Suspicious emails and Identity Theft

The Internal Revenue Service has issued several recent consumer warnings on the fraudulent use of the IRS name or logo by scammers trying to gain access to consumers’ financial information in order to steal their identity and assets. When identity theft takes place over the Internet, it is called phishing.

Suspicious email/phishing

Phishing (as in “fishing for information” and “hooking” victims) is a scam where Internet fraudsters send email messages to trick unsuspecting victims into revealing personal and financial information that can be used to steal the victims’ identity. Current scams include phony emails 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.

Phishing and Other Schemes Using the IRS Name

The IRS periodically alerts taxpayers to, and maintains a list of, phishing schemes using the IRS name, logo or Web site clone.

Recent News Releases

• IR-2022-117, IRS continues with Dirty Dozen this week, urging taxpayers to continue watching out for pandemic-related scams including theft of benefits and bogus social media posts
• IR-2022-78, Identity stolen? Request an Identity Protection PIN from the IRS
• IR-2022-36, Latest spearphishing scams target tax professionals
• IR-2022-25, IRS warning: Scammers work year-round; stay vigilant
• IR-2021-241, National Tax Security Awareness Week, Day 5: Security Summit partners remind businesses to tighten security; be aware of steps to help prevent, protect data loss
• IR-2021-240, National Tax Security Awareness Week: Tax Pros, taxpayers can use secure online account and digital signature options
• IR-2021-239, National Tax Security Awareness Week, Day 4: Security Summit warns tax pros that pandemic adds to data-theft risks; offers tips and outlines common scams
• IR-2021-238, National Tax Security Awareness Week, Day 3: Choosing a special Identity Protection PIN adds extra safety for taxpayers
• IR-2021-237, National Tax Security Awareness Week, Day 2: Giving Tuesday reminder that scammers can use fake charities to get sensitive information
• IR-2021-236, Taxpayer alert as holidays, tax season approach: Watch out for scams, protect financial information; National Tax Security Awareness Week, Day 1 highlights important tips

Recent Fact Sheets

• FS-2022-25, When to file an Identity Theft Affidavit

Videos

• Avoid Phishing Emails
• Get an Identity Protection PIN
• Protect Your Identity
• Security Measures Help Protect Against Tax-Related Identity Theft

Publications

• Publication 5423, Identity Theft PDF
• Publication 5027, Identity Theft Information for Taxpayers PDF
• Publication 5199, Tax Preparer Guide to Identity Theft PDF

Articles

• Taxpayer Guide to Identity Theft
• Is it a phishing website? PDF

You Can Help Shut Down Phishing Schemes

The good news is that you can help shut down these schemes and prevent others from being victimized.

If you receive a suspicious e-mail that claims to come from the IRS, you can relay that email to a new IRS mailbox, [email protected].

Follow instructions in the link below for sending the bogus e-mail to ensure that it retains critical elements found in the original e-mail. The IRS can use the information, URLs and links in the suspicious e-mails you send to trace the hosting Web site and alert authorities to help shut down the fraudulent sites.

• [email protected]
• Instructions for submitting phishing emails to IRS

Unfortunately, due to the expected volume, the IRS will not be able to acknowledge receipt or respond to you.

Identity Theft

Identity theft can be committed through e-mail (phishing) or other means, such as regular mail, fax or telephone, or even by going through someone’s trash.

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, Social Security number or other identifying information without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes. Typically, identity thieves use someone’s personal data to empty the victim’s financial accounts, run up charges on the victim’s existing credit cards, apply for new loans, credit cards, services or benefits in the victim’s name, file fraudulent tax returns or even commit crimes. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years — and their hard-earned money — cleaning up the mess thieves have made of their good name and credit record. In the meantime, victims may lose job opportunities, be refused loans, education, housing or cars, or even get arrested for crimes they didn’t commit.

• Publication 4524, Security Awareness-Identity Theft Flyer PDF
• Identity Theft Companion Learning Guide, What Law Enforcement is Doing to Stop the Thieves PDF
• Identity Theft and Your Tax Records

Employment Verification Contacts

You may receive a call from an IRS employee requesting verification of income and/or withholding information that has been reported to the IRS through other means. This contact may be made through a telephone call or a faxed request.

If you receive a telephone call or a fax from someone claiming to be with the IRS and you are not comfortable providing the information, you should contact our customer service line at 800-829-4933 to verify the validity of the call or fax. You may then contact the IRS employee who requested the information and provide the required information.

Recent Schemes

The IRS periodically alerts taxpayers to schemes that fraudulently use the IRS name, logo or Web site clone to to gain access to consumers’ financial information in order to steal their identity and assets. The scams may take place through e-mail, fax or phone. The IRS also maintains a list of phishing and other schemes.

To Report Fraud

For other than phishing schemes, you may report the fraudulent misuse of the IRS name, logo, forms or other IRS property by calling the TIGTA toll-free hotline at 800-366-4484 or visiting the TIGTA website.

Other Federal Resources

For more information on understanding and preventing identity theft and suspicious e-mails (phishing), or dealing with their aftermath, check out the following federal resources:

• Department of the Treasury’s identity theft page
• Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) consumer Web site
• FTC’s OnGuardOnLine website
• USA.gov
• Social Security Administration (SSA)