A “notice of unreported income” email scam is spreading through the net. The scam involves a fake email notice from the IRS about unreported income. Protection tips here!
The message has been sent to thousands and thousands of Americans, and is nothing but another phishing scheme. The individuals behind the message are soliciting people for their IRS account information. Once obtained, they can login and attempt to fraudulently collect tax refunds.
The IRS has clearly stated that they would never ask for personal information through email, so you should automatically suspect any such request. If you receive the message, don’t reply to it. Whatever you do, don’t open the attachment; the hoax reportedly comes along with some pretty nasty malware.
These kinds of things get me thinking. Who is behind these seemingly anonymous spam-fests? Why aren’t they tracked down and caught? Those questions come with some complicated answers:
According to The Tech Herald, there are networks of computers running automated scripts called “botnets,” that can crank out hundreds of thousands of spam emails an hour. I’m sure you’ve received them—the ones about male enhancement, or how to get rich quick. The website reports that this particular IRS phishing campaign appears to be originating from a botnet called “Cutwail.”
Police overseas have been somewhat successful in shutting down such networks, but catching the individuals responsible is very difficult because they are often controlled remotely.
The video below talks about a similar scheme from earlier this year.
Were you aware of the “notice of unreported income” email scam? Let us know in the comments section below.
September 10th, 2009 at 2:47 am
You are absolutely right; it is a complicated network of ‘organised’ crime. Many variants of such scams appear at various times, but the objective is simply to dupe the unsuspecting. The only thing that people can do to be safe is to familiarize themselves about the patterns and be vigilant always. With this in mind I had written a book and have sent this information to most law-enforcement agencies requesting them to use it in thier campaigns. With over 30 illustrated examples, ‘SPAM 2 SCAM How 2 B e-SAFE’ prepares readers to recognise patterns of fraud in many forms and thereby helps them not to fall victim to such schemes. They will also find some simple yet practical suggestions on how to fortify their information environment including choosing strong passwords without additional software and remember them easily or change as and when required.
Please feel free to broadcast this message and/or pass it around. Together, let us try to save as many vulnerable netizens as possible, as quickly as possible and in whatever ways as possible.
September 10th, 2009 at 3:29 am
I had a similar thing happen, although I received one of these IRS phishing scams in the mail some years ago that claimed to be a 1040 tax form. I had to fill out a lot of personal information and then over the years thousands of dollars was deducted directly from my pay. Any time I didn’t pay up or made a mistake in the form, I received threatening letters and had to pay extra. JS
PS I got the email underreported income form as well but I just deleted it.
September 10th, 2009 at 4:03 am
I just received MY fake IRS spam email yesterday. My first reaction was to send it to my “Spam Box” - but I hesitated because I sold a business last year, and was concerned that it MIGHT be legitimate. I finally decided to trash it.
Thanks for this story this morning - it answers my questioning.
However, YOUR annoying pop-ups are RIDICULOUS. I’ve already had five pop-ups from you just while typing this short reply.
Please - I know you need to make a living - but STOP all these frustrating pop-ups!!!
September 10th, 2009 at 4:47 am
I delete most e-mails. The problem is I don’t believe anyone, not even the legit. I get a phone call from my bank and I don’t believe they are who they say they are. It’s sad, so much of this going on now that how do you know who is real and who is scamming. Unless I know the person calling me, I hang up. Unless I know the e-mail and the subject I delete it.
September 10th, 2009 at 5:06 am
I feel left out. After receiving hundreds of notifications that I have won some type of lottery, requests to transfer funds from someone in Nigeria, and various enhancement products, I haven’t received the IRS scam.
As the author questioned, why can’t the people who are profiting by these scams be caught? If the government can’t catch these guys who must have some type of paper trail when people pay them money, how is the same government going to stop cyber terrorism from the political and religious fanatics?
September 10th, 2009 at 5:08 am
IRS SCAM:
This is as bad as the Nigerian mail, that comes from Mr. Mueller of FBI fame?
It is a pity that this kind of scam has a life of its own?
One would think, it could be obliterated soon after it is found?
Even the FBI is used in a scam?
Go figure?
September 10th, 2009 at 5:11 am
These people are pathetic. Don’t they have anything better to do with their time??
September 10th, 2009 at 5:50 am
Rec’d the IRS email today. Since I am a tax preparer, I knew it was a scam, so I forwarded it to phishing@irs.gov.
September 10th, 2009 at 6:50 am
If any official notice is going to come to you it will come via certified registered mail with the sender’s return address. Then you look up the number for the company, IRS, FBI or whoever in the regular phone book and call them and ask them if they did indeed send you this mail. If I really won all the lotteries I get email on I would be the richest woman in the world. And if I had all the relatives that died and left me money I would have the biggest family in the world. No legit company is going to email you or ask you for personal information via email. Delete them ALL.
September 10th, 2009 at 7:50 am
I received 8 in one day yesterday. I did not open them though.