IRS Issues Fraud Alert: Fake Crypto Tax Letters Target Wallet and Exchange Credentials
2026-08-02 03:33
Odaily News: The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a fraud alert on July 30, warning that scammers are mailing counterfeit IRS notices requiring cryptocurrency holders to register through a non-existent "Digital Asset Compliance Portal" before an urgent deadline.
Each fraudulent letter contains a QR code that directs recipients to a website impersonating IRS.gov. The fake portal may request personal information, cryptocurrency wallet details, exchange login credentials, recovery phrases, private keys, or other data that could be used for theft.
Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase and cybersecurity firm Darktower traced the related infrastructure to a domain registered through a Hong Kong-based registrar shortly before the letters were distributed. Investigators found that the website is hosted in Romania, on a network previously associated with phishing pages impersonating financial institutions.
Each fraudulent letter contains a QR code that directs recipients to a website impersonating IRS.gov. The fake portal may request personal information, cryptocurrency wallet details, exchange login credentials, recovery phrases, private keys, or other data that could be used for theft.
Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase and cybersecurity firm Darktower traced the related infrastructure to a domain registered through a Hong Kong-based registrar shortly before the letters were distributed. Investigators found that the website is hosted in Romania, on a network previously associated with phishing pages impersonating financial institutions.
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