Scammers are using a very good fake IRS Notice CP53E to gain access to bank accounts! If you receive an IRS Notice CP53E with a QR code, DO NOT SCAN THE CODE. 

As I mentioned in my letter to you earlier this year, IRS is discontinuing paper check refunds except in unusual circumstances. Executive Order 14247 now mandates the transition to electronic payments for all federal disbursements, including tax refunds, and IRS has begun sending out letters advising taxpayers that tax refunds are now being held up if the IRS does not have a valid bank account number on file. This letter instructs people to update their banking information by logging into their IRS account (using ID.me for identity verification).

Unfortunately, scammers have also begun sending letters that are nearly identical to the real IRS letter including many that have the one number to a newly created IRS prerecorded line that explains more about the policy change. However, the fake letters have instructions to scan a QR code to update banking information which the criminals use to clean out your bank account.

If you receive a letter and uncertain if it is legitimate, go online and log into your personal IRS account at Online account for individuals | Internal Revenue Service. You will need an ID.me account to get in but once in you will see all there is to know about your account, including any notices that were sent to you.