What is Phishing?
Phishing is a scam typically carried out by unsolicited e-mail and/or websites that pose as legitimate sites and lure unsuspecting victims to provide personal and financial information. Occasionally you may receive an email from someone claiming to be with the IRS. Don’t be fooled. The IRS does NOT initiate taxpayer communications through email. They send paper notices in the mail.
All unsolicited e-mail claiming to be from either the IRS or any other IRS-related components such as EFTPS, should be reported to phishing@irs.gov.
What to do if you receive a suspicious IRS-related communication:
If you receive an email claiming to be from the IRS that contains a request for personal information:
1) Do not reply.
2) Do not open any attachments. They may contain malicious code that could infect your computer.
3) Do not click on any links.
4) Forward the email “as is” to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov
5) After you forward the email and/or header information to the IRS delete the original email message you received.
If you need representation dealing with IRS notices please contact your CPA. If you need help contact Stephen Scott at 314-984-9829, or email info@scottcpa.com.