Now the worse news.
Even though browsers, Internet service providers and employers weed out more cyber-booby-traps than ever, scam artists keep managing to find ways to separate you from your wallet. And they're quite good at it, applying social-engineering techniques perfected through long practice phishing the Internet to work their myriad cons.
And they're finding ways to ply their tradecraft on both sides of the digital-analog divide, such as this doozy: Starting last fall, scammers began passing themselves off as investigators for the Internal Revenue Service. Using the Internet, it was easy to find names, addresses and phone numbers of would-be victims who they are calling to threaten with arrest for failing to pay their taxes. They're also sending out phony IRS emails to back up their phone calls. Presto! You're a victim of social engineering. Who said cybercrime has to mean mucking about in software code?
The choice of the IRS was a stroke of genius. Even if someone fully pays Uncle Sam, there's always going to be doubt left in their minds. We've all been there: Did I cut one too many corners claiming deductions? Did my accountant get a bit too creative? Did I flub basic math and add wrong? Any and all of the above?
And the bad guys are still working it.
"This is the biggest scam that we've seen this year," said Treasury Department spokesman David Barnes.
As of mid-August, some 90,000 people had called a government hotline to notify authorities. Truth be told, the phony IRS agents do make a convincing sales pitch.
I ought to know: I was one of the folks they targeted.
Fork over your money, bub
"This is Richard Harris of the Department of Legal Affairs for the US Treasury," announced the voice on the other end of the line when I picked up the phone this week.
"Harris" informed me that my wife had failed to pay her 2009 taxes to the IRS and that a policeman was coming to our home.
"You're in violation of the law and your wife will be arrested," he said. What's more, he told me the last four numbers of her Social Security number.
Truth be told, my heart skipped a beat when I heard the words "police" and "IRS" in the same sentence. You'd be hard-pressed to find a US institution more feared. And since anybody of sound mind wants to remain on the agency's good side, I paid close attention as "Harris" ran through his bill of particulars -- just in case.
