The Daily Bulletin Archive

The IRS is warning university students, faculty, and staff members of an ongoing e-mail scam specifically targeting university students and staff. Phishing e-mails that appear to come from the IRS ask you to go to a website and enter your Social Security number, first and last name, birth date, gross income, electronic filing PIN, and more. 

The IRS does not send e-mail to individuals; it uses traditional U.S. mail to communicate.

If you receive an e-mail that indicates it is from the IRS, do not click on any links in the e-mail. Please forward the e-mail to the Buffalo State College IT Help Desk. You may also report the e-mail to the IRS by forwarding the e-mail as an attachment to phishing@irs.gov.

If you believe you may have provided identity thieves with information, the IRS asks you to consider immediately obtaining an Identity Protection PIN. This voluntary opt-in program provides you with a six-digit IP PIN that helps prevent identity thieves from filing fraudulent tax returns in your name. 

If you e-file your tax return and find it rejected because a return with your SSN has already been filed, the IRS recommends that you file a Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, to report yourself as a possible identity theft victim. See Identity Theft Central to learn about the signs of identity theft and actions to take.