Overview
The IRS issued an alert on March 1, 2016, addressing the latest phishing scheme targeting payroll and HR customers. These messages claim to be from company executives and request personal information on employees.
Details
How is this new? In the latest scheme, cybercriminals are posing as company executives, emailing payroll and human resource staff directly, requesting employee information. IRS Commissioner John Koskinen warns "If your CEO appears to be emailing you for a list of company employees, check it out before you respond. Everyone has a responsibility to remain diligent about confirming the identity of people requesting personal information about employees."
This phishing variation is known as a "spoofing" email. It will contain, for example, the actual name of the company CEO. In this variation, the "CEO" send an email to the company office employee, requesting an employee list, including SSNs.
The following are examples contained in the emails:
- Kindly send me the individual 2015 W-2 (PDF) and earnings summary of all W-2 of our company staff for a quick review
- Can you send me the updated list of employees with full details (Name, Social Security Number, Date of Birth, Home Address, Salary) as of 2/2/2016
- I want you to send me the list of W-2 copy of employees wage and tax statement for 2015. I need them in PDF file type, you can send it as an attachment. Kindly prepare the lists and email them to me asap
The IRS has seen a surge in phishing schemes this year, and learned the latest scheme has already claimed several victims as payroll and human resource offices mistakenly email payroll data, including Forms W-2 that include Social Security number and other personal information to cybercriminals posing as company executives. Criminals monetize the stolen information, including by filing fraudulent tax returns for refunds.
To read the IRS alert in its entirety, please click here.