E-mail phishing scams increasingly concentrating the IRS

Several phishing schemes using bogus e-mails apparently from the IRS to lure their victims. Phishing is a scam where criminals send fraudulent messages on the Internet to trick unsuspecting victims into revealing personal and financial information they use to steal the victim's identity.

The new IRS phishing scam promises that taxpayers will get more money from their refund.

The message body contains a text like the following:

"After the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity we have determined that you are entitled to receive a tax refund of $ 109.30,"

This recent phishing attack claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of Treasury and includes the official logo of the agency.

David Stewart, a spokesman for the agency's Philadelphia office of IRS warns computer users, "The IRS does not send an e-mail to you - always."

Some other recent IRS phishing scams are:

May 31, 2007 -

The IRS warns taxpayers about e-mails designed to trick people into believing they were under investigation by the agency's criminal investigative division. This e-mail is actually a Trojan Horse virus. So, if you receive these e-mails of unsolicited IRS, do not open any attachments or included and not give personal financial information in an e-mail from any source is not required.

April 2, 2007 -

Internet criminals use fake emails to direct consumers to a Web link that requested personal and financial information. These types of emails are used to steal the identity of the taxpayer and therefore their financial assets. Criminals use this information for everything from running up charges for IRS refunds belonging to the unsuspecting victim.

July 19, 2006 -

The IRS reports of a phishing e-mails claiming to come from the "IRS Anti-Fraud Commission", claiming that someone has enrolled the taxpayer's credit card in the IRS '(EFTPS) Electronic Federal Payment System fees. This e-mail says that there have been attempts of fraud involved in the taxpayer's bank account and asks recipients to click on a link to retrieve the funds. This link goes to a site request for personal information and then use these thieves to steal the identity of the taxpayer.

The Treasury Department has fielded more than 23,000 complaints about IRS phishing campaigns since they started tracking these scams in 2005. Congressional investigators recently estimated phishing cost consumers about $ 1 billion a year.

If you receive what is believed to be a false e-mail than expected IRS to phishing@irs.gov. This will help the IRS to inform consumers of the latest threats.

The number of these types of Internet attacks are increasing at an alarming rate and if computer users were not falling for these systems, the criminals would stop making money and stop using these tactics.

Some ways to protect your computer from phishing schemes, spyware and online fraud are:

1. At least you must have a fully updated antivirus and antispyware program, including firewall protection, email protection, instant messaging scanning, detection and virus removal, spyware removal and detection, as well as fast and friendly Support. StopSign Internet Security Suite includes all this and much more and can be found at stopsign.com.

2. It 's also very important not to click any links or open e-mail or attachments from unknown sources.

3. You should never give private information over the Internet unless you are quite sure that it is a legitimate company. Usually it is safer to avoid unsolicited materials together.

4. Be careful what you download to your computer. Always make sure to read the company's EULA (End User License Agreement), sometimes also called (Terms of Service) and if you do not have one at all, be very suspicious. Many EULAs contain fine print explaining sharing practices of a society. If it sounds like an invasion of your privacy, do not download the software.

The IRS is just one of many institutions used for legitimate campaign target of phishing attacks on computer users. Protect yourself and your family's personal information by practicing safe Internet habits. Do not let phishers reel you in too.

Sources:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_522639.html

http://www.irs.gov/index.html

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