Updated Nov. 2007 - In a variation, an e-mail scam claims to come from
the IRS and the Taxpayer Advocate Service (a genuine and independent
organization within the IRS whose employees assist taxpayers with
unresolved tax problems). The e-mail says that the recipient is eligible
for a tax refund and directs the recipient to click on a link that leads
to a fake IRS Web site. The IRS recommends that recipients do not click
on links in, or open any attachments to, e-mails they receive that are
unsolicited or that come from unknown sources.
Suspicious e-Mail/Phishing
Phishing (as in "fishing for information" and "hooking" victims) is a
scam where Internet fraudsters send e-mail messages to trick unsuspecting
victims into revealing personal and financial information that can be
used to steal the victims? identity.
Current scams include phony e-mails which claim to come from the IRS and
which lure the victims into the scam by telling them that they are due a
tax refund.