OK, most of you know I don't like to gossip about such things, but I was part of a govt. audit this week for one of my clients.
Don't worry, we passed. It was just a scheduled routine audit, not a spot audit
While chatting they mentioned the tax season scams that are poping up this year are better than past ones.
You receive a tax refund check in the mail that is around $3000. You think, Hmmm, this is more that I thought, but what the hey.
You cash it, wait nervously for a few days without spending it, then you get the letter.
Dear taxpayer, there was a mixup in the check distribution and we sent you the wrong check. We made a check in your name meant for someone else. We apologize for the mistake and are offering to let you keep 10% of the money in exchange for returning the rest. Please send a check for $2700 to the State Error Control Agency (or some other real sounding name), PO Box (in your state capital).
You mail the check, they cash it and in about 3 months when the state finally audits the processed checks and finds the forgery, you are now out $2700 for cashing a fraudulant check.
Watch Out!
Doug