IRS warns of phony websites

The Internal Revenue Service is issuing a warning about a new tax scam that uses a website that mimics the IRS e-Services online registration page.The actual IRS e-Services page offers web-based products for tax preparers, not the general public. The phony web page looks almost identical to the real one. The IRS gets many reports of fake websites like this. Criminals use these sites to lure people into providing personal and financial information that may be used to steal the victim's money or identity. The address of the official IRS website is www.irs.gov. Don't be misled by sites claiming to be the IRS but ending in .com, .net, .org or other designations instead of .gov. If you find a suspicious website that claims to be the IRS, send the site's URL by email to phishing@irs.gov. Use the subject line, 'Suspicious website'. Be aware that the IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media channels. If you get an unsolicited email that appears to be from the IRS, report it by sending it to phishing@irs.gov. The IRS has information at www.irs.gov that can help you protect yourself from tax scams of all kinds. Search the site using the term "phishing."

********** Published: November 8, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 30