RBZ Tax Alert Enews

Warning! Email Messages from the IRS are a Scam

Beware of a new email scam being circulated around the internet that could end up in your personal inbox.

If you receive an email message that appears to be from the IRS telling you that you are entitled to a refund, do not click on any links within the message or provide any personal information to the sender of the message. The IRS never emails taxpayers directly. This type of message is designed to steal your private financial information for fraudulent use.

Here is an example of the type of message that is currently being circulated:

............................................................................................................

Subject: Tax Notification

We are pleased to inform you that upon review of your fiscal activity we have determined that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of $246.30 under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Please submit the tax refund request and allow us 3-6 days in order to process it.

To get your refund, please access the IRS e-file form.

IRS e-file form (Link to fake website has been removed)

Note: For security reasons, we will record your IP-address, the date and time. Deliberate wrong inputs are criminally pursued and indicted.

Because this letter could help resolve any questions regarding your exempt status, you should keep it in your permanent records.

David Morgan
Director
Tax Refunds Department


............................................................................................................

The IRS will never email taxpayers directly. Delete the message immediately!

If you believe that your personal information may have been compromised, you will need to alert your bank, credit card company, the Federal Trade Commission and credit reporting agencies right away.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

The FTC collects complaints about identity theft from those whose identities have been stolen. You can reach the FTC directly by calling toll-free at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338) or via their website at www.ftc.gov

Credit Reporting Agencies

The three major credit reporting agencies are:

  • Equifax — 1-800-525-6285
  • Trans Union — 1-800-680-7289
  • Experian — 1-888-397-3742

Obtain a copy of your credit report and ask that an alert be placed on your credit record. This will place a requirement on your profile that you be contacted before any sort of credit is extended using your name and Social Security Number (SSN).

Social Security Administration (SSA)

The SSA cannot fix your credit record if someone has used your SSN to establish credit fraudulently. You will need to contact the institution that authorized the credit to let them know that your identity has been stolen.

The SSA website does provide some helpful information about protecting your SSN. The following links will take you to this information on the SSA site.

RBZ, LLP is one of the largest public accounting and strategic consulting firms in Los Angeles and has been providing tax services for over 34 years. We are located at 11755 Wilshire Blvd., Ninth Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90025.

Phone: 310.478.4148 | Fax: 310.312.0358 | Web site: www.rbz.com