It’s important to be aware of several current scams that use the IRS name to lure individuals into providing personal financial information which could be used to commit identity theft.

The following is a list of scams used to steal your personal information that you’ll want to avoid so you can keep your identity safe.

A Rebate Phone Call, when you receive a call from someone who claims to be an IRS employee and tells you you’re eligible for a large rebate. They insist that they need your information, and your information is theirs for the taking.
A Refund E-mail, which comes in several variations, is when a taxpayer receives an e-mail that falsely claims to be from the IRS, and says the person is eligible for a refund of some amount, if they click on a link and fill out a form which requires them to hand out their personal information.
An Audit E-mail is when the taxpayer receives an e-mail notifying them that their tax return will be audited, and instructs the recipient to click on links to complete forms with personal account information.
A Changes to Tax Law E-mail, usually addressed to businesses, accountants, and “treasury managers.” It asks them to download information on tax law changes by clicking on links, that if downloaded, the software enables the identity thief to take over the victim’s computer hard-drive and give the thief access to passwords and other information.
A Paper Check Phone Call is when a caller claims to be an IRS employee who is calling because the IRS sent a check to the taxpayer but the check has not been cashed. The caller says the IRS wants to verify the person’s bank account number or other personal information.

The IRS has established phishing@irs.gov so that you may report any suspicious e-mails claiming to be from the IRS