Warning: Beware of IRS Tax Rebate Check / 2008 Stimulus Payment / Refund Status Websites

The promise of tax refunds, rebate checks, or 2008 Stimulus Payments has caused a surge in phishing scams and many anxious tax filers are falling for it. Frequently, as the news has been reporting, these come in the form of emails. However, there is another type of phishing that seems to have been left out. The other way for scammers to gather your personal info does not involve an email and is happening on websites including right here on AC. Don't fall for this tactic, learn how to spot a fake IRS website, safely check your rebate status without entering anything, and keep your personal info safe!

1. Learn how to identify and avoid fake IRS websites.

I found a link to a fake IRS site but it didn't come in my email. I found a link to the phishing website while surfing the web. Specifically, I found the link right here on one of these Associated Content pages. AC articles can take comments from member and non-member commenters. Occasionally non-members come not to read the article, but to piggyback on popular articles and post ads with typed links, links which you should be cautious of.

In the comments on a popular article right here on Associated Content, one non-member commenter left a link to what looked like a fake IRS website. The website did not begin with http://www.irs.gov/ however, it had the letters www.irs.gov somewhere within the address, making it appear official when it really wasn't. According to the IRS website, ALL official IRS websites will start with http://www.irs.gov/ meaning ANY website that doesn't start with exactly that is a fake, a scam website. ( Note that the exception to this is the IRS's search result page, which starts http://search.irs.gov/ however, entering just that in your address bar redirects to the IRS homepage, with the official address. You get to the search results page by doing searches on official pages, or if you save a particular past search you did on the site, such as in your favorites. )