Fake Government Agency Scams: From IRS.GOV Agent #727 at the IRS

Email Scams Claiming to be from
IRS.GOV Agent #727 at the IRS
"As part of new requirements from the IRS, all U.S. Citizens are required by law to update their computers with new tax software."

Have you received an email from "IRS.GOV Agent #727" claiming to be from the IRS, asking you "As part of new requirements from the IRS, all U.S. Citizens are required by law to update their computers with new tax software.". This is a scam!

The IRS does NOT use email as a means to contact private citizens, nor require them "As part of new requirements from the IRS, all U.S. Citizens are required by law to update their computers with new tax software.".

The name given was "IRS.GOV Agent #727".  That's hardly a real name!

See a sample of this scam email below and a few clues to the obvious scam:

Notice that the scammer, obviously an amateur, sent the same email to a number of email addresses, all in a series.  He probably purchased a list from an email harvester. The return email address is "Dwayne730@irs.org" hardly the format of a legitimate government email address. The link (which we removed) in the html behind "irs.gov/softwareupdate" actually send the victim to http://nzkaa.info,  clearly a criminal activity. Singing the email "IRS.GOV Agent #727 " is also clearly the work of a scammer; a real government official would have included their name, an address, phone number, etc.  And of course, the government would never initially contact you vian email!

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From: IRS

To: kellysvf@hughes.net ; renae56@hughes.net ; graciela@hughes.net ; marie591@hughes.net ; pudge5405@hughes.net ; bonnieargyle@hughes.net ; gmross@hughes.net ; davhelen@hughes.net ; jurgen2@hughes.net ; bedard@hughes.net ; babygirl1963@hughes.net ; alasherby@hughes.net

Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 3:40 PM

Subject: [SPAM] New IRS Requirement

Dear Tax Payer,

As part of new requirements from the IRS, all U.S. Citizens are required by law to update their computers with new tax software.

To begin the update, please visit irs.gov/softwareupdate and click "Open" when asked to begin the download.

After doing so, no further action is required on your part.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,
IRS.GOV Agent #727

 

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How to Report a Fraudulent Organization, Agency or Business Proposal

In the United States contact:

U.S. Secret Service
Financial Crimes Division
1800 G Street, NW
Room 942
Washington, DC 20223

Phone: (202) 435-5850

Fax: (202) 435-5031

Or contact the local U.S. Secret Service Field Office.

Overseas

Contact the Foreign Commercial Service (FSC) at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If there is no FCS office, contact the American Citizens Services Unit of the Consular Section or the Regional Security Office.

For a comprehensive list of national and international agencies to report scams, see this page.

 

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