The news that about $120 billion in tax rebate checks will be in the mail in three or four months is an invitation to con artists around the world to grab some for themselves.
The IRS warns that people pretending to represent the government are contacting folks by e-mail and telephone, promising you a check if you'll share your banking information.
Don't give personal information to anyone who telephones you and never click on a link in an e-mail. If you want to contact the IRS via computer, type in the address yourself: http://www.irs.gov.
Clicking on an e-mail is usually a shortcut to a thief's computer. Our offices received an e-mail Tuesday alleging it was from the IRS and promising we would get $184.80 if we would fill out a form revealing our banking information. What this thief wanted was a chance to make a withdrawal.
Florida Sen. Bill Nelson is proposing legislation to better monitor such activity and make it a more serious federal crime. Congress needs to hurry because the IRS expects that by the time the first checks are mailed in May, some 3,700 fraudulent sites will be in operation.
If a thief e-mails you, help the IRS by forwarding it to phishing@irs.gov.
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