Con artists line up for economic stimulus checks
Updated: May 21, 2008 09:09 AM
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Many people have received their economic stimulus checks. But if you haven't, con artists are lining up to steal it from you.
With the Internal Revenue Service giving back billions of dollars in tax rebates to stimulate the economy, the crooks are phishing for your money with phony, official-looking emails preying on the public's rush to get their stimulus checks.
Tax expert Bruce Zgoda said, "It looks just like one: with the little eagle there, Internal Revenue Service, so it looks very authentic. So you think, it has to be real!"
The fastest way to get your money is by direct deposit and the bogus e-mail does provide a convenient link to give the crooks your bank account information.
CPA and tax expert Bruce Zgoda says don't get hooked by this phish.
Zgoda said, "Everyone gets something from the Internal Revenue Service, and they freeze. They get something in the mail, they freeze - they don't even want to open the envelope. But they get something on their computer, don't even open it."
Bottom line, the IRS does not initiate contact with e-mails.
IRS special agent Christine Shanley said, "The IRS will not contact taxpayers asking for personal information, or bank account information, via email, or telephone calls."
IRS special agent Christine Shanley told News 4, yes, the quickest way to get your stimulus check is with direct deposit and by filing electronically, but your account information is included with your return, not after you file it.
Shanley said, "You have to have direct deposit information on your original tax return, in order to get a direct deposited refund. So no IRS employee could change that, at this point."
If you receive a bogus IRS email you can do one of two things, delete it, or contact the IRS. The local fraud hotline is 716-961-5649 or you can forward the email to phishing@irs.gov.
Story by Al Vaughters (WIVB)
http://www.wivb.com/Global/story.asp?S=8355111
IRS website contact page
