How to Avoid the "IRS 2008 Economic Stimulus Refund" Email Scam

WARNING! The IRS does not send out emails asking you for personal information like your social security number, bank accounts, or credit card numbers. Millions of emails are going out pretending to be from the IRS. They look very official and convincing. DO NOT RESPOND TO THEM. Here's how to stay safe.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. OMG. I just received one of the most convincing scam emails I've ever seen. It has an official IRS logo at the top, and the text reads like this:
   
   ======================================================
   
   Over 130 million Americans will receive refunds as
   part of President Bush program to jumpstart the economy.
   
   Our records indicate that you are qualified to receive the
   2008 Economic Stimulus Refund.
   
   The fastest and easiest way to receive your refund is by
   direct deposit to your checking/savings account.
   
   Please click on the link and fill out the form and submit
   before May 01th, 2008 to ensure that your refund will be
   processed as soon as possible.
   
   Submitting your form on May 01th, 2008 or later means that
   your refund will be delayed due to the volume of requests we
   anticipate for the Economic Stimulus Refund.
   
   To access Economic Stimulus Refund, please click here.
   
   ======================================================
2. Total Scam (but very well done). The email asks you to click on a link which takes you to a website that looks even more official! I used the image of the site at the top of this article, but I'll repeat it here as well. Click on the image to see a larger version.
3. More of the scam If you fall for their scheme, and click through to the "Continue" page, you'll see the form (image on the left) asking you to provide your social security number, date of birth, mother's maiden name, banks, credit cards... In other words, your entire personal identity. Don't hand this information over to identity thieves.
4. See the resource links below for some genuinely legitimate resources you can use to educate yourself on this topic.