February 14, 2008 | Read Time: 1 minute
Tax rebates recently approved by the federal government to stimulate the economy have also stimulated a host of tax-rebate scams, some of which are aimed at nonprofit groups.
The Internal Revenue Service is warning charities to watch out for a fraudulent e-mail that promises a quick rebate. The message asks people to click on a link to a “refund claim form” and enter personal information that could be used to gain access to bank or other financial accounts.
The message is signed, or appears to be signed, by the head of the IRS’s tax-exempt division. It is the first rebate scam the agency has seen that seeks to ensnare nonprofit organizations.
The agency expects rebate scams to continue through at least May, when the government will begin issuing rebate checks up to $600 per individual. The IRS reminds people that it never sends out unsolicited e-mail about tax matters to anyone or any group.
