#IRS SCAM ITUNES REFUND INSTALL#
#IRS SCAM ITUNES REFUND SOFTWARE#
#IRS SCAM ITUNES REFUND SERIES#

Pretending to be from the tax preparation industry: The emails are designed to trick taxpayers into thinking these are official communications from the IRS or others in the tax industry, including tax software companies.

The scam tries to get you to give up personal information such as a SSN or personal financial information, including bank numbers or credit cards.

“Verifying” tax return information over the phone: Scam artists call saying they have your tax return, and they just need to verify a few details to process your return.

#IRS SCAM ITUNES REFUND INSTALL#

The email scheme requests the recipient download and install an important software update via a link included in the e-mail. Upon completion, tax professionals believe they have downloaded a software update when in fact they have loaded a program designed to track the tax professional’s key strokes, which is a common tactic used by cyber thieves to steal login information, passwords and other sensitive data. ( IR-2016-103) Imitating software providers to trick tax professionals: Tax professionals may receive emails pretending to be from tax software companies. In this scam, the “CEO” sends an email to a company payroll office employee and requests a list of employees and financial and personal information including Social Security numbers (SSN). The email contains the actual name of the company chief executive officer. Soliciting W-2 information from payroll and human resources professionals: Payroll and human resources professionals should be aware of phishing email schemes that pretend to be from company executives and request personal information on employees. The fraudulent notice includes a payment request that taxpayers mail a check made out to “I.R.S.” to the “Austin Processing Center” at a Post Office Box address. Generally, the scam involves an email or letter that includes the fake CP2000. Sending a fraudulent IRS bill for tax year 2015 related to the Affordable Care Act: The IRS has received numerous reports around the country of scammers sending a fraudulent version of CP2000 notices for tax year 2015. Targeting students and parents and demanding payment for a fake “Federal Student Tax”: Telephone scammers are targeting students and parents demanding payments for fictitious taxes, such as the “Federal Student Tax.” If the person does not comply, the scammer becomes aggressive and threatens to report the student to the police to be arrested. The IRS reminds taxpayers that any request to settle a tax bill using any of these payment methods is a clear indication of a scam. They may demand payments on prepaid debit cards, iTunes and other gift cards or wire transfer. Taxpayers may also receive live calls from IRS impersonators. Requesting fake tax payments: The IRS has seen automated calls where scammers leave urgent callback requests telling taxpayers to call back to settle their “tax bill.” These fake calls generally claim to be the last warning before legal action is taken. Some of the most prevalent IRS impersonation scams include:

#IRS SCAM ITUNES REFUND SERIES#

This marks the fourth reminder to taxpayers during the “National Tax Security Awareness Week.” This week, the IRS, the states and the tax community are sending out a series of reminders to taxpayers and tax professionals as part of the ongoing Security Summit effort. “There are warning signs to these scams people should watch out for, and simple steps to avoid being duped into giving these criminals money, sensitive financial information or access to computers.” “Whether it’s during the holidays or the approach of tax season, scam artists look for ways to use tax agencies and the tax industry to trick and confuse people,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. The IRS and Security Summit partners remind taxpayers and tax professionals to be on the lookout for these deceptive schemes. WASHINGTON - As tax season approaches, the Internal Revenue Service, the states and the tax industry reminded taxpayers to be on the lookout for an array of evolving tax scams related to identity theft and refund fraud.Įvery tax season, there is an increase in schemes that target innocent taxpayers by email, by phone and on-line. IRS Warns Taxpayers of Numerous Tax Scams Nationwide Provides Summary of Most Recent Schemes

Irs scam itunes refund