Remember those late night trips to the post office on April 15th? Lines of cars circled around the block as last minute tax filers rushed to get the dated postmark on their envelope. Maybe that still happens, but US tax filers have more to worry them than getting their 1040 forms in the mail on time.
Yesterday, weeks after sending my tax report in, I was reading the Security Garden blog U.S. Tax Seasons and Phishing Scams. Author and Microsoft MVP, Corrine, warned frantic tax payers against the latest phishing scams. She gives a quick list of things to do to prepare yourself as well as useful (and reliable) links to real agencies. Definitely worth a read.
It wasn’t but a few minutes after I read her article, that I checked my Gmail account, and lo and behold, there sat a genuine tax scam email in my inbox. It was so fresh that Gmail’s normally excellent filters hadn’t caught it yet. I have reprinted it here for your amusement.
From: Internal Revenue Service
Subject: Fiscal Activity – Tax Refund
After the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity we have determined that you are eligible to receive a tax refund under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Tax refund value is $189.60. Please submit the tax refund request and allow us 6-9 days in order to IWP the data received. If u don’t receive your refund within 9 business days from the original IRS mailing date shown, you can start a refund trace online.
If you distribute funds to other organization, your records must show wether they are exempt under section 497 (c) (15). In cases where the recipient org. is not exempt under section 497 (c) (15), you must have evidence the funds will be used for section 497 (c) (15) purposes.
If you distribute fund to individuals, you should keep case histories showing the recipient’s name and address; the purpose of the award; the maner of section; and the realtionship of the recipient to any of your officers, directors, trustees, members, or major contributors.
To access the form for your tax refund, please click here
This notification has been sent by the Internal Revenue Service, a bureau of the Department of the Treasury.
Sincerely Yours,
John Stewart
Director, Exempt. Organization
Rulings and Agreements Letter
Internal Revenue Service
Read more about this particular scam here, and remember, as Corrine pointed out – Do not follow unsolicited web links in email messages.