'IRS Calling: Numbers, Please' Or Is It Someone Else?
Toni Heffle
Issue date: 4/2/09 Section: News
As we navigate through Tax Season's many forms and figures and prepare to submit sensitive personal information, let's ponder Internet Safety, before providing anyone access.
'Phishers' pretending to be the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) send emails with subject lines such as 'please see Attachment' that forwards IRS forms that instruct filers to 'make sure you fill in all columns (including Social Security numbers and bank account information), attach photocopy of Passport or Driver's License for proper identification, and send fax to the phone number provided.'
The verification is requested, and you have it available and ready to submit. The problem is that this 'Phishing Expedition' is devised by Identity Thieves; the IRS never e-mails requests for private information, such as Social Security numbers, Bank Accounts, PIN numbers, or Passport copies.
Suspicious e-mails supposedly from IRS should be forwarded to phishing@irs.gov for further investigation, as this alert could help prevent others from falling prey to this scam.
More information on Identity Theft and Phishing Schemes is available at http://go.philly.com/phishing
Knowledge is prevention, and when in doubt about the status and security of your personal information, a request for the annual credit report available free of charge once each year from FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection can help identify any suspicious activity in your credit profile. Their contact information is www.AnnualcreditReport.com and should not be confused with FreeCreditReport.com seen on tv commercials. While'Annual' is free, 'Free' in those entertaining commercials is a deceptively marketed link to a credit monitoring service that charges a $79.95 fee for credit monitoring.
As pitfalls are mingled with freebies, consumers should always proceed with caution, and inspect offers thoroughly before any formal acceptance.
'Phishers' pretending to be the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) send emails with subject lines such as 'please see Attachment' that forwards IRS forms that instruct filers to 'make sure you fill in all columns (including Social Security numbers and bank account information), attach photocopy of Passport or Driver's License for proper identification, and send fax to the phone number provided.'
The verification is requested, and you have it available and ready to submit. The problem is that this 'Phishing Expedition' is devised by Identity Thieves; the IRS never e-mails requests for private information, such as Social Security numbers, Bank Accounts, PIN numbers, or Passport copies.
Suspicious e-mails supposedly from IRS should be forwarded to phishing@irs.gov for further investigation, as this alert could help prevent others from falling prey to this scam.
More information on Identity Theft and Phishing Schemes is available at http://go.philly.com/phishing
Knowledge is prevention, and when in doubt about the status and security of your personal information, a request for the annual credit report available free of charge once each year from FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection can help identify any suspicious activity in your credit profile. Their contact information is www.AnnualcreditReport.com and should not be confused with FreeCreditReport.com seen on tv commercials. While'Annual' is free, 'Free' in those entertaining commercials is a deceptively marketed link to a credit monitoring service that charges a $79.95 fee for credit monitoring.
As pitfalls are mingled with freebies, consumers should always proceed with caution, and inspect offers thoroughly before any formal acceptance.
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