Fraud Altert: Unexpected IRS refund
If you receive an
unsolicited email that appears to be from the IRS requesting that you file a
"tax refund request," do not fall victim to this identity theft
scheme.
Numerous people are
receiving unsolicited email informing them that a $9,390.55 IRS tax refund is
due to them if they complete a tax refund request form. The email code will be
forged to appear as if it originated from a trusted source, usually the IRS or
an IRS tax preparer, but viewing the "message header" or
"message source" will reveal its origin to be something else, and the
link will not lead to a trusted domain, but one controlled by identity theft
criminals.
If you file a tax
return and a refund is due, you will automatically receive your refund. You
will never be contacted by the IRS, and there is no tax refund request form.
Never disclose personal information to any unsolicited inquiry, as compelling
as the story may be.
If you have questions or concerns about any IRS tax refund you may have
due, you should access the official IRS "Where's My Refund" online
application at the following destination: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96596,00.html.