Got a letter from the IRS? Make sure it’s legit

June 6, 2011 – 1:03 pm

The IRS does not initiate communication with taxpayers through e-mail – but identity thieves do. Before you become a victim, safeguard your information.

If you receive a letter or notice in the mail from the IRS that leads you to believe someone may have used your Social Security number fraudulently, respond immediately to the name, address and/or number printed on the IRS notice. If the letter states that more than one tax return was filed for you or indicates that you received wages from an employer unknown to you, you could be a victim.

If you receive a letter or notice and you think it’s a scam, contact the IRS to verify it. You can contact them at 1-800-366-4484. If it’s legitimate, you can respond. If not, forward the letter to the IRS. An IRS employee can tell you how to get it to the right person.

If you receive an e-mail, you can forward the link to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov. The IRS does not communicate with taxpayers through e-mail.

To protect yourself, protect your wallet or purse, and only carry the information, cards and IDs you absolutely need. If you receive telephone calls asking for your personal information, only provide it if you are sure of the person at the other end. It is good practice to not provide your personal information to anyone if you didn’t initiate the call.

Be sure to shred any documentation that contains your personal information before you discard it.

And when you are shopping or conducting any kind of business online, be sure you use only secured sites. You’ll know a site is secure if the URL contains “https” instead of just “http.”

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