AUGUSTA – The Internal Revenue Service is warning the public of a scam that could be lurking in e-mail inboxes.

“These ‘very official’ looking e-mail messages alert people about a refund owed to them, but when opened they can be dangerous to you and your computer,” IRS spokeswoman Peggy Riley said Tuesday.

“We’re getting reports of people receiving e-mails that appear to come from the IRS and instruct recipients to respond, click on a link, or open an attachment in order to get their 2008 Economic Stimulus Refund,” Riley said.

She said those who access a link or open an attachment in the bogus e-mails may allow scammers to download malicious software onto their computers.

“If you have actually responded to a scam e-mail by giving out your private information, you should immediately take steps to prevent identity theft. You may now be a prime target,” Riley said.

Anyone who receives suspicious e-mails supposedly from the IRS should forward them to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov, Riley said.