E-mail Scam Targeting Tax Payers in Arkansas

Internal Revenue Service is always an attractive target for spammers. The latest spam scam detected also aims at Internal Revenue Service but this one is circulating across Arkansas (US).

Dustin McDaniel, Attorney General of the State, said that all Arkansans must remain vigilant of the current as well as new e-mail scams, as reported by nwahomepage on January 18, 2009.

The news reports said that the new phishing e-mail, which bears the name and logo of IRS, informs the recipient that he is among those who will receive a cheaque as part of the stimulus package. However, the recipient has to click on a link pointing to an online form that he must fill in to receive the money, the message says. But when a user enters the information, it goes straight to the scammers who use it to steal the victim's identity or to withdraw money from his account.

According to security experts, spammers have revamped their favorite campaigns in efforts to exploit the consumers during the ongoing economic crisis.

Dustin McDaniel said that these scammers simply have no fear or shame, as reported by Today's THV on January 17, 2009. According to McDaniel, taking advantage of people's apprehensions about the ongoing economic conditions for making an illegal profit is indefensible.

McDaniel expressed hope that Arkansans would keep reporting the scam incidents so that it is possible to better safeguard honest and hard-working citizens along with their money.

However, security experts recommend some measures to avoid becoming a victim of such scams. First, people should not reply to an unsolicited e-mail requesting personal information. Additionally, they must check out the request by making a direct contact with the individual or organization involved by using an independent source such as telephone number.

They should also understand that federal financial institutions never collect confidential data over e-mail or phone. Experts further suggested that users should never view e-mails or click links/attachments if they are not sure of the sender.

Moreover, it is advised that if anyone gets an unwanted e-mail that pretends to arrive from the IRS, he must forward it to phishing@irs.gov.

Related article: E-Crime Reporting Format To Be Launched in July

» SPAMfighter News - 2/5/2009