IRS@gov-taxreturn.org Email Scam: What You Need To Know!

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Written by: Stelian Pilici

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Scammers are sending phishing emails from the address irs@gov-taxreturn.org pretending the emails are from the real Internal Revenue Service (IRS). However, this email address is completely fake and not associated with the real IRS in any way. The fraudulent emails aim to trick taxpayers into providing sensitive personal and financial information that can be used for identity theft and other scams. This article will explain how to detect these scam emails and avoid falling for them.

Scam Phone Calls

What is the Fake irs@gov-taxreturn.org IRS Email Address Used in the Scam?

The phishing scam involves emails being sent from the address irs@gov-taxreturn.org. Despite the domain name having “irs” and “gov”, this email address does not originate from the official Internal Revenue Service at all.

Scammers register domain names intended to sound legitimate, but it is completely unconnected to the real IRS. Any email from irs@gov-taxreturn.org is fraudulent.

How Does the Fake irs@gov-taxreturn.org IRS Email Scam Work?

These fraudulent emails with the fake IRS address may have subject lines such as “IRS Tax Notification” or “Tax Transcript Update Required.”

The content of the scam email falsely claims to be from an IRS agent following up regarding issues with your tax return or account, such as taxes owed, refund status, or required identity verification.

The message urges you to click on links or attachments to urgently resolve the supposed tax issue before penalties are enforced.

However, the real IRS never initially contacts taxpayers via unsolicited email to request personal information or conduct account business like this. Any such email claiming to be the IRS and demanding your sensitive data is always a fraudulent phishing attempt.

What is the Goal of the Scam irs@gov-taxreturn.org Emails?

The scammers send these fake IRS emails in mass quantities, hoping some recipients will fall for their urgent threats and click the links out of fear.

The links then take victims to phishing sites that prompt them to enter personal details like Social Security Number, bank account information, or credit card numbers under the guise of “verifying their identity.”

Once users submit it, the scammers steal the personal information to commit financial frauds or re-sell it on the dark web. No real IRS issue gets resolved.

Some victims also receive follow-up calls from other scammers pretending they can help fix the fictional tax problems…for a fee. The scammers share data and contacts to cast a wider scam net.

What to Do if You Got a Fake irs@gov-taxreturn.org IRS Email

If you unfortunately already responded to one of the fake irs@gov-taxreturn.org phishing emails, take these steps immediately:

  • Contact the real IRS to report the scam email and have them check whether any issues really exist on your account.
  • Check your credit reports for any fraudulent accounts opened in your name and set up fraud alerts.
  • Change any account passwords compromised by the scam and enable login multi-factor authentication for extra security.
  • Work with your bank to potentially reverse any unauthorized transactions conducted since the scam encounter.
  • File a report with the FTC describing the details of the scam email so they can investigate.

How to Spot and Report the Fake IRS Emails

Here are tips to detect and report irs@gov-taxreturn.org phishing attempts:

  • Check that any supposed IRS email actually ends in .gov, not .com or other non-government domains which scammers mimic.
  • Call the IRS scam hotline to report any questionable electronic contacts and confirm your real account status.
  • Watch for poor grammar, threats, urgent demands, requests for sensitive data, or other red flags the IRS does not do over email.
  • Search online to see if the specific email address, links, or other details have been reported as a known scam by others.
  • Report fake emails to the IRS, FTC, and IC3 to assist investigations into larger fraud rings.

Conclusion

In summary, the irs@gov-taxreturn.org email address is completely fake and no IRS communication from it should ever be trusted. Report any scam emails you receive as phishing attempts to avoid falling victim. Never click links or provide information in response to suspicious emails claiming to be the IRS. With awareness, taxpayers can protect their personal data from these fraudsters.

How to Stay Safe Online

Here are 10 basic security tips to help you avoid malware and protect your device:

  1. Use a good antivirus and keep it up-to-date.

    Shield Guide

    It's essential to use a good quality antivirus and keep it up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. We are huge fans of Malwarebytes Premium and use it on all of our devices, including Windows and Mac computers as well as our mobile devices. Malwarebytes sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, and providing extra protection against sneakier security threats.

  2. Keep software and operating systems up-to-date.

    updates-guide

    Keep your operating system and apps up to date. Whenever an update is released for your device, download and install it right away. These updates often include security fixes, vulnerability patches, and other necessary maintenance.

  3. Be careful when installing programs and apps.

    install guide

    Pay close attention to installation screens and license agreements when installing software. Custom or advanced installation options will often disclose any third-party software that is also being installed. Take great care in every stage of the process and make sure you know what it is you're agreeing to before you click "Next."

  4. Install an ad blocker.

    Ad Blocker

    Use a browser-based content blocker, like AdGuard. Content blockers help stop malicious ads, Trojans, phishing, and other undesirable content that an antivirus product alone may not stop.

  5. Be careful what you download.

    Trojan Horse

    A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather.

  6. Be alert for people trying to trick you.

    warning sign

    Whether it's your email, phone, messenger, or other applications, always be alert and on guard for someone trying to trick you into clicking on links or replying to messages. Remember that it's easy to spoof phone numbers, so a familiar name or number doesn't make messages more trustworthy.

  7. Back up your data.

    backup sign

    Back up your data frequently and check that your backup data can be restored. You can do this manually on an external HDD/USB stick, or automatically using backup software. This is also the best way to counter ransomware. Never connect the backup drive to a computer if you suspect that the computer is infected with malware.

  8. Choose strong passwords.

    lock sign

    Use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using personal information or easily guessable words in your passwords. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever possible.

  9. Be careful where you click.

    cursor sign

    Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could potentially contain malware or phishing scams.

  10. Don't use pirated software.

    Shady Guide

    Avoid using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing programs, keygens, cracks, and other pirated software that can often compromise your data, privacy, or both.

To avoid potential dangers on the internet, it's important to follow these 10 basic safety rules. By doing so, you can protect yourself from many of the unpleasant surprises that can arise when using the web.

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