IRS Warns of Fake Letters Targeting Crypto Holders in New Mail Scam

The Internal Revenue Service is alerting crypto holders that scammers are mailing counterfeit letters designed to steal digital assets or personal data, according to a Bloomberg report.

Fake Portal Used to Lure Victims

The fraudulent letters reportedly direct recipients to register on a so-called “Digital Asset Compliance Portal,” which the IRS confirmed does not exist. The agency has also advised taxpayers not to scan QR codes or respond to phone calls demanding payment.

A New Twist on an Old Scam

While phishing scams are common across the crypto industry, using physical mail marks a shift in tactics. The IRS has sent legitimate letters about digital assets before, and a wave of crypto-related notices last year left many taxpayers confused. As crypto reporting requirements have grown, IRS correspondence on digital assets has become more routine for taxpayers.

Scams and Physical Threats Remain Widespread

Crypto scams continue to cause major losses industry-wide. Blockaid recently reported that crypto projects lost more than $1 billion to hacks in the first half of 2026, calling it the most-hacked half-year on record by number of incidents. Separately, physical “wrench attacks,” where victims are assaulted or threatened to hand over crypto, have also risen, with Certik recording over 50 such incidents this year, most in Europe.