IRS Tax Return Scam - "Problem Calculating Your Return"
The email message below: "Problem Calculating Your Return," which claims that the recipients’ tax information has been reviewed and there is a possibility of identity theft because the recipients’ Social Security Number (SSN) belongs to someone else, is a phishing scam. The fake IRS tax return email message was sent by scammers to trick their potential victims into sending money, personal and financial information, so the instructions in it should not be followed.
Remember, the IRS doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information. This includes requests for PIN numbers, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts.
The Fraudulent IRS Tax Return Email Message
Subject: Problem Calculating Your Return
Problem with filed SSN
We reviewed your tax information and have verified the possibility of identity theft. We have placed an identity theft indicator on your account.
You received CP 01H notice because we were unable to process your tax return. The IRS has locked your account because the Social Security Administration informed us that the Social Security number (SSN) of the primary or secondary taxpayer on the return belongs to someone who was deceased prior to the current tax year (before January 1, 2015 for a 2015 tax return).
You are required to supply your correct information to avoid any Tax Penalty.
To get started go here now
We previously sent you a CP63 notice informing you we are holding your refund until we receive one or more unfiled tax returns. Because we received no reply to our previous notice, we have calculated your tax, penalty and interest based on wages and other income reported to us by employers, financial institutions and others.
Sincerely,
Internal Revenue Service
The link in the fake email message goes to a phishing website that will ask the potential victims to enter their SSN, banking, personal and other information. Once the information is submitted on the fake phishing website, it will be sent to the scammers, who will use to rip off their victims.
The IRS said that all unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS or an IRS-related function should be reported to: phishing@irs.gov. Recent scams have used the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) to attract potential victims. Also, if you've experienced any monetary losses due to an IRS-related incident, please report it to the Treasury Inspector General Administration (TIGTA) and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) through their Complaint Assistant to make the information available to investigators.
To determine if an email message legitimately came from the IRS, you may ask them. Click here to contact them.
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Note: Some of the information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.