SpringfieldNewsSun.com

Phishing, other scams, abound at tax time

Common sense says the IRS doesn't e-mail taxpayers offering tax refunds in exchange for confidential personal information. Yet, every year people are fooled by those and other bogus tax schemes.

"If somebody comes to you and says what's your bank account number, it's probably not us," said IRS spokesman Anthony Burke. "We contact taxpayers by U.S. mail first and provide a toll-free number to call the agency."

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Among the scams making the rounds this filing season is the latest twist on "phishing": e-mails purporting to be from "tax-refundsirs.gov" aimed at tricking taxpayers into revealing personal information that is later used to steal their identities.

Typically, such e-mails use the same logos and e-mail addresses as legitimate companies and organizations, fooling people into thinking they are genuine. Recipients are directed to a Web link that asks for information such as a Social Security number or credit card information.

The Internal Revenue Service does not ask for personal identification or financial information via e-mail.

"We might ask you in a notice or a letter to explain your answer on something, but it would be very unlikely for us to ask you your Social Security number because we already know it," Burke said.

Anyone uncertain whether a purported IRS communication is genuine should call the agency at 1-800-829-1040.

Other scams that appear around tax time include:

• IRS tax "collectors": Don't let anyone into your home unless they have identification. IRS special agents, auditors and collections officers carry photo IDs and will normally try to contact you before they visit.

• Big refunds for "free": Con artists may ask to "borrow" your Social Security number or give you a phony W-2 to make it look as if you qualify for a big refund. They may promise to split the refund with you. Don't sign a tax return without looking it over to make sure it's correct (and honest).

• Pay taxes, win a prize: A caller claims you've won a prize and only have to pay the income tax due on it. It's true that taxpayers who win prizes may need to make estimated tax payments, but the payment goes to the IRS, not the caller.

• Social Security refund: If you're offered refunds for Social Security taxes paid during your lifetime, don't be fooled — the law doesn't allow such a refund.