IRS Issues Fraud Alert on Fake Crypto Tax Letters Targeting Wallet and Exchange Credentials

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On July 30, the IRS issued a crypto scam alert warning of fraudulent tax letters targeting cryptocurrency users. The fake notices urge recipients to register on a counterfeit “Digital Asset Compliance Portal” featuring a QR code that links to a spoofed IRS.gov website. Scammers may request wallet details, exchange login credentials, recovery phrases, or private keys. Coinbase and Darktower traced the site to a domain registered in Hong Kong, hosted in Romania on a network associated with phishing pages. This incident adds to growing reports of escalating security threats in the cryptocurrency exchange space.

Odaily Planet Daily report: On July 30, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a fraud alert, warning that scammers are mailing forged IRS notices demanding cryptocurrency holders register via a non-existent “Digital Asset Compliance Portal” by an urgent deadline. Each fraudulent letter includes a QR code that directs recipients to a counterfeit website mimicking IRS.gov. This fake portal may request personal information, cryptocurrency wallet details, exchange login credentials, seed phrases, private keys, or other data usable for theft.

The cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase and cybersecurity firm Darktower traced the underlying infrastructure to a domain registered shortly before the phishing campaign through a Hong Kong-based registrar. Investigators found that the website was hosted in Romania, on a network previously associated with phishing pages impersonating financial institutions.

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