One reported chain starts with a “consultancy”, steers the victim to a web wallet, invents a lawyer, then produces Internal Revenue Service (IRS) paperwork demanding tax before crypto can leave a U.S. platform — even when the victim is not a U.S. person. Domains and shell names rotate (Fibroiin, ocosx.com, complaint-site introductions). The tax letter is the lever for another payment.
The IRS has separately warned about fake letters that push crypto holders toward bogus “Digital Asset Compliance Portal” sites. Real notices carry verifiable notice or letter numbers; the agency does not run random wallets, does not freeze coins on Gemini because a Telegram adviser said so, and does not collect USDT “to legalise an outflow”. Mixed-up ECI/FDAP jargon and DIY Form 1099 instructions are further tells.
How to check: open irs.gov yourself; never scan QR codes from surprise letters; never pay tax to a recovery email. Ask a qualified adviser in your own country if you truly have a filing duty — not the people who sold you the first loss.
Get help. Sequel fee merchants: Fake recovery.
This article is for general information only. It is not legal or financial advice. Details change. If you have lost money, contact your bank or card issuer and use the routes on the help pages.