IRS warns of e-mail scams

The Internal Revenue Service is warning taxpayers that e-mail scams are circulating that fraudulently use the IRS name or logo as a lure.

"The goal of the scam -- known as phishing -- is to trick you into revealing personal and financial information," IRS spokesman Michael Devine said.

The scammers then use a person's personal information -- such as a Social Security number, bank account or credit card numbers -- to commit identity theft and steal that person's money.

"The IRS does not send unsolicited e-mail asking about a person's taxes or for detailed personal and financial information," Devine said. "The IRS never asks for PIN numbers, passwords, credit card or bank account information."

Devine said he is warning people who receive an e-mail from someone who claims to be from the IRS or is directed to a Web site for a refund or to answer questions about the person's tax return not to reply to the message or open any attachments because they may contain a virus, and not to click on any links.

The IRS says if they need to ask a question their initial contact will be a letter or notice that arrives by mail. That correspondence will explain the situation and provide contact information. A person may verify that the IRS is trying to contact them by calling the agency's toll-free number (800) 829-1040.

To help shut down scam sites, suspicious e-mails that claim to come from the IRS can be forwarded to a special mailbox, phishing@irs.gov. The message can be forwarded as received or the Internet header of the e-mail can be provided. The Internet header has additional information to help locate the sender.

To report misuse of the IRS name, logo, forms or other IRS property to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, call (800) 366-4484.