IRS issues warning about bogus e-mails

It's tax season, and the identity thieves are once

again sending out bogus IRS e-mails trying to get you

to provide your personal and financial information.

The crooks create IRS e-mails and websites that appear

to be legitimate, but they are schemes designed to steal

your identity. One of the newest scams is tax refund

fraud where your personal data is stolen and used to

file a tax return in your name in order to claim a refund.

When you then file your return, the IRS rejects it and

notifies you that you have already filed.

Here's what the IRS wants you to know about bogus e-mails:

* The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by

  e-mail or social media to request financial information.

* The IRS never asks taxpayers for detailed personal

  and financial information.

* The address of the official IRS website is www.irs.gov;

  don't be misled by sites claiming to be the IRS but

  ending in .com, .net, .org, or anything else.

* If you receive an e-mail claiming to be from the IRS

  or directing you to an IRS site, do not reply to the

  message, open any attachments, or click on any links.

* To help the IRS fight identity theft and refund fraud,

  report any bogus correspondence and forward any

  suspicious e-mail to phishing@irs.gov.