SANS ISC: Tax day scams

• SANS Site Network
  • Current Site
  • Internet Storm Center
  • Other SANS Sites Help
  • Graduate Degree Programs
  • Security Training
  • Security Certification
  • Security Awareness Training
  • Penetration Testing
  • Industrial Control Systems
  • Cyber Defense Foundations
  • DFIR
  • Software Security
  • Government OnSite Training

SANS ISC InfoSec Forums

With tax day getting closer in the U.S., the number of reports on related social engineering tricks are picking up as well. The e-mails are basically a re-hash of the Better Business Bureau scams that we covered a while back. As the e-mails still seem to be targeting mainly executives of a firm, the trick might still work. The current emails contain text in the style of

Dear [Name of Executive]
I am sorry but in order for [Name of Firm] to get a tax refund, all the fields must be completed.
Please complete the missing fields on the attached form and re-send it to me.

nicely adorned with bells&whistles to make it look like it really comes from the IRS.  Another series uses the old "A tax complaint has been filed against you" line, which probably is less likely to get the Execs to click. But who doesn't want a refund...

Thanks to all ISC readers who have sent samples of this scam over the past days.