BBB has become aware of a scam that involves setting up a business using “your federal tax refund check.” This scam begins with an email, which is being randomly sent. This means it could affect anyone. The check being used in this scam looks like it is an official tax refund check from the US Treasury.
How the scam works:
You are approached via email to become a distributor of flat screen TVs.
Your potential job contact claims that he works for the US Government and says that he is going to send you an official US Treasury check to help you get things set up. All you have to do, once you get the check is cash it, deposit most of it, keep some for yourself to start up, and then wire the rest of it back to the “US Government Official” you are supposedly working with.
Warning:
This is a scam and if you attempt to cash the check, you are at 100% risk of losing whatever you wire back and spend!
This bogus check looks truly official, and visually appears to be a legitimate tax refund check from the US Treasury. The check is made out to you, displays a current date, official seals and the Statue of Liberty. One sample check that was given to the BBB in central Washington says it is coming from Birmingham, AL, and says “Austin Tax Refund.” This particular check is in the amount of $9,508.91.
Washington law enforcement says that the check appears to actually be coming from Toronto or Ontario, Canada.
Tips:
This is not the way the IRS operates regarding tax refunds. Don't believe a supposed "government agent" who contacts you with such an offer. Better yet, do not believe SPAM emails that state offers that are too good to be true. If you receive a check and are asked to keep some of the money, and wire back the rest, consider it to be a red flag and think twice about accepting the offer.
Filing Formal Complaints:
If you have had any experience with this scam or have received a check like this, BBB strongly suggests that you report it to the following: Your local law enforcement’s fraud division, your local IRS office or by calling their national toll-free abuse hotline at 800-366-4484, as well as the Office of the Inspector General of the US Treasury by submitting by phone at 800-359-3898, by fax: 202-927-5799.
For more information about the most recent IRS tax scams, go to the Internal Revenue System website at:
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=180075,00.html
For more information, please visit www.bbb.org and “Start With Trust.”