Scammers Send Fake IRS Letters to Cryptocurrency Holders
The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a fraud alert after discovering that scammers are sending official-looking letters to people with cryptocurrency holdings, directing them to a fake 'Digital Asset Compliance Portal' website.
The letters, which appear to be legitimate and even include an official-looking notice number and reference to the tax year range 2017-2026, urge recipients to scan a QR code and enroll in the portal before time runs out. However, scanning the QR code takes unsuspecting individuals to a fraudulent website that poses as IRS.gov.
Coinbase's security team explains that the site is designed to steal personal details and digital assets from victims. The phishing page visited by potential victims continues the subterfuge with IRS-style branding and a banner claiming to be an 'official website of the United States government.'