Latest E-mail Scam Sophisticated, Appears to be from IRS

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Updated: 8:26 AM Feb 2, 2009 Latest E-mail Scam Sophisticated, Appears to be from IRS The Department of Consumer Protection says the latest scam is targeting taxpayers. Posted: 8:02 PM Feb 1, 2009 Reporter: WSAW Staff

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Consumer protection officials say a new scam that’s never been seen before consists of an e-mail claiming to be from the IRS.

It says “you are being audited.”

The e-mail then takes you to an online form that looks identical to the IRS’s website, but it is not.

If you enter your name, address, phone number and social security number like the e-mail tells you to do, you have just been scammed.

Consumer protection officials say the IRS will never contact you asking for your personal information because they already have it.

"Even if they said they wanted to verify it -- they don't need to verify,” said Janet Jenkins of Wisconsin Consumer Protection. “If they wanted to verify, as a governmental agency, they could check with the social security administration or whatever. They don't need your information. So if they pretend to ask for it, you know it's not the IRS."

The good news is only a few people have reported to consumer protection that they actually gave out their information.

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