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Watch out for tax rebate scams

This week I’ve written about what you can do with your economic stimulus check.

Today, I think it is important to address another aspect of the rebates: Scammers.

Unfortunately there are people out there who look for every opportunity to play upon the unwitting public and take their money. The economic stimulus check is no different.

The IRS has put out an official warning about the various scams out there. I’m going to briefly the cover the methods scammers are using. However, if you would like to read the entire new release from the IRS, click here.

Let me start by saying that the IRS never contacts people by phone or e-mail. Do not give out any personal information via the telephone or e-mail. In general, it is a good rule of thumb to not give out your personal information to anyone unless you are absolutely certain of whom you are speaking to.

One scam involves a caller who claims to work for the IRS and tells the targeted victim they are eligible for a large rebate for filing their taxes early. The victim is then prompted to give his or her bank account information and told that is the only way to receive the early rebate.

Another telephone scam again involves a caller who claims to be an IRS employee and who tells the victim they are calling because the IRS sent a check that has not been chased. The caller then asks for the victim to “verify” his or her bank account number. The caller may have a foreign accent.

There are also several e-mail scams circulating.

One scam involves an e-mail that tells the recipient he or she is eligible for a tax refund for a specific amount and instructs the recipient to click on a link to file their refund claim. The recipient is then asked to supply personal information. The bogus e-mail may also include paragraphs that appear to give the recipient the option to direct their refund to a tax-exempt organization.

A new scam that has recently surfaced involves an e-mail informing the recipient he or she will be audited. This e-mail may address the recipient by name, and instructs the recipient to click on a link and supply personal information. This information is then used by the scammer to commit identity theft.

A third bogus e-mail is addressed to businesses, accountants and “Treasury” managers and instructs the recipients to download information about tax law changes. The IRS believes clicking on those links will download malware — a malicious code that can take over the victim’s computer hard drive and give someone remote access to the computer or its passwords.

If you receive a suspicious phone call or e-mail, do not give out any of your information or click any links. Suspicious e-mails can be forwarded to the IRS. Start by reading “How to Protect Yourself from Suspicious E-Mails or Phishing Scheme,” and you will be given directions. You can find that link through the IRS web site at www.irs.gov.

You can also notify the IRS of suspicious phone calls by e-mailing phishing@irs.gov.

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