New Scheme Targets FATCA Data

The IRS is warning international financial institutions complying with the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of an ongoing fraud.

Scammers posing as the IRS have solicited financial institutions seeking account holder ID and financial account information, the service said. The IRS has reports of incidents from multiple countries and continents.

Financial institutions directly registered to comply with FATCA and those in jurisdictions that are treated as having in effect intergovernmental agreements to implement FATCA through intergovernmental cooperation have been approached by persons representing themselves as the IRS. 

These fraudulent solicitations are typically carried out through the use of unsolicited e-mails or Web sites that pose as legitimate contacts to steal  personal or financial information.

The IRS does not require financial institutions to provide specific account holder ID information or financial account information over the phone or by fax or e-mail, nor does the agency solicit FATCA registration passwords or similar confidential account information.

Financial institutions that suspect phishing scam should report to TIGTA at (800) 366-4484 or through TIGTA’s Web site. Open no attachments or links in suspicious e-mails and forward the e-mail to phishing@irs.gov.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
Tax practice
MORE FROM ACCOUNTING TODAY