Be on the lookout for an email scam focusing on payroll records. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been made aware that another scam is making its way to taxpayers as tax season begins.
In the most common iteration of the scheme, scammers send a fake email pretending to be from a high-level corporate employee requesting information about employee forms W-2 from company payroll or human resources departments. The emails typically include language such as:
Once the scammers have tricked company payroll or human resources departments into releasing the information, they can use the information to file fraudulent tax returns to obtain bogus tax refunds.
The scam is similar to one which made the rounds last year. This year, the IRS urges company payroll officials to double check any allegedly executive-level or unusual requests for lists of forms W-2 or Social Security number.
While this latest round of scam emails is targeted to payroll and human resource departments, all taxpayers should be aware that scammers are constantly attempting to trick taxpayers into providing personally identifiable information, including names, Social Security numbers, and filing status.
As a reminder, the IRS will never:
If you receive calls or emails asking for information or payment and you do not owe tax, don't engage with the scammer and do not give out any information. Just hang up. If you get an email asking you to visit a website or answer personal questions, do not reply and do not click on any links in the email.
If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, and you owe tax or think you may owe tax, do not give out any information. Call the IRS back at 1-800-829-1040 to find out more information.
You can also contact TIGTA to report scam calls by calling 1-800-366-4484 or by using the “IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting” form on the website. You may also want to report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission by using the “FTC Complaint Assistant” to report persons pretending to be from the government; please add “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.
Don't be a victim of fraud!!
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