Spam of the Week: Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
“The latest in annoying and dangerous e-mail currently making the rounds.”
by ComputorEdge Staff
As far as I know, the IRS doesn't send e-mail notices. I don't think that they have e-mail addresses for the vast majority of people. However, an e-mail purportedly from "Internal Revenue Service <reports@mail.irs.gov>" with "Notice of Underreported Income" in the subject line can still strike terror into one's heart. Fortunately, this e-mail is only a phishing scam, albeit a dangerous one.
We saw this spam attack earlier in the year, and it's now starting to rear its ugly head again. The spam may look similar to either Figure 1, with a bogus link, or Figure 2, with a dangerous attachment.
Figure 1. The fake IRS spam may have a misdirected link, as shown.
Figure 1. The fake IRS spam may have a zipped attachment, as shown. Do not download the file!Apparently the link or zip file will give you the Zbot Trojan (a.k.a. Zeus Bot Trojan), which goes after your personal information. Do not click the link or download the zip file.
If you don't get any of these spams, it is either a testament to your spam-blocking antivirus software or your e-mail account is too new to be on a spammer's list. Check your Junk Mail to see if they're after you.
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Comments and Letters about Spam of the Week: Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
“The latest in annoying and dangerous e-mail currently making the rounds.”
by ComputorEdge Staff
IRS Phishing Scam
"Scam E-mail Sends Malicious Software to Recipients' Computers"I really wish you had checked the IRS site before starting the article with the wishy-washy "As far as I know, the IRS doesn't send e-mail notices."
The IRS
never initiates e-mail contact with a taxpayer. Period.
—Stewart A. Levin, Centennial, CO
Spam Of The Week (IRS)
We used to get stuff like this every week from our local "Banks", which I used to print and hand in to the the genuine banks. We still get the occasional 419 (sprat/mackerel) from ZA or ZW, millions being sent every day but most stopped by our ISP (Virgin), our own spam filter or antivirus apps. And we always decline the offer to download the latest Adobe or Java to read a Web site we don't know, 'Come in, the door's wide open!' And thanks for the advice re zipfiles.
—Clive, Wimborne Minster, Dorset, UK
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