WASHINGTON -- If you haven't filed your tax return yet, the Internal Revenue Service wants to make sure you don't risk identity theft as you try to meet the deadline.
IRS Commissioner Mark Everson was scheduled to appear before a Senate panel Thursday to warn taxpayers not to let their guard down as they rush to file the appropriate forms. In addition to Everson, the panel was set to hear from a convicted identity thief now serving time in prison.
The IRS has issued an alert to warn about scams involving fraudulent e-mails that appear to be from the IRS. The messages direct the consumer to a Web link that asks for such personal information as Social Security, bank account and credit-card numbers.
The IRS stressed that it doesn't ask for that information and doesn't send out unsolicited e-mails.
-NBC and Associated Press
