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Please be aware that BFSFCU has received inquiries from members regarding fraudulent W-8BEN forms that are purported to be from the IRS.
The IRS has confirmed on the agency’s website (www.irs.gov  ) that false W-8BEN forms have been circulating in an attempt to obtain personal information from individuals.
The scam typically includes a bogus IRS letter and Form W-8BEN (Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding) requesting non-residents to provide personal information such as account numbers, PINs, mother’s maiden name and passport number. The legitimate IRS Form W-8BEN, which is used by financial institutions to establish appropriate tax withholding for foreign individuals, does not ask for any of this information. An example of the IRS letter and fraudulent W-8BEN form is pictured below.
If you feel that you may have been a victim of this scam, please contact BFSFCU’s Securirty Department or Member Relations Department immediately.
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