NEW: RI Division of Taxation Issues E-Mail Fraud Alert

GoLocalProv News Team

NEW: RI Division of Taxation Issues E-Mail Fraud Alert

The Division of Taxation has issued an alert urging taxpayers to beware of a fraudulent e-mail scheme claiming to involve Rhode Island corporate tax penalties. 

Division of Taxation Alert

Rhode Island Tax Administrator David M. Sullivan has warned taxpayers to be on the alert for a fraudulent e-mail scheme in which someone claiming to be from the Rhode Island Department of Revenue appears to be billing recipients for corporate tax.

“Those who send such e-mails may be trying to steal a recipient’s money, identity, or both,”  Sullivan said. “Do not open such e-mails. If you open one by accident, do not respond – and  especially do not open any links or attachments,” Sullivan said.

In the e-mail, the subject of which is “Payment notice,” someone claiming to be “Head of  Rhode Island Department of Revenue” tells the recipient, “Good afternoon! You has the penalties for corporate tax.” The e-mail (which contains numerous grammatical errors) includes an attachment. The attachment may contain a computer virus of some kind, or a link that will prompt the recipient to disclose personal information.

“The best way to deal with such e-mails is to delete them as quickly as possible,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan also reminded taxpayers that the Rhode Island Division of Taxation sends its billings to taxpayers only through the U.S. Postal Service, not by e-mail.

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Scam Awareness

The fraudulent e-mail scheme is not limited to Rhode Island; other e-mails have been using the name of other states’ tax and revenue agencies, Sullivan said. The Internal Revenue Service has also cautioned taxpayers in recent months about a number of tax-related schemes. For more information or to report a scam, go to www.irs.gov and type “scam” in the  search box.

“If you come upon suspicious e-mails, it’s best to delete them,” Sullivan said. If you are in  doubt about any communication you receive from the Rhode Island Division of Taxation,  please call the agency at (401) 574-8829 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. business days.  


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