Scammers prey on early tax filers with familiar e-mail ploys on clarkhoward.com

RIP-OFF ALERT: Like clockwork, the scammers are coming out of the woodwork to prey on early tax filers.

The IRS has released a warning about a very legitimate looking e-mail in circulation that purports to be an official IRS communication. The e-mail says you are owed a refund that will be credited to your Visa or MasterCard.

You are then asked to submit your credit card number, the expiration date, the secret code from the back of your card and your Social Security number in order to get the refund. But instead of receiving a refund, money is charged to your credit card by crooks pretending to be you.

Worse still, the criminals now have enough info to take your identity and open new accounts as if they were you.

Remember, the IRS does not communicate with taxpayers by e-mail.

Finally, there is a second IRS warning about another e-mail that claims you are under investigation. In this one, you are again asked to fill out forms requesting sensitive financial info -- a prelude to having your identity stolen.

Be careful out there.

What others are saying

In the words of P.T. Barnum
There's a sucker born every minute. As foolish as these emails sound, people do reply to them. I still get emails about my paypal and ebay account, neither of which I actually have.
By Omar @ 01/31/10 12:41:45 PMreport abuse
This scam dying off
Most people who file early do it through a person or company they have used already and trust, I don't see any even lightly intelligent folks responding to that type of email. People need to use emails only for friends and family, if you have to give your email out at some site like Clark's free credit report site, or all recipes dot com, or any place you do business or connect to, make a note of those and spam to death anything else that comes through to your email.
By Chris @ 01/29/10 01:17:05 PMreport abuse
Fool's Paradise
Only a complete fool would respond to an email like this.
By Steve @ 01/29/10 09:39:15 AMreport abuse
Who is this stupid?
Really, give someone my entire identity based on an email (probably filled with typos and grammatical errors). I guess it's true, "a fool an their money are soon parted". I'm just amazed that anyone stupid enough to fall for this would have any money to steal.
By drew @ 01/29/10 09:08:09 AMreport abuse
Where do the scammer get your email?
Where do the scammers get your email in the first place?
By MERMAID @ 01/28/10 07:18:48 PMreport abuse

In the words of P.T. Barnum

There's a sucker born every minute. As foolish as these emails sound, people do reply to them. I still get emails about my paypal and ebay account, neither of which I actually have.

By Omar @ 01/31/10 12:41:45 PMreport abuse

This scam dying off

Most people who file early do it through a person or company they have used already and trust, I don't see any even lightly intelligent folks responding to that type of email. People need to use emails only for friends and family, if you have to give your email out at some site like Clark's free credit report site, or all recipes dot com, or any place you do business or connect to, make a note of those and spam to death anything else that comes through to your email.

By Chris @ 01/29/10 01:17:05 PMreport abuse

Fool's Paradise

Only a complete fool would respond to an email like this.

By Steve @ 01/29/10 09:39:15 AMreport abuse

Who is this stupid?

Really, give someone my entire identity based on an email (probably filled with typos and grammatical errors). I guess it's true, "a fool an their money are soon parted". I'm just amazed that anyone stupid enough to fall for this would have any money to steal.

By drew @ 01/29/10 09:08:09 AMreport abuse

Where do the scammer get your email?

Where do the scammers get your email in the first place?

By MERMAID @ 01/28/10 07:18:48 PMreport abuse

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Jan 28, 2010 -- Scammers prey on early tax filers with familiar e-mail ploys

What others are saying