Tax Geek ALERT: How to spot a FAKE "IRS Letter"

Now that scammers are having far less success with IRS scams involving phone calls, text messages, and e-mails, sophisticated scammers are now sending letters to people that people could easily mistake for actual IRS notices.

This video tells you how to spot counterfeit letters, what would happen if you responded to the letter by telephone, and what to do if your receive a notice you believe is not genuine.

0:00 Introduction
0:34 Counterfeit "IRS Letters"
1:47 Spotting Counterfeit Notices
3:03 What happens if you call the number on the letter
4:30 What to do if you suspect your letter is counterfeit
5:50 Conclusion

Tips on how to call the IRS:    • How to call the IRS  

Additional resources and information:

Actually, there is very little information on this scam available from the IRS, only instructions to call the IRS to confirm that the notice is genuine, and where to report any scam communication.

The following sources are from tax resolution firms. Your Tax Geek does not endorse these firms:

Community Tax: "What To Do When You Get A Fake IRS Letter": https://www.communitytax.com/tax-blog...

WTax: "Fake IRS Letter: What Does a Real IRS Letter Look Like?": https://www.wtaxattorney.com/tax-prob...

Places to report IRS scams:

phishing‪@irs.gov.website8038‬
www.identitytheft.com (Federal Trade Commission)

The Tax Geek on the Site Formerly Known as Twitter: @taxgeekusa

The Tax Geek on Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/askataxgeek

Image and footage credits:

Storyblocks.com

NOTE: The notices and letters shown in this video are re-creations of the original notices or letters, and every effort has been made to redact or fictionalize taxpayer information.

No artificial intelligence was used to research, write, animate, voice, or edit this video

Intro Music: "Bluesy Vibes" - Doug Maxwell - YouTube Creator Music

Outro Music: "Modern Attempt" - Track Tribe under license from YouTube Creator Music

DISCLAIMER: This video is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to render tax advice or financial advice for individual situations. If you have questions regarding your particular situation, please consult with a qualified tax or financial professional.