The email message below: "A criminal complaint has been filled against your company," is a fake and contains a link to a malicious file that will infect your computer with a virus or Trojan horse, if you attempt to open the file that the link will download onto your computer. The email message was sent by cyber-criminals and NOT by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The Virus Email Message
Dear business owner,
A criminal complaint has been filled against your company.
Your company is being accused of trying to commit tax evasion schemes.
The full text of the complaint file ( .DOC type ) can be viewed in your Microsoft Word, complaint is attached.
AN official response from your part is required, in order to take further action.
Please review the charges brought forward in the complaint file, and contact us as soon as possible by :
Telephone Assistance for Businesses:
Toll-Free, 1-800-829-4933
Email: complaints @irs .gov
Thank you,
Internal Revenue Service
Fraud Prevention Department
The cybercriminals behind the malicious email message aim is to trick the curious recipients into clicking on the link in the message, which will infect their computers with a virus or Trojan horse.
Once your computer has become infected with this malicious Trojan horse, the cybercriminals behind this email message will be able to access and take control of your computer remotely from anywhere around the world. They may spy on you, use your computer to commit cyber-crimes, or steal your personal and financial information.
Now, if you have already opened clicked on the link, downloaded and open the malicious file, please do a full scan of your computer with the antivirus software installed on it.
If you don’t have antivirus software installed on your computer, please click here for a list of free antivirus software.
Click here for a list of email attachments you should never open, regardless of where they came from.
For a list of other virus email messages, please click here.