YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES
Wednesday May 23, 2012
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With tax day a recent memory, you might not be surprised to see an e-mail claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service. But the IRS is warning that scammers are using the recent April 15 deadline to try to pry personal information from unsuspecting taxpayers.
Carrie Resch, an IRS spokeswoman, said the e-mails might say you are owed a larger refund or there is a problem with your refund. The impostors might threaten you with an audit if you fail to respond. The e-mails will often include links or attachments, which could expose you to dangerous software that can steal passwords from your computer.
"Even if you don't readily provide it, (the software) can open your computer up to be a goldmine of information," Resch said.
She said the IRS will never send an e-mail asking for personal information.
To see an IRS video on e-mail scams, click here. To see a copy of a recent scam e-mail, click here.
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