Client Memo – Fraudulent EFTPS Scams
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There is a new e-mail scam related to the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) that we want you to be aware of.

According to the IRS, the scheme targets individuals and businesses who utilize EFTPS to pay their federal taxes online or via telephone.  The fraudulent e-mail claims that the user’s tax payments were rejected and directs the e-mail recipient to a website for additional information.  The re-directed website usually asks for personal or financial information or contains malware that will attempt to infect the recipient’s computer.

IRS cautions EFTPS users and suggests the following tips:

  1. Do not reply to the sender, open attachments, access links in the e-mail or submit any information to the sender.
  2. Forward the message immediately to IRS at phishing@irs.gov.
  3. If you receive a suspicious e-mail or discover a website posing as the IRS, please forward the e-mail or URL information to IRS at phishing@irs.gov.
  4. After you forward the e-mail to the IRS, delete the message.

Remember –

  1. EFTPS is a tax payment system provided free by the U.S. Department of Treasury which allows taxpayers to pay federal taxes electronically via the internet or phone 24/7.
  2. IRS does not initiate any taxpayer communications through e-mail.
  • IRS does not request detailed personal information through e-mail.
  • IRS does not send e-mail requesting your PIN numbers, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts.

If you have any questions about identifying or reporting this or other phishing, e-mail scams and bogus IRS websites, please do not hesitate to contact us.

This information presented is for illustrative and informational purposes only. Articles are copyright of the respective publication and not for distribution. FB+D by Cerity Partners is not responsible for and does not endorse content on third party sites.

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