Stimulus payment scam Published May 6, 2008 Air Force Retiree News Service RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The scammers are already starting to bilk people out of their economic stimulus payments by sending bogus e-mails claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service. These e-mails advise people to click on a specific link and fill out the necessary information in order to receive the stimulus payment. IRS officials clearly advise against responding or opening any links as scammers are hoping to glean sensitive personnel information, or attempting to spread a computer virus. According to the IRS Web site - the legitimate one - the IRS does not initiate taxpayer communications through e-mail. Also, the revenue service does not request detailed personal information through e-mail or ask taxpayers for any sensitive information such as personal identification numbers, passwords or similar access information for credit card, bank or other financial accounts. People who receive e-mails claiming to be from the IRS should report such activity by following the directions found on the service's site at http://www.irs.gov/privacy/article/0,,id=179820,00.html