Dear FUMC Members,
This being the season of tax refunds and economic
stimulus rebates….
There are people trying steal your money.
If you get an email message the IRS or the
Internal Revenue Service delete the email.
THE IRS DOES NOT SEND EMAILS
The following link will take to the website
where the article below came from…
Tax Refund Identity Theft
Scam Hits Email
Friday June 6, 2008
Along with some happiness and frustration, the tax rebates
spawned a larger than normal number of tax-related scams, including a
particularly dangerous identity theft email scheme disguised as a surprise tax
refund from the IRS. The text of one of these danger-packed email reads as
follows:
From: Internal Revenue Service
Subject: Tax Refund : $252.60
Importance: High
Dear Applicant:
After the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity we have determined
that you are eligible to receive a tax refund under section 501(c) (3) of the
Internal Revenue Code. Tax refund value is $252.60.Please submit the tax refund
request and allow us 3-6 days in order to IWP the data received.
-If you distribute funds to other organization, your records must show
whether they are exempt under section 497 (c) (15). In cases where the
recipient org. is not exempt under section 497 (c) (15), you must have evidence
the funds will be used for section 497 (c) (15) purposes.
-If you distribute fund to individuals, you should keep case histories
showing the recipient's name and address; the purpose of the award; the manner
of section; and the relationship of the recipient to any of your officers,
directors, trustees, members, or major contributors.
To access the form for your tax refund, please click here (or please
copy/paste the link below in your browser) : (Link to the scammer's web page
-- Do Not Click It!)
This notification has been sent by the Internal Revenue Service, a bureau of
the Department of the Treasury.
Of course, the email was not sent by the IRS. The web link takes the victim
to a web page that appears to be -- but is not -- an official IRS web page. The
web page contains a form where the victim is prompted for the last four digits of
his or her Social Security number, credit or debit card number, card security
code and the account's PIN number. Yes, everything needed to rob you blind.
There may be more than one version of this scam email out there, but the
version above is typical, and has been widely mailed.
Remember, the IRS will never contact any taxpayer by email or telephone,
unless previously authorized by that taxpayer. In other words, you will never
get an email or phone call from the IRS "out of the blue." Be careful
out there.
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