina have been randomly targeted in a phone scam related to President Bush's tax refund incentive to stimulate the economy. The objective is for the resident, presumed to be a taxpayer, to provide personal financial information over the phone to the caller to expedite their tax refund check. Once the information is retrieved, the fleecing of their money and identity begins.

Con artists are a creative group and usually unstoppable until they are caught. That is why banks and credit card companies emphasize not to disclose to anyone personal information that provides access to their checking and credit card accounts. But, con artists are determined to help people part with their money, especially during tax refund season.

On February 17, I received a fraudulent email from the "Internal Revenue Service" announcing I was due a substantial tax refund. All that was required was to fill out an attached refund form and wait two- three days for processing of my claim. The refund would be deposited in my bank debit or credit account, the email said.

The email notice I received had an official- looking letter head stating it was from the "Internal Revenue Service, United States Department of the Treasury," large bold white letters set against a deep blue background. In the corner was the profile of an eagle, our national symbol, holding the scales of justice in its talons. Stately looking and very convincing.

The text (undated) of the email read:

"After the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity we have determined you are eligible to receive a tax refund of $9950.55. Please submit the tax refund request and allow us 2- 3 days in order to process it.

"A refund can be delayed for a variety of reasons. For example submitting invalid records or applying after the deadline. To access the form for your tax refund, please click here

"Note: For security reasons, we will record your ip- address, the date and time. Deliberate wrong inputs are criminally pursued and indicated.

Regards Internal Revenue Service.

© Copyright 2008, Internal Revenue Service U.S.A. All rights reserved."

The link in the message connects to the refund form that requests the following considerable personal data.

One of the first indicators I had become a target in a tax refund scam was the return emailaddress. The Internal Revenue Service does not communicate by email. Also, the website address of IRS is www.irs.gov not gov.com as indicated in the email’s home address irs@gov.com. And, the Internal Revenue Service does not ask for PIN numbers and passwords.

Some good advice to remember: Disregard any correspondence by phone, mail, or email that sounds or looks suspicious and never, never give confidential information to anyone.