[caption id="attachment_13469" align="alignleft" width="260" caption="Phishing initiative - wikimedia commons"][/caption]
Here’s the letter bound to get your attention: Dear Taxpayer!You are encouraged to pay a penalty for the failure to file income tax returns prior to January 31, 2012.Note, IRC [Section 6038(b)(1)] provides for a monetary penalty of $10,000 for each [Form 5471]that is filed after the due date of the income tax return or does not include the complete and accurate information described in [Section 6038(a)].
That’s the kind of letter that would get anyone concerned, especially if he or she is a late tax filer. It is the kind of letter one opens, frets about and then it happens. The computer freezes, crashes, or it simply scoops up the information linked to passwords and personal data, all upended and sent along from some unsuspecting victim to an Internet bandit in cyberspace.
The new scams are clever. It is likely many people would notice very soon they are false and meant to mislead. After you open the mail, the malware strikes. If you are lucky, you have a program that will erase the bug. But most often you won’t know until it is too late, and everything is gone.
This year the email system is loaded with these goodies that are sandwiched into mail from friends and that slip by spam gates to get at you anyway.
It’s important to read carefully anything that comes unexpectedly, asking for personal information and promising a reward if you give it up and a punishment if you don’t. The IRS note would send chills down the spines of most folks, so it’s tempting to respond. And then there are those banking emails, but the “obvious” is early, as my bank, and yours, likely don’t call you “dear.”
Hello Dear! We have received too many reports from our customers about fraudulent online and ATM transactions. We have launched a new security system to secure old and new accounts from this kind of fraud. To prevent your checking or savings account from this fraud, update your information on the attached file which you should download and open. Thank you. Bank of America Security.
Experts tell us that phishing is on the rise, particularly during the holiday season when folks order goods online and so have online orders and confirmations as well as emails that look authentic at the outset and relate to credit cards, banking and other alleged financial offerings. Phishing is a technique used online where the scammers ask for personal information and introduce their request through fake messages that resemble a valid message from banks or shopping sites. The recommendation is beware of these. Consumers are warned not to open messages that arrive from these sources. And be particularly cautious during the days when attention may be diverted to family business and legitimate shopping, as the criminals are aware that these are times when they can attract unsuspecting folk. Don’t be a victim and stay particularly guarded, experts say, to avoid falling for these scams.
