Tip Tuesday! IRS: Scammers targeting HR and Payroll this tax season

by Tim Gould

Every year cybercriminals prey on unsuspecting taxpayers with a variety of scams and phishing schemes. This year is no exception, but it looks like the bad guys are taking aim at HR pros, as well.  

In fact, the IRS has issued a specific alert about a scam that’s specifically designed to trick HR and payroll pros into providing personal info on employees.

A message from the CEO

Here’s what HR pros need to know: The HR/payroll-specific phishing scheme is a variation of a “spoofing” email. Essentially, the email is made to look as though it came from within the actual company — such as from a CEO or other high-ranking executive.

A common example the IRS is seeing involves an email from the CEO to a company payroll or HR employee. In the email, the individual/individuals posing as the CEO will ask the employee receiving the email to provide a variety of personal information for “review” by the exec.

And it appears this scheme has worked on a number of occasions. IRS Criminal Investigation is already reviewing a number of cases where HR and payroll pros have been tricked into sharing social security numbers with cybercriminals.

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