New Phishing Scam Targets American Taxpayers

^^^Not really the IRS

You shouldn't ignore the IRS — but only if you're totally sure it's the IRS.

According to a cyber threats researcher with Kaspersky Labs, the security analysis giant, a new email phishing scam has hit inboxes just in time for tax season.

In the scam, identified by Dmitry Bestuzhev, an email ostensibly from the IRS claims that the recipient's personal information is incorrect or incomplete. The email links to an empty form that then asks for the kind of personal information that cybercriminals can use to, say, hack someone's bank account.

According to Hoax Slayer, a similar email currently making the rounds asks for social security number and contact information; the corresponding form is hosted in Eastern Europe.

IRS phishing scams are nothing new; this is merely the latest iteration. Indeed, they have been enough of a problem that the IRS has a page devoted to them. It warns of phishing through email, phone, snail mail, and even fax.

So as April 15 approaches, remember to pay your taxes, but make sure your information is going to the real IRS.

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