Outsmart Email Scams In 3 Simple Steps
You’ve probably received a strange email at some point, claiming you are eligible for some outrageous reward.
What about when those email scammers are somebody claiming to be the IRS and that you're about to be audited by the Criminal Investigation Division? You follow these steps:
Stop and think: You've never given the IRS your email address in relation to your tax return. Even if you had, the government will never initiate requests for personal information such as your bank account, credit card, or Social Security numbers via email or phone call.
Contact the IRS: Without clicking on any links or responding to the email, forward the entire message to phishing@irs.gov. The IRS is continuously working to investigate and shut down online fraud.
Note that you may not get a response from the IRS when you report scams.
Delete the e-mail: Besides the audit scam, other common email tax schemes include: additional money due, bogus government grants, and requests for you to check the status of your refund.
Tax scams are always changing. Before you react to any communication that is not a physical letter from someone claiming to be from the IRS, stop and review the facts.
If a phone call or email seems suspicious, it's probably for a reason. Call our office at 805-496-2828 if you need assistance responding to an IRS notice.
