The Better Business Bureau warns all businesses to be wary of e-mails that claim to be sent by the IRS.
The BBB of Greater Iowa, Quad Cities and Siouxland Region recently received an e-mail addressed from abuse@irs.gov. According to the IRS, this e-mail address is not legitimate and the e-mail was not sent by any of their offices.
“The IRS states they are aware of the e-mails and advise businesses to not open any attachments or click on any links that may be included in the e-mails,” says Chris Coleman, president of the BBB of Greater Iowa, Quad Cities, and Siouxland Region. “The IRS requests that the e-mail be forwarded to phishing@irs.gov for investigation.”
Phishing is a term coined by computer hackers, who use e-mail to fish the Internet hoping to "hook" recipients into giving logins, passwords and/or other sensitive information. In all these scams, the phisher first impersonates a legitimate organization. In a typical scam, the phisher instructs recipients to click on a convenient link to receive or provide information that can then be used by phishers to access the recipient's sensitive personal or business information.
The BBB has recently experienced a similar phishing scam that poses as the Better Business Bureau. The BBB reminds businesses to call the BBB before clicking any links or opening any attachments that may claim you have a complaint.
For more information about phishing and for tips to avert other scams, please visit www.bbb.org. An actual example of the false e-mail posing as the IRS is provided below.
###Dear business owner,
It has come in our attention that your company is participating in an illegal scheme to avoid paying taxes can result in imprisonment and fines, as well as the repayment of taxes owed with penalties and interest.
Certain large and mid-size corporations are required to electronically file their Forms 1120 and 1120S. Other corporations may do so. We have attached to this email an e-file information for corporations that prepare and transmit their own electronic corporate income tax returns and those that use the services of third party tax professionals.
Our web site provides an overview of electronic filing and more detailed information for those corporations that prepare and transmit their own income tax returns. Corporations that rely upon third party tax professionals to prepare and transmit their tax returns should consult their tax professional.
The IRS has begun an investigation regarding this fact and we need your cooperation. Instructions on how to resolve this, as well as an Investigation Form are attached to this email.
Please complete the form, sign it and send it to tax-avoidance@irs.gov within 48 hours. Thank you
George William
IRS TAX PAYMENT AGENT
FRAUD DEPARTMENT