Warning about a scam to steal your identity through the mail-Truth!

IRS Warning about Identity Theft Scheme Through the Mail-Truth!

Summary of the eRumor The message says the IRS has issued an alert about crooks who are mailing official-looking documents said to be from your bank and from the IRS to trick you into disclosing personal information.

The Truth This one is true. It's actually two different fraud schemes, but both pretend to originate from your bank. The alert has been announced by the Internal Revenue Service, THE PHONY IRS SCAM According to the IRS, you receive a letter from your bank saying that in order for you to be able to continue deducting interest on your income tax form, some information needs to be updated. Included is an official looking form said to be from the IRS. The form may include CLICK HERE to see an example THE QUESTIONNAIRE It is a one page sheet that asks for information such as name, address, and phone. It also asks, however, for your Social Security number and includes a request for you to send a copy of your Social Security card and your driver's license. CLICK HERE to see an example CLICK HERE to see an example of the envelope that comes with the letter and questionnaire. The Treasure Department says that if you have received and responded to either of these schemes to contact your local police department and to also report it to The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484.
A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:
IRS Warns of Scheme to Steal Identity and Financial Data Tax Analysts Document #2002-10586 The Service has warned of a fraudulent scheme that uses fictitious bank correspondence and IRS forms in an attempt to trick individuals into disclosing their personal and banking data. Citations: IR-2002-55 The Service has warned (IR-2002-55) of a fraudulent scheme that uses fictitious bank correspondence and IRS forms in an attempt to trick individuals into disclosing their personal and banking data. The information is then used to steal the individual's identity and bank account deposits. In the scam, a letter claiming to be from the individual's bank states that the "bank" is updating its records to exempt the individual from reporting interest or having tax withheld on interest paid on his or her bank accounts or other financial dealings. Legally, banks must report interest to the IRS and individuals must include it as income. The "bank" correspondence encloses a phony form that purports to come from the IRS and seeks detailed personal and financial data. The letter urges the individual to fax the completed form to a specific number within seven days or lose the reporting and withholding exemption, resulting in withholding of 31 percent on the account's interest. The scheme promoters then use the faxed information to impersonate the individual and gain access to the individual's finances. Individuals who have received a fraudulent letter and form should immediately contact their financial institution. They should also report the attempted fraud to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), by calling the toll-free fraud referral hotline at 1-800-366-4484, faxing a complaint to 202-927-7018, or writing to the TIGTA Hotline, P.O. Box 589, Ben Franklin Station, Washington, DC 20044-0589. TIGTA's website is located at www.ustreas.gov/tigta.