If you are working on your 2018 income taxes, and filing early, especially for a refund, beware of tax refund scams that could cost you to lose your hard-earned money.
The latest trick of scammers, fraudsters and identity is an official looking email with the subject line Payment confirmation for tax refund request or something similar and a official looking confirmation number.
The email I received recently includes a confirmation number, #75991792.
There are enough numbers to look like something the IRS would issue, and the email includes the address, toll-free phone number and website link for the IRS. But – and this is the big but –
The sender is some scam fraud email address that is not – repeat, NOT – anything resembling www.IRS.gov.
First of all, the IRS does not send you emails. It sends you letters. The IRS also does not phone you.
Why would the IRS send me a refund document from ATNM_2006 from a server that is not – repeat, NOT from anything containing the letters IRS.
Guaranteed if you open this scam, fraud, phishing email from ATNM_2006 or anything similar, you will become a victim of identity fraud, computer hacking blackmail or something similar.
Check out the five most common tax filing mistakes and how to avoid them, on NYCOTC sister site ecoXplorer.
Tax refund scam alert
Do not respond to emails about your tax return.
Do not download or open documents in any such email.
Do not respnd to phone calls about your tax return.
Please do not be stupid. Reminder that the IRS does not phone you or email you about your taxes.
If there is a problem with your filing, or with your refund, the IRS will send you a letter via another government agency called the US Post Office.
Do not respond to emails about your tax return.
Do not download or open documents in any such email.
That being said, I must thank ATNM_2006 at server that is not IRS for allowing NYC on the Cheap to share a warning about your unscupulous scam.
Lucky for me, I haven’t applied for a refund, so I knew instantly this was a fraud, scam phishing expedition. You might not be so lucky. Sorry to be a broken record or do a Groundhog Day on you, but –
Do not respond to emails about your tax return.
Do not download or open documents in any such email.
Do not respond to phone calls about your tax return.
This tax refund scam alert was published originally in 2015 and updated and republished each tax season.
What do you think about this? We welcome your comments.