ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 5, 2012) – Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot, following the lead of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), warned Marylanders today of an emerging scam involving fraudulent emails. The emails, being sent to military personnel, military retirees and civilian employees, indicate that individuals who are receiving disability compensation from the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) may be eligible to obtain additional funds from the IRS.
“We want to inform every Marylander of this scam,” said Comptroller Franchot. “In these tough economic times, unscrupulous people prey on the vulnerabilities of others. While an unexpected windfall may sound mighty appealing, we urge Marylanders not to take the bait.”
The email appears to come from Defense Finance and Accounting Services, and while the email address displays a .mil domain, it is not a legitimate government email address.
The email states that by sending copies of VA award letters, income tax returns, 1099-Rs, Retiree Account Statements and DD 214s to a colonel at an address in Florida, individuals who are currently receiving VA disability compensation can receive additional funds from the IRS.
To avoid falling victim to this or other scams, the IRS reminders taxpayers to beware of the following:
- Fictitious claims for refunds or rebates based on false statements of entitlement to tax credits
- Emails from unfamiliar senders asking for personal information
- Internet solicitation that direct individuals to toll-free numbers and then solicit Social Security numbers or other personal information
For further protection, if you receive suspicious correspondence from the IRS or the Comptroller of Maryland, contact the respective office to verify the information.
MEDIA CONTACT: Caron Brace, 410-260-7438 (office); 410-212-9414 (cell)
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