IRS Warns Of Scam Email The IRS wants taxpayers to be aware of scam activity involving undelivered stimulus payments. With the November 28 deadline quickly approaching to claim undelivered money, the IRS says many people have reported getting an email that appears to come from the IRS telling recipients to respond to get their 2008 Economic Stimulus Refund, according to IRS spokesperson Mark Hanson. Hanson said the IRS never sends unsolicited emails. If you get a scam email, don’t access any links or attachments. If you have filed a 2007 federal tax return with the IRS, you don’t need to do anything else to get a stimulus payment. According to Hanson, if you have accessed a link or attachment in a scam e-mail, you may have allowed the scammer to place malicious software on your computer and you should immediately scan for viruses and spy ware. You should then be alert for any suspicious activity on your financial accounts. “If you have actually responded to a scam e-mail by giving out your private information,” Hanson said, “you should immediately take steps to prevent identity theft. You may now be a prime target. Taxpayers can help the IRS stop scammers by sending the original scam e-mail to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov. The e-mail must be forwarded using special instructions at IRS.gov or it loses the encoding needed to track it to its source,” Hanson said
