Scammers are getting more sophisticated — and business owners are their newest targets. Recently, many have reported receiving official-looking letters that appear to come from a government agency, claiming they owe taxes, fees, or penalties. These letters often use real agency names, convincing logos, and legal-sounding language to create a sense of urgency.
The goal? To pressure you into paying immediately before you verify whether the notice is real.
How to Spot a Fake
Scam letters are designed to look professional but usually share common red flags:
What to Do If You Receive One
Stay Protected
GLM Tip:
If you receive a suspicious letter or notice, send it to your GLM advisor before responding. We can quickly verify whether it’s legitimate and help you take the right next steps to protect your business and your money.
The goal? To pressure you into paying immediately before you verify whether the notice is real.
How to Spot a Fake
Scam letters are designed to look professional but usually share common red flags:
- Threats of license suspension, fines, or legal action if payment isn’t made immediately.
- Demands for wire transfers, gift cards, or “pay now” links instead of traditional payment methods.
- Vague details about your account or missing reference numbers.
- Typos, grammatical errors, or strange phrasing.
- Phone numbers and email addresses that don’t match official government websites.
What to Do If You Receive One
- Don’t pay or click anything.
Scammers rely on panic — pause before taking any action. - Verify with the actual agency.
Visit the agency’s official website and use published contact information — never what’s printed in the letter. - Check with your accountant.
Your accountant can confirm whether you owe anything and help you verify if a notice is legitimate. - Report the scam.
File a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office or the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov).
Stay Protected
- Train employees who open mail or handle payments to recognize red flags.
- Keep official contact information for the IRS, Illinois Department of Revenue, and other agencies easily accessible.
- Set a company policy: never send money based on a new or unexpected notice without checking with your accountant first.
GLM Tip:
If you receive a suspicious letter or notice, send it to your GLM advisor before responding. We can quickly verify whether it’s legitimate and help you take the right next steps to protect your business and your money.
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