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Scammers renew scheme targeting payroll and HR professionals

Once again, cybercriminals, posing as company executives, are emailing payroll and HR professionals to request lists of employees and their personal information. These emails may appear legitimate because they contain the name of the company’s actual chief executive officer; however, if you receive such an email, do not include any payroll data, such as Forms W-2 and Social Security numbers, in a response.

If you are an employer who has been a victim of this scam and, in response, released any payroll data, such as W-2 information and Social Security numbers, see Guidance for employers affected by a W-2 phishing scam for instructions.

For more information about the details contained in these emails, visit the IRS at IRS, States and Tax Industry Renew Alert about Form W-2 Scam Targeting Payroll, Human Resource Departments.

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