IRS Warns Crypto Holders of Fake Letters Stealing Data, Assets

The IRS is direct about what it does not do. It does not send QR codes in official correspondence. It does not ask taxpayers to transfer digital assets as part of any compliance process. It does not operate a digital asset enrollment portal. Any legitimate notice can be verified through IRS.gov or by calling the number listed on that site, the agency said.

The scam erodes trust in real IRS communications about crypto compliance at a time when the agency is actively increasing enforcement. If people become wary of all IRS mail, they might ignore legitimate notices, potentially leading to penalties or missed opportunities to correct filings.

The IRS Criminal Investigation unit advised anyone who receives such a letter to ignore the QR code and not call any number listed in the letter. Instead, check their account status through the IRS's own tools.

The warning comes as the IRS continues to expand its crypto reporting requirements, including new broker reporting rules set to take effect in 2026. The agency said it is working to educate taxpayers on how to identify legitimate correspondence.