The IRS is after you, and they want you to fill out an FBI questionnaire. So says a new phishing scam, anyway.
The email reads as follows:
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The government agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury. The IRS is responsible for collecting taxes and administering the Internal Revenue Code, the federal statutory tax law of the U.S. Our duty to maximize tax revenue, as well as pursuing and resolving instances of erroneous or fraudulent tax filings.
Owning to the change of Tax laws of the United States of America of June 21, 2017 (Federal tax regulations ref. no. 13-444876478) any business activity of resident or the non-resident citizens of the United States of America abroad, in particular the belonging of offshore companies, equity participation and offshore capitals, is transferred under the special control of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
FBI requires a completed questionnaire here with absolutely reliable information. The questionnaire should be printed, filled out, signed in the specified places, scanned and sent within 10 days from the reception of this letter here: report@irs.fbi.gov.
Clicking the link (which we’ve obviously left off) will download ransomware to your computer. The IRS issued a statement urging people not to pay the ransom if their computer becomes infected, as it would encourage hackers to keep scamming people. They go on to ask any attempts at fraud, ransom, or what have you be reported to phishing@irs.gov.
Of course, awareness is the easiest way to prevent ransomware and other ill effects from phishing. Make sure you and your employees are up to date on the latest in security awareness training by clicking here.