need a phishing-check
Jan 18, 2008 at 1:54 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 15

uzziah

Headphoneus Supremus
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got this email


Internal Revenue Service <online@irs.gov>
reply-tono.reply@irs.gov,
to
dateJan 17, 2008 4:12 PM
subjectTax refund - Online form

hide details 4:12 PM (1 hour ago)



Reply


Warning: This message may not be from whom it claims to be. Beware of following any links in it or of providing the sender with any personal information. Learn more

After the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity we have determined that
you are eligible to receive a tax refund of $480.23.
Please submit the tax refund request and allow us 3-9 days in order to
process it.

A refund can be delayed for a variety of reasons.
For example submitting invalid records or applying after the deadline.

To apply your tax refund form access next url:

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf?portlet=3


Note: Deliberate wrong inputs will be prosecuted by law.


Regards,
Internal Revenue Service





the link seems genuine. yes?
 
Jan 18, 2008 at 2:37 AM Post #5 of 15
Quote:

Originally Posted by NiceCans /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Why would the IRS be contacting taxpayers through email?
Isn;t this usually handled by US Mail?



How would they even get your email address?
 
Jan 18, 2008 at 4:10 AM Post #7 of 15
Quote:

Originally Posted by zotjen /img/forum/go_quote.gif
How would they even get your email address?


They can get the skin off your Testicles so i don't see a problem getting your email address. problem i see is why they would send this out?
I would not trust the email, instead i would go to the the website directly instead of clicking a link in the email...
 
Jan 18, 2008 at 7:10 AM Post #8 of 15
Red Flag Suspicious. Maybe they have a hidden false link. Was the email HTML?

Maybe the link redirect to an phishing site but the text appear to be of a real site like this (click) http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf?portlet=3


WARNING: I use google to find the IRS page below so you should double check the links and info below
tongue.gif


Here the IRS page on phishing
Suspicious e-Mails and Identity Theft

Quote:

For other than phishing schemes, you may report the fraudulent misuse of the IRS name, logo, forms or other IRS property by calling the TIGTA toll-free hotline at 1-800-366-4484 or visiting the TIGTA Web site.


Quote:

A recent e-mail scam tells taxpayers that the IRS has calculated their "fiscal activity" and that they are eligible to receive a tax refund of a certain amount. Taxpayers receive a page of, or are sent to, a Web site (titled "Get Your Tax Refund!") that copies the appearance of the genuine "Where's My Refund?" interactive page on the genuine IRS Web site. Like the real "Where's My Refund?" page, taxpayers are asked to enter their SSNs and filing status. However, the phony Web page asks taxpayers to enter their credit card account numbers instead of the exact amount of refund as shown on their tax return, as the real "Where's My Refund?" page does.

...

E-mails claiming to come from tax-refunds@irs.gov, admin@irs.gov and similar variations told the recipients that they were eligible to receive a tax refund for a given amount. It directed recipients to claim the refund by using a link contained in the e-mail which sent the recipient to a Web site. The site, a copy of the IRS Web site, displayed an interactive page similar to a genuine IRS one; however, it had been modified to ask for personal and financial information that the genuine IRS interactive page does not require.


Also to report by email
How to Protect Yourself from Suspicious E-Mails or Phishing Schemes.

Quote:

If you receive an unsolicited e-mail communication claiming to be from the IRS, please forward this message to: phishing@irs.gov using the instructions provided below.


Quote:

The IRS does not initiate taxpayer communications through e-mail.


 
Jan 18, 2008 at 7:44 AM Post #9 of 15
how can anyone believe that the IRS will honestly and actively give out tax refunds???
 
Jan 18, 2008 at 2:12 PM Post #10 of 15
Quote:

Originally Posted by Konig /img/forum/go_quote.gif
how can anyone believe that the IRS will honestly and actively give out tax refunds???


Exactly what I was thinking. If it involves the IRS and the citizen comes out ahead, it's a scam, period.
 
Jan 18, 2008 at 6:14 PM Post #12 of 15
You can email the IRS and ask them about it.

I would check if the link actually goes to what it says. E.g., you can have a link <a href="http://www.irs.gov">http://www.givememoney.com</a> - although that would only apply if you actually have html emails for some unknown reason.
 
Jan 18, 2008 at 10:24 PM Post #14 of 15
now i'm thinking: the scammer ment for this to be a link
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf?portlet=3

that would take you to another fraudulent site, but in the email IT'S NOT A LINK (i know it shows up as a link when i post it here, but not in the email), and i think the dumbass just set it up wrong and thus pasting that link in the browser does nothing but bring me to the actual IRS page; that's my current guess atleast

it's definitely fake though, but i was thrown off because ironically, it actually takes you to the legitimate IRS site, LOL
 
Jan 18, 2008 at 10:32 PM Post #15 of 15
Quote:

Originally Posted by DanT /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Red Flag Suspicious. Maybe they have a hidden false link. Was the email HTML?

Maybe the link redirect to an phishing site but the text appear to be of a real site like this (click) http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf?portlet=3



on the money; i'm not sure if it's HTML but what's supposed to be a link doesn't work; LOL, scammer needs to go back to nightschool in nigeria

what was so convincing about this email is that, in actuality, there's nothing wrong with it cuz the damn link doesn't work! lol
 

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