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IRS Cautions on New HR Phishing Scheme

That email from the CEO asking for a list of workers? Might want to ignore it.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has alerted payroll and human resources professionals to beware of an emerging phishing email scheme that purports to be from company executives and requests personal information on employees. And while you might not have received one, your plan sponsor clients may well have.

The IRS says it has learned that this scheme — part of the surge in phishing emails seen this year — already has claimed several victims as payroll and human resources offices mistakenly email payroll data including Forms W-2 that contain Social Security numbers and other personally identifiable information to cybercriminals posing as company executives.

“This is a new twist on an old scheme using the cover of the tax season and W-2 filings to try tricking people into sharing personal data. Now the criminals are focusing their schemes on company payroll departments,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. “If your CEO appears to be emailing you for a list of company employees, check it out before you respond.”

IRS Criminal Investigation already is reviewing several cases in which people have been tricked into sharing SSNs with what turned out to be cybercriminals. Criminals using personal information stolen elsewhere seek to monetize data, including by filing fraudulent tax returns for refunds.

The IRS notes that the following are some of the details contained in the e-mails:


  • “Kindly send me the individual 2015 W-2 (PDF) and earnings summary of all W-2 of our company staff for a quick review.”

  • “Can you send me the updated list of employees with full details (Name, Social Security Number, Date of Birth, Home Address, Salary) as of 2/2/2016.”

  • “I want you to send me the list of W-2 copy of employees wage and tax statement for 2015, I need them in PDF file type, you can send it as an attachment. Kindly prepare the lists and email them to me ASAP.”

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