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Timing is definitely everything, in blogging as well as taxes.
Earlier this week, I sang the praises of paying tax bills electronically via the IRS's Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, or EFTPS.
Now it appears that criminals have found EFTPS, too.
The IRS says it recently became aware of a fraudulent scheme targeting EFTPS users. Taxpayers get an e-mail that claims their tax payments were rejected and directs them to a website for additional information.
As in other phishing scams, that fake website contains malware that can infect your computer. In many cases, these insidious programs allow identity thieves to take over your financial life.
So go ahead and sign up for EFTPS.
But if you receive a message claiming to be from the IRS or EFTPS, don't fall for it or do anything it instructs.
Instead, forward the message immediately to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.
And use your EFTPS account wisely and safely.
