The Internal Revenue Service issued a consumer alert about an Internet scam in which consumers receive an e-mail informing them of a tax refund. The e-mail, which claims to be from the IRS, directs the consumer to a link that requests personal information, such as Social Security number and credit card information. The information fraudulently obtained is used to steal the taxpayer’s identity and financial assets. The bogus e-mail, which claims to come from “tax refunds@irs.gov,” tells the recipient that he or she is eligible to receive a tax refund for a given amount. The IRS does not ask for personal identifying or financial information via unsolicited e-mail. Additionally, taxpayers do not have to complete a special form to obtain a refund.