IRS scam keeps getting bigger

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Story Published: Oct 13, 2009 at 9:51 AM PDT

By Herb Weisbaum

The e-mail looks like it's from the IRS. But it's from those slime balls in cyberspace who want to install a virus or some other malicious software on your computer.

According to PC World, the message line often reads something like: "Notice of underreported Income." That'll get your attention!

To view your "tax statement" you're supposed to open the infected attachment or click on a link in the e-mail which takes you to a malicious Web site run by the bad guys.

Based on its reporting, PC World calls this spam campaign the biggest one on the Net right now. It's "particularly ugly," the magazine says because the malware it delivers is a variant of the Zeus Trojan, which is hard to detect. I can slip by many antivirus programs.

And it does nasty things. It breaks into bank accounts and sucks out the money. You do not want this on your computer.

PC World says small business have been hard-hit by this fraud because banks have sometimes held them accountable for the losses.

Bottom line: The IRS does NOT initiate contact with taxpayers via e-mail. No matter how scary the subject sounds, delete it!

For more information

IRS Scam Now World's Biggest E-mail Virus Problem

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