Tax refund spam circulating on Internet

If you’re cash-strapped and waiting on a tax refund, clicking on an e-mail with directions from the Internal Revenue Service on how to get that check might seem like a no-brainer.

But hold off, says IRS spokesman Dan Boone, even if the e-mail has an official logo on it.

“The IRS does not ever send e-mails about your personal taxes, or your business taxes — your taxes period,” Mr. Boone said. “We know that’s not a secure form of communication. So if you get an e-mail, you can be virtually sure it’s a scam.”