IRS Phishing Emails – Do Not Reply With Sensitive Info

June 29th, 2009 by Manny Davis

With the proliferation of email as a means of communication, many companies and organizations have focused more on more on electronic communication. One thing is for sure, the IRS will communicate with you via mail not email in regards to personal information.

ABC, the IRS and other major news recently reported (today they did) that certain taxpayers were receiving fake IRS emails asking for personal information such as their date of birth, social security number, address and other personal information. This type of scam is called phishing because the scam artist “baits” you first by pretending to be someone they are not, hoping you will respond. Even if the email you receive has an IRS logo, and looks like it is from IRS.gov, never share any personal information because the IRS will not communicate or ask for personal identity information from you through email but rather through snail mail. The video below is out of date, but provides information of what you should know. The IRS also has this phone number, 1-800-829-1040, to validate any type of communication they have been given you.