BOSTON, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- The Internal Revenue Service says anyone in the United States who receives e-mail regarding help earning a tax rebate should view it as a scam.
Boston IRS spokeswoman Peggy Riley said while the e-mail messages appear official, they won't help anyone receive an Economic Stimulus refund and would instead endanger the user's computer, Boston's WCVB-TV said Wednesday.
"These 'very official' looking e-mail messages alert people about a refund owed to them but when opened they can be dangerous to you and your computer," Riley said.
The IRS official said the federal department had already received reports regarding the scam e-mail, which typically ask a user to open an attachment as part of the alleged IRS notice.
Riley said anyone who may have fallen prey to the e-mail scam should immediately take steps to ensure private information was safe and to prevent any incidents of identity theft, WCVB-TV said.
"If you have actually responded to a scam e-mail by giving out your private information, you should immediately take steps to prevent identity theft. You may now be a prime target," Riley said.
