Spam is infuriating. Porn and solicitations are bad enough but it’s even more infuriating when it targets good people and their livelihoods.
The newest spam in my box is an email claiming to be from the AICPA. The AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) is a real organization with some pretty cool folks. To be a member, you have to: hold a valid and current CPA license and have passed either the Uniform CPA exam or the International Qualification Examination (IQEX); have held a CPA license in the past that was not revoked for disciplinary reasons and have passed either the Uniform CPA exam or the International Qualification Examination (IQEX); or have completed the requirements for CPA licensure as defined by the Uniform Accountancy Act (UAA), but you have never been licensed.
It’s a professional organization for CPAs. It does not determine your qualifications or suitability to be a CPA. So you can imagine my surprise to see an email from AICPA with the subject line: “Your accountant CPA license termination.” Because, well, that’s not their area.
Even more, I’m not a CPA. I’m a tax attorney (J.D., LL.M. Taxation).
So totally a scam.
The email, which just landed in my inbox, says:
Valued accountant officer,
We have received a complaint about your possible assistance in income tax infringement on behalf of one of your employers. According to AICPA Bylaw Section 500 your Certified Public Accountant license can be terminated in case of the occurrence of presenting of a false or fraudulent income tax return for your client or employer.
Please be notified below and respond to it within 7 days. The failure to provide the clarifications within this term will result in withdrawal of your CPA license.
The email purports to be from service@aicpa.org but the IP address is posted on a server in Athens. The address is blocked by at least one spam blocker (barracudacentral.org).
Don’t fall for it. It’s a scam. Do not open the attachment.
For more information, the AICPA has posted a warning about the email on its site.
