Tax refund phishing scams
Just read this on CNN.
Quote:
Found at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/interne...ing/index.html
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- It's just the news that hardworking taxpayers want to see in their inbox: an update on their refund from the Internal Revenue Service.
But instead of clicking on that e-mail's links, federal officials advise you to hit the delete key.
That's because dozens of scams, known as "phishing" schemes, are making the rounds, poised to steal your personal information.
"This phishing scheme is exploding," said IRS Commissioner Mark Everson.
"Last year we got wind of seven different kinds of schemes. That was in all of 2005. This year we've already seen 65."
Even the commissioner of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance got one of the phishing e-mails -- on his government computer.
"It's a reflection of how brazen these crooks have become," Commissioner Andrew Eristoff said.
"Here they are targeting a tax administrator with a tax refund scam. Unbelievable," he said.
Phishing is an e-mail trick that "lures" users with a promise of money or an urgent security warning that asks users to update their information. But instead of going to a financial institution or the government, the precious personal data goes to identity thieves.
There is more to the article if you click the link above.
I think I'm moving off email. Maybe communication all together. :p
-Deeboe
