Fraudulent Unemployment, COVID-19 Relief Claims Earn BEC Gang Millions

An infamous business email compromise BEC gang has submitted hundreds of fraudulent claims with state-level U.S. unemployment websites and coronavirus relief funds. Researchers who tracked the fraudulent activity said cybercriminals may have made millions so far from the fraudulent activity. Behi...

Taxpayers Targeted With Improved NetWire RAT Variant

A new variant of the the NetWire remote access trojan RAT is hitching a ride on IRS-themed phishing ploys targeting taxpayers in hopes of snatching victims’ credentials and tax information. The recently uncovered campaign reveals the RAT’s operators swapping up infection tactics to use a legacy...

A Light at the End of Liberty Reserve’s Demise?

In May 2013, the U.S. Justice Department seized Liberty Reserve, alleging the virtual currency service acted as a $6 billion financial hub for the cybercrime world. Prompted by assurances that the government would one day afford Liberty Reserve users a chance to reclaim any funds seized as part o...

IRS Launches “Identity Theft Central” Webpage

The Internal Revenue Service IRS has launched its “Identity Theft Central” webpage to provide 24/7 access to online information regarding tax-related identity theft and data security protection. Tax-related identity theft occurs when someone steals personal information to commit tax fraud. The...

Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week

Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week is February 3-7. The Federal Trade Commission FTC Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week webpage will provide webinars and other resources from FTC and its partners throughout the week to help educate the public on how to protect against identity theft this tax season...

Feds Crack Down on Money Mules, Warn of BEC Scams

The Justice Department said this week that it is cracking down on money mules, i.e., middlemen who assist in fraud schemes by receiving money from victims and forwarding proceeds to foreign-based perpetrators. So far, feds say they have halted more than 600 domestic money mules – exceeding the 40...

National Tax Security Awareness Week is December 2–6

The Internal Revenue Service IRS has released an article announcing that National Tax Security Awareness Week will be held December 2–6. The annual recognition event will feature a series of resources and tips to help taxpayers and tax professionals protect their data and identities against...

IRS Releases Recommendations to Keep Children and Teens Safe Online

The Internal Revenue Service IRS has issued a news release urging parents and families to be wary of the risks posed when sharing home devices, shopping online, and using social media. As part of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month NCSAM, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency CI...

IRS Emails Promise a Refund But Deliver Botnet Recruitment

U.S. taxpayers are being offered fake refunds in the latest wave of phishing emails, which ultimately deliver an payload that adds the target machine to the multifunctional Amadey botnet. Amadey is a relatively new botnet, first noted late in Q1 of 2019, according to Milo Salvia, security...

IRS Impersonation Attacks Spread Malware Nationwide

The Internal Revenue Service IRS is warning taxpayers about a snowballing email attack that uses messages pretending to be legitimate IRS communications. The end game for the effort is malware being installed on unsuspecting users’ machines; imposters may gain control of the taxpayer’s computer o...

IRS Warns of New Email Scam

The Internal Revenue Service IRS has issued a warning about a new email scam in which malicious cyber actors send unsolicited emails to taxpayers from fake i.e., spoofed IRS email addresses. The emails contain a link to a spoofed IRS.gov website that displays fake details about the targeted...

IRS Security Summit Series for Tax Professionals: Create a Data Theft Recovery Plan

The fifth and final step in the Internal Revenue Service IRS Security Summit series for tax professionals is creating a data theft recovery plan. IRS issued a news release highlighting the importance of understanding the risks posed by national and international cybersecurity criminal syndicates,...

IRS Reminds Tax Professionals: Beware Phishing Emails

The Internal Revenue Service IRS has issued a news release warning tax professionals of the continued threat of phishing emails. Phishing emails are one of the most common ways cyber criminals steal sensitive data. Educating personnel on the risks posed by phishing emails is part of the Taxes...

IRS Reminds Tax Professionals: Create a Data Security Plan

The Internal Revenue Service IRS has issued a news release reminding professional tax preparers that they are required by law to have a written data security plan. Creating and maintaining a data security plan ensures that tax professionals are reviewing their data security protections and...

IRS Releases Six Cybersecurity Safeguards

The Internal Revenue Service IRS has issued a news release outlining six cybersecurity safeguards to protect computers, email, and sensitive data. The recommendations are part of the Taxes. Security. Together. Checklist, which the IRS created to help tax professionals protect sensitive taxpayer...

IRS Warns of New Tax Scams

The Internal Revenue Service IRS has issued a reminder urging consumers to look out for two new variations of tax-related phone and email scams. The phone scam involves pre-recorded messages threatening to suspend or cancel a victim’s Social Security number, and the email phishing scam involves a...

Filing Your Taxes? Watch Out for Phishing Scams

Online scammers love to target taxpayers, and their schemes range from posing as the IRS to pushing malware and fake tech support...

IRS Launches ‘Dirty Dozen’ Campaign on Tax Scams

The Internal Revenue Service IRS has launched its annual awareness campaign on the 12 most prevalent tax scams, known as the “Dirty Dozen.” As part of the campaign, IRS will highlight one scam each weekday. The first topic in the campaign focuses on internet phishing scams that lead to tax fraud...

Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week

Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week is January 28 to February 1. This annual campaign aims to help consumers be more informed about protecting themselves from tax-related identity theft and scams. Tax-related identity theft occurs when someone steals a Social Security number and uses it to claim a...

PSA: Users with landlines are more vulnerable to scams

It’s time to have “the talk” with your parents, relatives, and loved ones. Anyone still using a landline must be warned: having a home phone makes you particularly vulnerable to scams. We know here at Malwarebytes that our readers are often the unofficial “IT” department for their families,...