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Sam Penrod Reporting An Internet scam that's been around for awhile is suddenly making a comeback. It's known as phishing-- where you get an email that takes you to a website where you're asked for personal information.
In recent days here in Utah, the IRS office says it is hearing from people getting an email offering them a tax refund, but what it really is all about is stealing your information for identity theft.
No one usually likes to hear from the IRS--- if you do it seems that they are telling you you owe more in taxes-- or worse, an audit. So when people get an email from the IRS telling them they are getting a refund, sometimes a big one, it's something to get excited about. Now the IRS is warning, don't take the bait-- the email is not from them, but someone trying to steal your identity.
Wayne Peterson, IRS Spokesperson: "We've seen a big increase in this just in the last week. This phishing email with the IRS logo, it looks official, it looks like it could come from us, it even has a link to our website, but it isn't from us."
The email will try to get you to follow a web link, which will take you to another page that also looks official, but that's where they try to get you.
Wayne Peterson, IRS Spokesperson: "You'll go to a page where they ask you for everything they need to take you to the cleaners -- pin number, account number, things we never ask you for. The IRS never asks for your pin or credit card account number or your mother's name."
The IRS has traced most of the bogus websites to locations overseas, but if you get one and notify the IRS, they can try to shut them down. So while a refund this time of year sounds great, if your are notified by email, it's a scam.
Wayne Peterson, IRS Spokesperson: "The bottom line is, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you've got a refund coming from us, you would know about it in some way other than an email, we'd don't notify you by email."
It seems that no one specific is being targeted by this scam, just anyone with an email address. If you get one of these emails, the IRS would like to hear from you.
