Consumer Awareness Alert:
Please be aware of the following scams that have already sprung up related to the Economic Stimulus
Check initiative:
*Rebate Phone Call: In this scam, consumers receive a phone call from someone identifying themselves as an
IRS employee. The caller tells the targeted victim that he is eligible for a sizable rebate for filing his taxes early. The
caller then states that he needs the customer's bank account information for the direct deposit of the rebate. If the
customer refuses, he is told that he cannot receive the rebate.
*Refund Email Scam: Customer receives an email - which falsely claims to come from the IRS, informing the
recipient that he or she is eligible for a tax refund for a specific amount, and instructs the recipient to click on a link in
the e-mail to access a refund claim form.
*Audit Email Scam: Customer receives an email notifying the recipient that his or her tax return will be audited.
The customer either clicks on a link or contacts a phone number included in the email. This is the first scam of which the
IRS is aware that uses this to get the victim to respond.
*Tax Law Change Email Scam - the email is addressed to businesses, accountants and “Treasury”
managers. It instructs them to download information on tax law changes by clicking on a series of links to publications on
businesses, estate taxes, excise taxes, exempt organizations and IRA's and other retirement plans.
*Paper Check Phone Call Scam: In a current telephone scam, a caller claims to be an IRS employee who is
calling because the IRS sent a check to the customer which has not yet been negotiated. The caller states that because
the check has not been cashed, the IRS wants to verify the individual’s bank account number.
*Better Business Bureau Rebate Scams - In addition to the above rebate scams, IRS officials are also
warning businesses of emails that appear to be complaints forwarded to them by the Better Business Bureau.
Businesses receiving such questionable e-mails should contact the local BBB directly and not respond to the email.