E-Alert

April 5, 2011

Warning Regarding IRS Email Scam

A new scam is making the rounds via email. This email, which warns of discrepancies on the recipient's income tax return and requests that personal information be sent via fax to a toll-free number. While the email appears legitimate and is filled with enough details to be convincing, be warned. It is a scam trying to collect your personal information.  The data requested includes the Social Security number, e-file PIN and adjusted gross income which the IRS uses to authenticate taxpayers.

While the IRS may do follow-up correspondence with individual taxpayers via email, it is always initiated by a letter in an official envelope.

The best thing to do is delete the email immediately.  We have said it before, but it bears repeating. Never open an attachment or provide your personal information in response to an email.
  
See below for an image of the official-looking message.

 

IRS.gov logo

This is in reference to your 2010 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return we seem to have some discrepancies with your filing. If you have already filed for your 2010  tax refund please get hold of a new form 1040 and mail it to the  Department of the Treasury in your region.
If for any reason you have not yet filed for your 2010  Individual Income Tax Return please print out the attached PDF form, fill it and fax it to the IRS data center on (866) 513-7982 within 24 hours.
This has no bearing on your 2010 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, this to update our data and survey while we prepare to close the 2010 tax filing season.
Thank you

This information is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain private, confidential, proprietary and/or privileged material and may be subject to one or more confidentiality agreements. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or any other use of or taking of any action in reliance upon this information, by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this communication in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from all storage media.

 

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If you have any questions regarding this issue, please contact the DZH Phillips Tax Department at (415) 781-2500 or email cpas@dzhphillips.com.  

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DZH Phillips LLP is one of the leading public accounting and strategic consulting firms in the San Francisco Bay Area.  We provide the long-term relationships, industry expertise, and consistently high-quality service our clients need to make the right decisions today and in the future. 

To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that any tax advice contained herein (including any enclosures or attachments) was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by the taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding any penalties that may be imposed under the Internal Revenue Code or applicable state or local law provisions.

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• Expert opinions
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Please contact:

T (415) 781-2500
E cpas@dzhphillips.com