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The Internal Revenue Service issued an alert to payroll and human resources professionals to beware of an emerging email phishing scheme.

Emails of this kind, known as “spoofing,” will appear to be addressed from company CEO’s and other officials. They will specifically request personal information from the recipients, such as W-2 information, and social security numbers.

These solicitations contain requests such as:

• Kindly send me the individual 2015 W-2 (PDF) and earnings summary of all W-2 of our company staff for a quick review
• Can you send me the updated list of employees with full details (Name, Social Security Number, Date of Birth, Home Address, Salary) as at 2/2/2016.
• I want you to send me the list of W-2 copy of employees wage and tax statement for 2015, I need them in PDF file type, you can send it as an attachment. Kindly prepare the lists and email them to me asap.

Security alerts of this kind have been issued for many other kinds of scams, after the IRS determined that there has been a 400% increase in phishing and malware incidents so far this tax season. Other phishing schemes may ask taxpayers about a wide range of topics including information related to refunds, filing status, confirmation of personal information, ordering transcripts and verifying PIN information.

The IRS, state tax agencies and tax industry are engaged in a public awareness campaign – “Taxes. Security. Together.” – to encourage everyone to do more to protect personal, financial and tax data.