June 25, 2008

Consumer Alert: Attorney General Corbett cautions consumers to be alert for email scams related to federal economic stimulus refunds

HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett today cautioned consumers to be alert for email scams related to the 2008 Economic Stimulus Refund checks currently being distributed to more than 130-million Americans by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

Corbett said Pennsylvania consumers have reported receiving fraudulent email messages, supposedly from the IRS, requesting that consumers submit an online application form prior to June 26, 2008, in order to ensure that their refund will be processed as soon as possible.  The scam email requests bank information from consumers in order to guarantee that their refund payment will be electronically deposited in their checking or savings accounts.

"Scam artists are hoping to catch consumers off-guard, using the urgency of an artificial deadline along with the fear of 'missing out' on a refund payment to convince consumers to hand over their personal information without thinking," Corbett said.  "While most consumers are aware of the economic stimulus refund program, some may still not understand exactly how the distribution process works - leaving them vulnerable to scam artists who generate email messages or links to bogus websites that mimic authentic government agency sites."

Corbett explained that while email messages related to economic stimulus payments may appear to be authentic, there are several items that clearly identify it as a scam:

- According to the Internal Revenue Service, that agency does NOT initiate contact with consumers via email. 
- The IRS does not request detailed personal information through email.
- The IRS does not request bank account or financial information through email.
- According to the IRS, economic stimulus payments will be distributed by check or electronic deposit, based on how taxpayers filed their 2007 tax returns (Consumers cannot change the manner in which they will receive their economic stimulus payment, so there would be no need for the IRS to send a message to consumers urging them to apply for a direct deposit of their refund).

Corbett added that the June 26th deadline included in the email has no bearing on the distribution of refunds.  Instead, the date was created by scam artists to encourage unsuspecting consumers to quickly reply - before they have time to consider the validity of the request.

Corbett said that e-mail scams and bogus IRS Web sites can be reported directly to the Internal Revenue Service for investigation by forwarding the message or website link to the following email address: phishing@irs.gov.  Additionally, consumers can also report suspicious email messages or scams to the Attorney General's Office by contacting the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline, at 1-800-441-2555, or submitting an online complaint using the Attorney General's website: www.attorneygeneral.gov (Highlight the "Complaints" button on the front page of the website and select "Consumer Complaints" from the drop-down menu).

"Tips and other information provided by watchful consumers across the state helps the Bureau of Consumer Protection track potential scams and warn Pennsylvanians about new security threats," Corbett said.  "We encourage consumers to report suspicious messages and websites and take steps to protect themselves from these online rip-offs."

Consumers can get more information about avoiding identity theft scams by reviewing the "Identity Theft Toolkit" available on the Attorney General's website (Highlight the "Consumers" button on the front page of the website and select "ID Theft Toolkit" from the drop-down menu).

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