CPAs Beware: This New Scam Targets You

Cybercriminals continue to shift their tactics, and it is a constant challenge to stay ahead of them. They’ve become more sophisticated in their approach, and their attempts to defraud unsuspecting individuals can seem dangerously legitimate.

Executives have become a particular target, receiving eerily convincing emails for wire transfers from colleagues. Cybercriminals are doing their research as they plan these attacks, studying correspondence between colleagues to imitate the tone and include details that would make the request believable.

The AICPA is currently exploring options for combating cybercrime with its proposed cybersecurity examination. This type of audit is meant to detect vulnerabilities and possible fraud in the client’s security network. However, what happens when the target is actually the CPA?

That’s right, the new scam is targeting CPAs themselves. From the IRS press release: “The subject line for the fraudulent email is ‘Security Awareness for Tax Professionals.’ The ‘From’ line is ‘Your e-Services Team.’ It has both an IRS logo and an e-services logo that hyperlinks to a URL verified as a phishing site. The spoofing site poses as an e-services registration page.”

More information can be found on the IRS website. Read the full press release, and share this blog post with colleagues. Spreading awareness is the first step in defeating cybercriminals!