It’s a great big world but in the last century technology has been making it smaller and bringing it closer. The internet has accomplished more in making the world accessible than even the invention of air travel, because the world is at your fingertips without you ever having to leave home. But it also opens the doors for thieves and scam artists who continually find new methods to swindle.

The newest rash of emails being sent on “phishing” expeditions purport to come from the IRS and promise the recipient of the email a tax refund that they have recently discovered to be owed. This technique may be even more effective than the scam emails using fake PayPal and eBay sites because no one ignores or deletes the IRS.

If you receive one of these emails, contact the IRS.