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Beware of "Fishy" Tax Return Notices

Fishing is a favorite American pastime. But the sound-alike "phishing" is not so pleasant. In fact, if you become a victim to this fast-growing Internet crime, you could wind up in a

Phishing: A Definition

Phishing is a form of Internet fraud in which people are tricked into giving personal and financial information. Commonly, it involves sending e-mail messages that claim to be from established enterprises. The e-mails generally ask recipients to reply quickly with confidential information for some legitimate-sounding reason (for example, the company is updating its records). Just like a fishing expedition, phishers throw out a lure and see who will take the bait. If recipients surrender confidential information, identity thieves then use it for fraudulent purposes such as stealing from financial accounts, running up charges on credit cards, and applying for loans.

world of financial pain.

The IRS is warning the public of a phishing scheme that uses its name to steal personal information. Fraudsters send out official looking e-mails, complete with an IRS logo. The messages inform recipients that they are entitled to refunds if they fill out special forms. The messages provide a link, which, if followed, asks unwary consumers to enter personal data such as Social Security numbers and credit card information. Once the phisher collects the information, it may be used to steal the consumers' identities and assets.

The tax agency recently issued a press release warning consumers not to fall prey to such scams because:

"The IRS does not ask for personal identifying or financial information via unsolicited e-mail.
Taxpayers do not have to complete a special form to obtain a refund."

If you receive an unsolicited e-mail that claims to be from the IRS, take these steps:

Do not open any attachments to the e-mail, in case they contain malicious computer code that can infect your computer.
Contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to determine whether the IRS is trying to contact you about a tax refund.