The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a warning about a new scam that aims to deceive individuals into believing they are owed a refund.
The scam begins with an official-looking cardboard envelope from a delivery service. According to the IRS, the enclosed letter includes the IRS masthead and wording that the notice is “in relation to your unclaimed refund.” The scammers seek a variety of information, such as bank account details and pictures of driver’s licenses, that identity thieves can use to obtain a tax refund or other sensitive financial information.
“This is just the latest in the long string of attempts by identity thieves posing as the IRS in hopes of tricking people into providing valuable personal information to steal identities and money, including tax refunds,” noted IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. “These scams can come in through email, text or even in special mailings. People should be careful to watch out for red flags that clearly mark these as IRS scams.”
The Security Summit, a coalition among the IRS, state tax administrators and the nation’s tax industry, continues to emphasize the importance of remaining vigilant and cautious when receiving unexpected correspondence. It is crucial to verify the legitimacy of the sender and the contents of the package before sharing any personal information.
Additionally, the IRS emphasizes that it does not initiate contact with taxpayers via email, text messages or social media platforms to request personal or financial information. Any such requests should be treated with suspicion and reported to the IRS immediately.
The IRS aims to empower taxpayers with knowledge and encourage them to remain vigilant. Protecting personal information is crucial in today’s digital age, and individuals should exercise caution when dealing with unexpected communications, particularly those involving sensitive data.