Federal Government Email Scam? Beware!
The Latest Email Scams Involve (fake) Federal Authorities!
The email listed below was received a few days ago. In its received version it appeared to be legitimate. Its format included blocks, pictures, official links to government sites, mentioned the EFTPS system (what some people use to pay their taxes online), and other official-looking components. Being the savvy email users that we are, we knew right away that it was a scam.
A copy of this scam email has been included below. Should you receive a similar email, chances are it is a scam.
But how can you know if your email is REALLY from the Federal Government, or if its a fake? Following the conclusion of the email you will find a short tutorial on how to avoid email scams involving Federal or other Government entities. There are ways to be certain, and you should take every precaution to ensure the safety and security of your financial well-being!
The questionable email has been copied in its entirety, to the extent possible, considering the block lettering. Emails that you may receive may look a bit different, but will include the same writing.
_____________________________________________________
From: EFTPS Tax Payment System
Sent: Wed, October 20, 2010 8:32:02 AM
Subject: Your Federal Tax Payment ID: 010363755 is failed.
EFTPS ONLINE
THE EASIEST WAY TO PAY YOUR FEDERAL TAXES
Unfortunately, your Federal Tax Payment ID: 0103759 has not been confirmed.
Please, verify the information you have submitted and refer to Code R21. Follow this link for help:
http://eftps.gov/R21 (note to reader: DO NOT click the link! It is for your information only! It is a scam!)
Return Reason Code R21 -The identification number used in the Company Identification Field is wrong. Or you might be facing some computer problems. Please scan your PC for viruses!
EFTPS: The Electronic Tax Payment System
Warning!
You are using an Official United States Government System, which may be used only for authorized purposes! Unauthorized modification of any information stored on this system may result in criminal prosecution. The Government may monitor and audit the usage of this system, and all persons are hereby notified that the use of this system constitutes consent to such monitoring and auditing. Unauthorized attempts to upload information and/or change information on this web site are strictly prohibited and are subject to prosecution under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and Title 18 U.S.C! Sec. 1001 and 1030.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to avoid Federal Government Email Scams
So you've received a legitimate looking email. You notice warnings about violating the law, mentions about paying taxes, and official looking links. Beware! It is a scam! Educate yourself to avoid financial ruin!
1. Federal Government email scams tip #1: Sensitive Information
First and foremost, consumers need to be aware that the Federal Government does not, and I repeat, does not, send out emails regarding sensitive/timely business. Should your online tax return fail to complete, your tax ID fail to be received, or any other tax-related issue occur, the IRS will contact you directly, by mail. Email, as we all know (and the government knows!) is not 100% safe or secure. Therefore, any legitimate business with the Federal Goverment, the IRS, the CIA, the FBI - anyone - will not occur via the Internet. Should you receive an email from anyone claiming to be one of these entities, chances are, it is a scam email.
2. Federal Government email scams tip #2: Communication
Email scams rarely, if ever, include legitimate phone numbers or other contact information. Should such information be provided, check it out! Don't believe everything you read. It could be that the phone number, address, links to 'official' forms, or email addresses are copied or cloned from official sources. However, using them to reach the Federal Goverment or other Government entities will not result in legitimate communication. When in doubt, look up the real phone number or address for the party in question, then use these communication tools to inquire about the email. Chances are, thru communications with legitimate, listed means, you will discover that the message from the Federal Goverment was nothing but the latest attempt at email fraud!
3. Federal Government email scams tip #3: Strange Email Characters
So you just got an email in your inbox from the Government. You waste no time opening it, and concern about your tax return rushes thru your mind. Did you forget to itemize something? Do you owe the IRS? As you scan the email, everything looks to be on the up and up, except for one key component: Some of the letters are different colors, have lines thru them, or seem off centered. In some locations, one or two letters in the middle of a word are itallicized, while the rest remain 'normal'. Perhaps the email uses different colors for different letters within the same word or set of words. You might also notice that some letters, at random, have a strange line running thru them, underneath them, beside them, or anywhere unusual. These are indicators of a foreign-used translation software. When the software cannot properly translate the strange looking, non-English letters of another language, it will come up with the next best option but leave these lines behind. Email scam artists are often far too busy sending out emails to remove or correct these problems. If your Federal Government email includes words that seem out of place, miscolored, or strangely shaped letters, chances are, its a scam email!
4. Federal Government email scams tip $4: Links in Email
Any legitimate communication from the Federal Government will not request that you, the recipient, click any links. Rather, they will suggest that you go to the official website for the sending party, follow the links for the business in question, and complete the transaction. Remember, in the vast majority of cases, the Federal Government will NOT, and I repeat, will NOT send you any emails at all. But, in the extremely rare case that you should receive a legitimate email, it will not ask you to travel to any embedded links. If you see links, followed by requests to click on said links, rest assured, its a scam email!
5. Federal Government email scams tip #5: Click and Paste
If you get an email from the Federal Government and you want to know if its for real, this easy test will put your mind at ease. Fake, phishing, or fraud emails will often include strange characters or exclusions that we cannot see with our naked eyes. Select all of the questionable email, copy, then paste into a wordpad, Word, or other word processing document. If the email is a scam or fake, there will be portions of the text missing, or you may see additional text that was otherwise hidden in the original email.
By becoming familiar with the common methods that internet scam artists use, you can avoid financial fraud. Don't be the latest victim of a scam email involving the Federal Government, or anyone else for that matter!
Sources:
Personal experiences in receiving, replying to, and investigating fraudulent emails.
Phone call with the IRS on 10-18-10
Phone call with the Social Security Administration 10-18-10
Phone call with the administration at the State of Oklahoma capital on 10-19-10
Published by Amy B.
I am a well-rounded individual, very creative, and highly independent. I currently work as a Native American beadwork artist, a writer, and as a professor of Psychology and mental health. I have 4 years of w... View profile
- New Work Scams and New Ways Work Scams Are PresentedWork scams themselves are not new. Here are a few of these new work scams and new ways in which they are being presented to the public:
- Gone Phishing: Internet Scams on Craigslistonline shopping has become a fertile breeding ground for all sorts of cyber criminals who daily defraud thousands of people by successfully masquerading as legitimate buyers and vendors
Should I Make Estimated Tax Payments to the IRS?Estimated tax payments are used by individuals to report certain withholdings from income that is not subject to withholding on its own. Find out if this applies to you.
How to Determine Your Correct Amount of Federal Income Tax WithholdingFederal income tax withholding is based on a "pay as you go" system. How can you determine your correct rate of withholding? What happens if you are underwithheld? Who withholds...- Avoiding the Most Common Email ScamEmail scams are very common. Learn about the most common one and how to avoid it.
- Meeting the Payroll Tax Obligations of Your Small Business
- When You Can't File Your Tax Return on Time
- Beware of These Email Scams Hitting Your Inboxes
- 6 Tips to Avoid Email Scams - and Financial Ruin!
- Scam Email from "DIPLOMAT HENRY from FEDEX COURIER COMPANY" - Beware!
- Elimination of the IRS is the Only True Tax Reform Proposal for America
- Payroll Tax Laws for Small Businesses