IRS Email Scam

After my last post, I realized I hadn’t blogged about an email I’ve been getting repeatedly for the last several months.

The email purports to be a letter from the IRS, about a refund I haven’t claimed. It looks somewhat official, but has a few key failings:
- I have never experienced the IRS seeking anyone out for a refund – and most of its communications are via mail
- The email address it is sent from is service@usa.org, rather than an IRS email address
- The email is marked undisclosed-recipients: in the To: line
- As you’ll see, there are plenty of typos – suspicious for as detail oriented an organization as the IRS

Also, I wonder if this is THE Jon Stewart…

********Notice from the Department of Treasury [from service@usa.org]

After the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity
we have determined that you are eligible to receive
a tax refund under section 501(c) (3) of the
Internal Revenue Code. Tax refund value is $189.60.
Please submit the tax refund request and allow us 6-9 days
in order to IWP the data received.
If u don’t receive your refund within 9 business
days from the original IRS mailing date shown,
you can start a refund trace online.

If you distribute funds to other organization, your records must show wether
they are exempt under section 497 (c) (15). In cases where the recipient org.
is not exempt under section 497 (c) (15), you must have evidence the funds will
be used for section 497 (c) (15) purposes.

If you distribute fund to individuals, you should keep case histories showing
the recipient’s name and address; the purpose of the award; the maner of
section; and the realtionship of the recipient to any of your officers, directors,
trustees, members, or major contributors.

To access the form for your tax refund, please click here [the link is routed through AOL]

This notification has been sent by the Internal Revenue Service,
a bureau of the Department of the Treasury.
Sincerely Yours,

John Stewart
Director, Exempt. Organization
Rulings and Agreements Letter
Internal Revenue Service