Taxpayers are warned to beware of a new scheme defrauding taxpayers by sophisticated fraudsters who send a letter to taxpayers in a cardboard envelope containing a letter purporting to be from the IRS notifying the taxpayer of a refund. The letter looks authentic and asks the taxpayer to provide confidential information including pictures of their driver’s license which can then be used in identity theft.
What is notable about the most recent letters, is awkwardly worded requests, such as, “A Clear Phone of Your Driver’s License That Clearly Displays All For (4) Angles, Taken in a Place with Good Lighting.” In some cases, the font changes throughout the letter, or punctuation is misplaced.
Taxpayers are reminded that the IRS never contacts a taxpayer by e-mail, text or social media, regarding a bill or refund. Taxpayers are reminded never to click on unsolicited communication claiming to be the IRS. Individuals should never respond to tax-related phishing or smishing or click on the URL link. Instead, the scams should be reported by sending the email or a copy of the text/SMS as an attachment to [email protected]. The report should include the caller ID (email or phone number), date, time and time zone, and the number that received the message.
To read the complete message, click here.
