The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) this week warned taxpayers about a new phishing scam targeting Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia residents, that poses as a tax fraud warning. 

The messages attempt to trick victims into verifying personal information by clicking on a malicious link in order to steal their personal information. 

“As we approach the final days of this filing season, we continue to see these tax scams evolve. We don’t send emails like this, and there’s no special effort underway for people in the District, Virginia and Maryland. As these criminals shift their tactics, the IRS remains committed to quickly warning the taxpayers who may be targeted. Taxpayers should be on the lookout for these scams,” said John Koskinen, IRS Commissioner.

In February last year, the IRS stated a 400% increase in scams compared to last year. In light of the increasing email scams, the IRS says it has upped the security of its processing systems.

Read the IRS press release for more information.