Subject:

WARNING---IRS Phishing

It's tax time again and more and more Americans are choosing to file their taxes electronically. Unfortunately, the bad guys know this and have stepped up their phishing efforts to try to get password, financial and other confidential information from taxpayers with promises of tax refunds.

Some UCSD faculty, staff and students are currently receiving e-mails claiming to be from the IRS stating that there was an error on your return and you need to fill out an online form to collect your refund. Please be aware that the IRS does not do business this way and will never send unsolicited e-mail asking for personal or financial information. Should you receive one of these e-mails, you can protect yourself by doing the following:

* Do not reply
* Do not open any attachments
* Do not click on any links
* Forward the message to abuse@ucsd.edu

For more information on phishing, please go to Blink
http://blink.ucsd.edu/technology/security/phishing.html
The IRS also offers information regarding phishing and other ways to protect yourself from identity theft by going to the official IRS site and searching for "phishing".

For Health Sciences:
UC San Diego School of Medicine and Health System - Information Technology Help Desk call 619-543-7474.

For Campus:
ACT Help Desk, call 858-534-1853 or send an email to security@ucsd.edu.

Thank you for your assistance!

Charlotte Klock Chief Security & Privacy Officer UC San Diego