The Internal Revenue Service recently sent out a press release warning taxpayers about a new phishing email. The new scam presents itself as an email from the IRS looking for charitable contributions to victims of the recent California wildfires. The email urges recipients to click a link that sends them to a web page designed to look like the IRS’s official website. The page they are directed has text urging them to make donations and includes a link that opens a donation form requesting the visitor’s personal information and financial data. Trying to add a sense of legitimacy, the website even includes a quote from a California Assembly member who actually spoke on the wildfires a few days ago.

"People should exercise caution when they receive unsolicited e-mail or e-mail from senders they don’t know," claims IRS Deputy Commissioner for Operations Support Richard "They should avoid opening any attachments or clicking on any links until they can verify the e-mail’s legitimacy."