Daisy Flores, Gila County Attorney, has issued a consumer warning on the fraudulent use of the Internal Revenue Service name and logo by scamsters in a phishing scheme. Current scams include phony e-mails that claim to come from the IRS and lure the victim into the scam by telling them they are due a refund. The "Get Tax Refund on your Visa or MasterCard" scheme has been reported by several people in their e-mails which ask for their personal information such as their Social Security Numbers, Credit/Debit Card numbers, expiration dates, & ATM Pin Codes to ensure the IRS can access the correct account to deposit the tax refund of $182.50. Once these fraudsters trick the victim to revealing personal and financial information, they will steal the victim's identity. Typically, identity thefts use someone's personal data to empty the victim's financial accounts, run up charges on the victim's credi cards, apply for new credit cards, file fraudulant tax returns, & commit crimes. Once your identity and credit record is stolen, it can take years to clean-up and get everything back on track.
County Attorney Flores has some ways you can avoid becoming a victim:
* Look for bad grammar.
* Disregard if anyone asks for financial information.
* The IRS never sends out e-mails, letters are about the only form of communication used.
* If someone calls you, get their name, then, call them back at the IRS.
* Don't use links in the e-mails go to the IRS web site.
* Tax rebates in months not in tax season.
* The IRS will never ask for passwords or your PIN.
* Be skeptical of communications you receive from sources you are not expecting.
The good news is that you can help stop these scams and schemes by reporting them to phishing@irs.gov or by calling their toll-free hotline at 1-800-366-4484. Lastly, if you have any doubts the IRS & your refund, call them directly.