Several SF State students have informed OIP of a "scam" e-mail that pretends to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), stating that the recipient is eligible for a tax refund and providing a web link to obtain the refund. The e-mail further requires the recipient to reply within 48 hours.
This e-mail is NOT from the IRS, but is an attempt to gain access to personally identifiable information, including social security number and credit card information. Do not respond to such an e-mail!
If you pass your cursor over the url provided in the phony e-mail message without clicking on it, you will see that a very different url comes up. The IRS has information on this scam at their website: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=170894,00.html
If you thought the e-mail was real and have already filled out the form and submitted it, you should contact your credit card company at the number on the back of your card (most have 24/7 service to report theft) and tell them what has happened. The IRS does not send out e-mail notifications, and they do not ask for credit card information on their forms.
Additional resources include:
http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=136324,00.html
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10064.html
Remember, this is a scam e-mail, also known as a "phishing" e-mail. Never respond to unsolicited e-mail messages with your identifying information, such as a social security number, bank account or credit card. Phishers have the ability to create e-mails and websites that are very similar to the "real thing." If you have any doubts, type the real url of the company you wish to do business with into your web browser, rather than using the web link provided in the e-mail message.
This e-mail is NOT from the IRS, but is an attempt to gain access to personally identifiable information, including social security number and credit card information. Do not respond to such an e-mail!
If you pass your cursor over the url provided in the phony e-mail message without clicking on it, you will see that a very different url comes up. The IRS has information on this scam at their website: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=170894,00.html
If you thought the e-mail was real and have already filled out the form and submitted it, you should contact your credit card company at the number on the back of your card (most have 24/7 service to report theft) and tell them what has happened. The IRS does not send out e-mail notifications, and they do not ask for credit card information on their forms.
Additional resources include:
http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=136324,00.html
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10064.html
Remember, this is a scam e-mail, also known as a "phishing" e-mail. Never respond to unsolicited e-mail messages with your identifying information, such as a social security number, bank account or credit card. Phishers have the ability to create e-mails and websites that are very similar to the "real thing." If you have any doubts, type the real url of the company you wish to do business with into your web browser, rather than using the web link provided in the e-mail message.
