Tax time is quickly approaching, and that means crooks are stepping up their game.
If you get an email or a phone call or message from someone claiming to represent the IRS, it’s a scam – always.
The IRS only notifies people via mail – the old-fashioned kind you can hold. That’s the word from Frank Suponcic, a CPA and advisor at Skoda Minotti, of Cleveland.
The latest email scam has the header “2015 Tax Reduction File.” An IRS logo appears in the upper left-hand corner of the email body. To an untrained eye, it looks legitimate. Together with the subject header, it’s intended to fool the recipient into filling out the form and submitting it. The implication of this offer is certainly appealing; after all, who doesn’t want their income taxes reduced?
This request is fraudulent. Do not complete it, and certainly do not hit “submit.” The IRS will never communicate with you via email or text. And, IRS officials won’t call you at home, unless you have called them first, Suponcic says.
Tax time can be stressful; don’t let a scammer make it worse.
