New 'Phishing' Scam Reported by LCSO

The Leon County Sheriff's Office has received warnings concerning fraudulent emails (SPAM) referencing an IRS refund notification. The message requests that users must click on a link and submit a Refund Request Form. Users that click on the link are at risk of having malicious code installed on their system.

The text of the fraudulent email reads as follows:

“Internal Revenue Service United States Department of the Treasury

After the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity we have determined that you are eligible to receive 578.16$ tax refund under section 501(c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code. Please submit the Tax Refund Request Form XXXXXXXXXXXXXX and allow us 3-9 days to process it.

Yours faithfully,

Sarah Hall Ingram, Commissioner”

We would like to remind users to take the following steps to reduce the risk of being a victim of a phishing attack:

• Do not follow unsolicited links and do not open or respond to unsolicited email messages.
• Use caution when visiting un-trusted websites.
• Use caution when entering personal information online.

Please contact the LCSO IT department at lcsohelp@leoncountyfl.gov or 488-2620 if you have received a similar email and also notify Florida Commerce Credit Union at abuse@floridacommerce.org .

You can find more information of phishing scams by visiting Florida Commerce's Consumer Education portion of the website.