Beware of Phishing Emails Pretending to be from Tax Software Companies

March, 12 2012 by Karen Reed, EA

There’s a new wave of “phishing” scams involving phony emails from tax software companies such as TurboTax. Beware of emails prompting you to confirm your invoice or an order for tax software. Even if you are a customer of the software provider, do not respond, do not click any links, do not download files, and do not provide personal financial information via an email.
 

The newest scam involves emails that purport to confirm or thank recipients for purchasing software and include links to download an invoice, complete order information, and reorder checks. Clicking the links could result in a virus transferring to your computer, or you could be taken to a phony website prompting you to provide personal financial information.
 

Phishing scammers are known for using the information they receive from unsuspecting taxpayers to empty bank accounts, run up credit card charges, and apply for loans, services and other benefits in the scammed individual’s name. Often, the perpetrators perform these activities from locations overseas.
 

If you receive an email message that you suspect is a phishing email, forward it to the software company’s security center right away. The email address for TurboTax is spoof@intuit.com.