Dear Clients,
Our office has received inquiries from our clients regarding solicitation text messages, emails, phone calls, and notice mailings they received from third-party solicitors. When you receive a letter from a state or federal agency, pay more attention to it, and if you are in any doubt, never click on a link or scan a QR code. Also, keep your credit card and personal information private over the phone. Please collect the sender/callers’ information, such as name and badge ID information, and directly call the agency instead of calling the number they provide. This is the best way to determine whether the caller was legitimate. We want to alert our clients to common confusing or misleading notices.
WA Secretary of State
- Annual Report Solicitations from a third party – An annual report must be filed each year by the end of the anniversary month and can be filed by the Secretary of State website or by requesting assistance from our office. The Office of the Secretary of State will send due date reminder notices directly to registered businesses via email and paper notice. The office does not send text messages.
- Please find details and examples of these solicitations from the link below:
Examples of Potentially Confusing or Misleading “Notices” & “Solicitations” | WA Secretary of State
FinCEN – Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
- Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report solicitation—FinCEN has posted an alert regarding recent fraudulent attempts by hackers to solicit information from individuals and businesses that may be subject to reporting requirements under the CTA.
- These fraudulent scams may include:
- Correspondence requesting payment.
- Correspondence that asks the recipient to click on a suspicious URL or to scan a suspicious QR code.
- Correspondence requesting personal information.
- Please find details and examples of these solicitations from the link below:
Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting | FinCEN.gov
IRS
We want you to understand how and when the IRS contacts taxpayers and help you determine whether a contact you may have received is truly from an IRS employee.
The IRS initiates most contacts through regular mail delivered by the United States Postal Service. They don’t initiate contact by email, text, or social media to request personal or financial information. There are circumstances in which the IRS will call or come to a home or business. These include when a taxpayer has an overdue tax bill, a delinquent (unfiled) tax return, or has not made an employment tax deposit. Even then, taxpayers will generally first receive several notices and letters from the IRS in the mail.
- Tax scam warning signs: Scammers mislead you about tax refunds, credits, and payments. They pressure you for money or personal, financial, or employee information. IRS impersonators try to look like us.
- Watch out for:
- A big payday – If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Bad tax advice on social media could urge you to falsify tax forms or credit claims.
- Demands or threats – Impersonators want you to pay “now or else.” They threaten arrest or deportation.
- Website links – Odd or misspelled web links can take you to malicious sites instead of IRS.gov.
- How do I verify contact from the IRS? – Go to IRS.gov and search on the letter, notice, or form number. Please be aware that fraudsters often modify legitimate IRS letters and forms. You can also find information at Understanding your notice or letter or by searching forms and instructions. For additional information please see How to know it’s really the IRS calling or knocking on your door.
- Please find details and examples of these solicitations from the link below:
Recognize tax scams and fraud | Internal Revenue Service
Please use caution when you receive correspondence from an unknown party. Verify the sender. We ask our clients to become familiar with these fraudulent messages, not to respond, not to click on links, not to scan QR codes, and never to provide their personal information.
If you have questions, be sure to contact us. Our entire team is here to support and guide you.
Sincerely,
ALISA NA CPAs & Advisors
