IRS Warns New Jerseyans of New Scam

Department of Defense military members, retirees and civilian employees are being targeted by a new email phishing scam.  The email appears to come from Defense Finance and Accounting Services and displays a .mil email address.  The message claims that those receiving disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs may be able to obtain additional funds from the Internal Revenue Service.

Recipients of the email are then asked to send various documents containing their personal and financial information to an address in Florida.  "The information on these documents is then used by the scammers to commit identity theft," said Dianne Besunder, IRS spokeswoman.  "Typically, identity thieves use someone's personal data to empty the victim's financial accounts, run up charges on the victim's existing credit cards or apply for new loans, credit cards, services or benefits in the victim's name."

Besunder reminds those who may receive such an email that the IRS does not send unsolicited email to taxpayers and would never ask for personal and financial information.  For more information on tax-related phishing scams, go to www.irs.gov, keyword "phishing."