*Update: GOT IT, SCAM, TX ALL! :) : RE 'Rec'd IRS Email Today: Legit?'

[appalachiablue]

I've never received any email correspondence from IRS, this is the first time, and on Sunday, Mother's Day. *But I have rec'd deposits from them into my bank acct. in the last months.

Any input is appreciated. I'm hesitant to respond to this communication w/o some additional advice. ~ Many thanks for any info.!
___________
- LETTER -

From: IRS.gov

Re: Economic Impact Payments Status Available

Body: Third Round of Economic Impact Payments Status Available

...we have determined that you are available to receive a payment of xxx.xx

etc., etc.

"CLAIM MY PAYMENT"- (Large blue button to press).

Sincerely, Internal Revenue Service

[janterry]

1. no, I don't think so

don't click on that

n/t

[appalachiablue]

21. TY, what I sensed too

[bcool]

2. NO! The IRS will never email you about things like this!

It's a scam...don't reply.

[appalachiablue]

22. Got it, many thanks for the warning

[SoCalDavidS]

3. Nope

IRS would never send you an E-Mail.

100% not legit. They will probably ask for your Social Security #.

[appalachiablue]

23. Appreciate the feedback, I sensed it was bogus..

[wryter2000]

4. Depends on whether you're available or not

Or whether you're a native English speaker

[appalachiablue]

25. Yes, unfortunately. I sensed it was a scam, just

wanted some back up..tx

[catbyte]

5. I got one, too & it's a scam. Check the email address--it's not coming from IRS.gov

[appalachiablue]

28. You got it too, wow. The 'letterhead' says

'IRS.gov' but there's more about it that's a bit fishy- the unprof. cut & paste logo, an incorrectly used word and it just didn't seem kosher from the start.

Thanks for the feedback!

[catbyte]

31. Whenever I get "official" crap lilke that, I always check their email address. It's usually an

alphabet soup ending in a foreign domain.

[CloudWatcher]

40. the email address can be forged

I often get mail from my own email address from people claiming to have broken into my computer.

In particular, the "From" field in email is not secure.

The best thing you can do is to look at all the "raw" email headers and review all the "Received: from" headers to see what email server sent it to the server of your email. Your email server will add a line (when the mail comes in) that records the IP address of the other end.

And yeah, it takes practice to figure out how to read them.

Bottom line is to assume all email is forged and carefully review the URL in any link in email before you click on it. Some email readers make it easy to do this, some don't. Switch email apps until it's easy to see the URL buried in such things.

Or just never click on anything in emails. That works pretty well.

[Blue Owl]

6. Scams are rampant these days

I've gotten several in the last month...

[wryter2000]

11. I used to get them on my phone...with heavy Indian accents

I called back one time to yell at them. I literally told the guy, "Does your mother know what you do?"

[appalachiablue]

20. Mother, and wife! Heh...crazy world

[Blue Owl]

36. With Mike Pence, it's all the same!

[appalachiablue]

37. He's something, wowie

[appalachiablue]

19. Rampant is the word, I figured it was crap and

appreciate all the feedback.

[lisa58]

7. No - The IRS will send snail mail

[appalachiablue]

18. TY! I figured it was a scam...

[patphil]

8. It sounds a little fishy to me. I would go to the real IRS site and see what it says.

IRS.gov/payments.

[appalachiablue]

17. Excellent, appreciate it.

[wryter2000]

9. As others have pointed out

The IRS will never call you or e-mail you. They always contact you via the USPS.

They once sent a check because I'd made a mistake and overpaid my taxes. I almost threw the check out because I thought it was a scam.

[appalachiablue]

16. Thanks much, good to know. :)

[PoliticAverse]

10. Sounds like a "click this link and get money" scam...

For information on the economic impact payments go directly to the IRS website:
https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment

[appalachiablue]

14. TY, very helpful. I figured it was fishy..

[Ferryboat]

12. IRS only communicates via letter, at least for initial contact

[appalachiablue]

15. #14 Thanks!

[RockRaven]

13. Pretty sure the IRS does not use phone or email when attempting to reach out to contact you.

Maybe once you've already established a back-and-forth about an issue, but for first contact from the IRS about any given issue, I have heard it is always snail mail first.

[appalachiablue]

24. Tx, good to know, I kinda thought this as well.

[NQAS]

26. Anything asking you to contact irs

Is scam

You don’t have to claim any payments. When available those payments are direct deposited.

Don’t click any links and delete the email.

[appalachiablue]

30. Appreciate it, and will do!

[canetoad]

27. Can you copy/pasta

The exact address from which the email was sent?

[appalachiablue]

32. This is what I copied,

IRS.gov
Sun 5/9/2021 1:25 PM
________

*There's a 'contact' part-- 'safenett, web.id' that won't come thru when I reply here (strange).

I don't recall if the contact info. was on the original letter, or added later by the tech support guy who helped me earlier today.

Jeeze, hate this stuff and wonder if creeps got into more stuff..

[canetoad]

34. Definitely looks scammy

Safenett is a UK consulting firm. Safenet appears to be a Microsoft password authentication system. Neither are applicable to the IRS. The scammers are trying to baffle you with BS.

You did good by not responding.

[appalachiablue]

35. Crafty aren't they, yuck. I would never have

responded, kinda wish I hadn't opened the email. Live and learn.

Thanks much again, have a good day!

[h2ebits]

29. This is a scam

IRS doesn't send email.

I have received a letter in the mail that said pretty close to the same thing (with no blue button--obviously).

The letter also states that "if you haven't received your payment within 7 days of receiving this letter, please check the status of the payment by visiting the IRS website or calling the IRS phone number listed at the bottom of this letter."

Bottom of the letter:
For information on your direct payment, please visit IRS.gov/coronavirus or call 800-919-9835


I suggest that you contact the IRS and notify them, as well as, marking the email as phishing.

[appalachiablue]

33. Good ideas, thanks much!

[multigraincracker]

38. I've started getting scam text messages now.

From Unemployment office in Ohio, now live in Michigan, phone # was Colorado area code. I blocked the number and got another one from a different number. Been retired for almost 20 years and have not been on UE in over 30 years.
Be careful.

[appalachiablue]

39. Really bizarre & text msgs, aggressive