Investigators to Discuss Phishing and Tax Preparers

Investigators from the Treasury Department's watchdog agency, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, plan to discuss the impact of phishing schemes on tax professionals at a series of two-day IRS Tax Forums around the country.

In a phishing scheme, an unsolicited e-mail message directs victims to a fraudulent Web site that requests financial information such as credit card or bank account numbers, or other sensitive financial information. In 2007, an average of two host Web sites surfaced each day, but that number has risen to eight this year, according to TIGTA.

During the presentations, the investigators will show examples of authentic and fraudulent e-mails and Web sites and ask the audience to try to identify the difference. They will also offer advice on what tax professionals should do if they or their clients receive a questionable IRS-related e-mail.

Presentations will be held at 2:35 p.m. on the first day of each forum and at 8 a.m. on the second day of each forum. The forums will be held in Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas, New York, Orlando and San Diego between July and September.

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