AAFCPAs Warns of Recent IRS-Impersonation Identity Theft Scam

We have been alerted that a number of taxpayers are receiving emails from scammers who are disguising themselves as IRS agents.  Generally, the IRS does not send unsolicited e-mails to taxpayers.  Further, the IRS does not communicate tax account information with taxpayers via e-mail or use e-mail to solicit sensitive financial and personal information from taxpayers. The IRS does not request financial account security information, such as PIN numbers, from taxpayers.
Most emails (and phone calls) impersonating the IRS are identity theft scams.  The scammer poses as a legitimate institution to trick consumers into revealing personal and financial information (e.g. passwords and Social Security Numbers, PINs, bank account and credit card numbers), which can be used to gain access to and steal their bank, credit card or other financial accounts.  This scam is an example of internet phishing, which is the attempt to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details (and sometimes, indirectly, money), often for malicious reasons, by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.
Please be aware that if you receive an email from e-Services(at)email.irs.gov you should delete the message.
As a general reminder, AAFCPAs encourages you to proceed cautiously when receiving any email or communication soliciting your personal information.
For more information, please contact your AAF Partner, or Rich Weiner, Tax Partner, at 774.512.4078 or rweiner@nullaafcpa.com.

About the Author

Rich has over 30 years of broad tax experience with a specialty in tax planning and consulting for private and publicly-held businesses. Rich has specific expertise in the Software, Bio-Technology, Medical Device, Life Science, Manufacturing, Retail, Professional Service and Publishing industries, as well as U.S. aspects of international taxation. He works extensively with European companies expanding into the U.S. market. Additional areas of focus include companies and stockholders in transition, including structuring of and planning for Mergers & Acquisitions, planning for changes in ownership and management, and adoption of tax methodologies with a view toward the long term. He is well known in his field and is a frequent speaker on a variety of tax related topics.

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