The IRS wants to remind you that if you receive an e-mail from a person or organization claiming to represent the IRS, then it’s definitely a scam. Here is what the IRS says about these types of e-mails:
The IRS does not send taxpayers unsolicited e-mails about their tax accounts, tax situations or personal tax issues. If you receive such an e-mail, most likely it’s a scam.
IRS impersonation schemes flourish throughout the year. These schemes may take place via phone, fax, Internet sites, social networking sites and particularly e-mail.
Many impersonations are identity theft scams that try to trick victims into revealing personal and financial information that can be used to access their financial accounts. Some e-mail scams contain attachments or links that, when clicked, download malicious code (virus) that infects your computer or direct you to a bogus form or site posing as a genuine IRS form or Web site.
Some impersonations may be commercial Internet sites that consumers unknowingly visit, thinking they’re accessing the genuine IRS Web site, IRS.gov. However, such sites have no connection to the IRS.
For more information on scams and what to do if you’re subject to one, seeOnline Scams that Impersonate the IRS, Suspicious e-Mails and Identity Theft andHow to Report and Identify Phishing, E-mail Scams and Bogus IRS Web Sites.