How to Report Fraud Concerning IRS Refund Checks

The Internal Revenue Service is easy to contact online in this digital age. Unfortunately, criminals take advantage of this same technology to try and trick taxpayers into giving them sensitive information, such as their Social Security number. You can report fraudulent emails of this nature to the IRS. If your IRS refund check was stolen or fraudulently cashed, you can also report this activity to the IRS to receive a new check.

Instructions

Report Email Fraud

1. Treat any email you receive that claims to be from the IRS and asks for sensitive information as fraudulent. The IRS does not initiate communications with tax payers over email and never requests passwords or Social Security numbers using this medium.

2. Forward the email to the IRS' phishing and fraud department at [e-mail].

3. Delete the email from your system. Run your virus protection software to make sure that you did not accidentally download a virus when you opened the email.

Report Forged Signatures on Your Refund Check

1. Check the status of your refund using the IRS' "Where's my Refund?" website. If the website says your refund check has been cashed and you have not received it, call the IRS at 800-829-4477 and notify them that the check was stolen and cashed.

2. Ask the IRS to send you a copy of Form 3911 through the mail. When you receive this form, the IRS will have filled out the top section.

3. Fill out sections I, II and III. Provide information about yourself, your tax return, your refund check and the circumstances under which the check was lost or stolen. You must also provide your bank account information on this form. Sign the form. If you filed a joint return, your spouse must sign the form as well.

4. Mail or fax the form back to the IRS. Wait six weeks. If you do not hear from the IRS within that time period, contact them at the phone number provided on the top of the form to find out about the status of your check. The IRS will issue a new check once they finish investigating the incident.

Tips & Warnings

• Request direct deposit to avoid the possibility of checks being lost or stolen.

• Never provide sensitive information such as your Social Security number through email. Do not enter this type of information into a web form unless you can verify that the website is run by a legitimate agency, such as the IRS.

References

• IRS.gov: How to Report and Identify Phishing, E-mail Scams and Bogus IRS Web Sites
• IRS.gov: Form 3911

Resources

• IRS.gov: Where's My Refund?