Phishers Target Taxpayer Through Fake IRS

After the latest upsurge in fraudulent emails, the Internal Revenue Service prompted taxpayers to be cautious of fake emails professing to be from the tax department. The IRS witnessed a surge in protests regarding these emails, which planned to dupe the addressees into divulging private and fiscal details targeted to pilfer the receivers' identity and fiscal possessions.

"We never communicate with an individual through e-mail," averred Christopher Miller, IRS representative in Milwaukee.

But in the past few months, countless taxpayers have been receiving e-mails abusing the identity and symbol of the IRS, along with a counterfeit site.

"Casualties ensnared in their ruses can wind up feeling stripped, devastated, and basted," as per the National Association of Tax Professionals, settled in Appleton.

The sham emails differ in variety but normally aver to originate from "tax refunds @ irs.gov." The message notifies the receiver that he or she is entitled to get a tax return for a certain amount. To obtain a tax return form, the receiver must utilize a data link included in the email, which further demands certain private and fiscal data.

Acquiring that data is the aim of this ploy. When the phishers acquire it, "they can drain your bank account, misuse your credit cards, introduce additional credit cards," alleged Miller.

Pilfering an individual's personal details is one of the quickest and most destructive attacks in America. During 2006, over nine million Americans fall prey to ID crimes. People suffer losses of around $6,000 totaling to more than $50 billion annually.

"The cyberspace actually affords these phishing snitchers an unbelievable scope," states Nancy Mathis, an IRS representative. "They are capable of operating the con from abroad, making it impossible for the Treasury Inspector General to terminate them."

To help the taxpayers, IRS has installed an electronic mailbox for conveying data about dubious e-mails averring to originate from the IRS. IRS has tracked and folded 105 distinct phishing plots utilizing its symbol in past few months. They were controlled from 27 diverse nations. It is still unclear about the number of individuals who have received these messages, however the IRS has received numerous complaints about them.

Related article: Phishers Expand Their Sphere of Attacks

» SPAMfighter News - 9/25/2006