The IRS is warning of a new scam aimed at infecting your computer with malware. Criminals are sending out emails impersonating the IRS, claiming to be sending tax transcripts, to fool recipients into clicking on and opening files containing malware. This scam can be especially damaging to businesses if an employee opens the malware because it can spread across a network and potentially take months to remove.
The IRS is reminding taxpayers that it doesn’t send emails to the public and that it wouldn’t email sensitive documents such as a tax transcript. If you get an email like this one, do not open the email or the attachment. Delete the email or forward it to phishing@irs.gov. If you receive an email like this on an employer’s computer, notify your employer’s IT professionals.