Government Brief: IRS Warns of Email Scammers

If you've received an email seeking a replacement tax payment, it's likely a scam, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

The IRS is warning that an email stating your tax payment has been rejected by the agency's Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) is an apparent phishing scam. 

The email is intended to trick the recipient into clicking a link that sends that downloads malicious software (malware). The program infects the victim’s computer and extracts personal and financial information used to commit identity theft. 

In a news release, the IRS warns that the agency does not send unsolicited emails to taxpayers, nor does it communicate payment information through email.

If you've received an email, don't click on any link or open attachments, and do not reply to the sender.

The IRS asks taxpayers to forward suspicious emails to the IRS at phishing@IRS.gov. Taxpayers who suspect that a website has falsely represented itself as affiliated with the IRS should report the website by sending the URL of the site to phishing@IRS.gov, using “Suspicious website” as the email subject line.