As you are probably aware, phishing is an unsolicited e-mail, fax, or phone call used to lure unsuspecting victims to give personal information such as a birth date, social security number, and/or bank account information. Once attained, criminals can use this information for identity theft, or to drain bank accounts.
Government agencies never send unsolicited e-mails asking for personal information. Don’t reply to the e-mail, and never click any links or attachments. Doing so could have malware put onto your computer to get the information even if you don’t submit the information directly to them.
I’ve seen many forms of phishing e-mails clients have received and sent to me to ask if the information was legitimate. In every case, it was a scam. Some e-mails stated there was a refund due, some stated taxes were underpaid, and some said their account was accessed by someone else and the account had a temporary block until it could be verified.
The IRS has a video discussing phishing which can be viewed here.
Protect yourself and your information. Assume all requests for such information as scams and if unsure, contact the agency directly to verify. You can find contact information on each agency’s website.
