Boardman police warn of Internet tax scam

BOARDMAN — Township police are warning area residents about an Internet tax scam.

Detective Charles Mound said the department was notified of the scam this week. A woman received an e-mail message bearing what appeared to be an Internal Revenue Service logo, telling her that she was eligible for a tax refund.

The e-mail included a link for a form that requests personal information such as social security number, credit card or ATM information that may be used to access a person’s finances.

“It’s basically another fishing expedition,” Mound said.

The woman who contacted police didn’t fall for the scam, but Mound wants others who may get the e-mail to be aware of it.

“I’m worried that they’ll do it to someone else and that person will fall for it,” the detective said.

His research indicates that people in other parts of the United States are getting the same or similar e-mails.

“It’s happening all over the country,” he said.

The scam is timely, Mound said, because it coincides with tax season and with news from Washington, D.C., regarding expected additional tax refunds.

There are some red flags receivers of such e-mails can look for to indicate the sender might not have honorable intentions.

First, the IRS doesn’t contact people via e-mail, Mound said. Also, the e-mails aren’t addressed by name to the recipient, he said.

“If any groups out there want me to give a talk on cons and frauds, they can call the police department,” Mound said.