Phony Tax E-Mails Abound During This Filing Season [AUDIO]

E-mail ‘wolves’ are out in great numbers during this tax season, sending out lots of phony solicitations to prepare your returns.

It turns out they just want to steal your identity…and your money.

The phony e-mails request Social Security numbers or bank account numbers or other personal info from the unwary. These so-called, “phishers” sometimes seek to seize control of your computer with a virus if you click on an e-mail attachment.

IRS spokeswoman Diane Besuner says ignore and delete any e-mails asking for personal financial stuff.

She says as a rule of thumb, if you are choosing a new tax preparer, you should be using care in choosing them. Besunder says the degree of care should be equivalent to the care you would use to select a doctor or a lawyer or any other professional.

In the past, the phishers posed as the IRS. But many have now switched gears and solicit as tax preparers.

Complicating the whole tax e-mail situation: some tax preparers who have been legitimately engaged by a tax payer may send out advisory e-mails to keep a customers up to speed on the status of their refund. But some crooks can also pose e-mails that carry that same air of authenticity.

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