Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Email Scam

One of my clients came in the other day with a printed copy of an email he had received from the IRS telling him that he is entitled to a tax refund of $869. The email appears to had come from service@irs.gov. It states the following:

Subject: Get Tax Refund ($869)
From: Internal Revenue Service (service@irs.gov)

The official IRS logo appeared at the top of the email.

After the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity we have determined that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of $869. Please submit the tax refund request and allow us 3-9 days in order to process it.
A refund can be delayed for a variety of reasons.
For example submitting invalid records or applying after the deadline.

To access your tax refund, please click here.

Best Regards,
Tax Refund Department
Internal Revenue Service

Copyright 2009, Internal Revenue Service U.S.A. All rights reserved.

It took me a while to convince him not to click on the link and provide his information. He found it hard to believe that someone could use an email address @irs.gov and not actually be legitimate. I even called the IRS while he was in my office to confirm that they do not send out emails like these to taxpayers.

This email is a scam, and its sole purpose is to get you to click on the link and provide your personal information to thieves who will then either sell it to other thieves or try to steal your identity.