05/05/2026
I apologize in advance for the long post—but I promise this is very important and informative, so please take a moment to read.
🚨 SCAM ALERT – Please Read & Stay Vigilant 🚨
I want to share two real situations from two different companies that I recently handled, so others don’t fall into the same traps.
⚠️ Situation #1: ERC “Loan” + Fake Law Firm Email
A client received a call claiming she owed money related to an ERC “loan.”
Let’s clear this up:
The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) is NOT a loan. It’s a refundable tax credit created during COVID to help businesses keep employees on payroll.
You either qualified and claimed it through the IRS
Or you didn’t
There is no such thing as random “ERC debt” someone can call you about
📩 It gets worse…
The client also received a “letter” by email (not mail), supposedly from a law firm, asking her to complete Form 8821 and Form 4506.
After verifying, the law firm name used actually belongs to a real immigration law firm in Florida—completely unrelated to this case. Their identity was likely being used without permission.
❗ What these forms do:
Form 8821 → Gives someone access to your IRS tax records
Form 4506 → Allows someone to request full copies of your tax returns
🚨 If a scammer gets these signed:
They can access sensitive tax information
They may obtain your tax returns (income, SSN, business data)
This can lead to identity theft and further fraud
⚠️ Situation #2: Direct Deposit Change Scam
A different company received an email sent to their business/corporate email, requesting a change to an employee’s direct deposit account.
🚩 It looked legitimate—but it was a scam.
👉 Best practice:
Always verify directly with the employee (call or speak to them) before making any payroll or direct deposit changes.
🚩 Common scam tactics:
Using real business names to appear legitimate
Sending emails instead of official mailed notices
Creating urgency (“you owe money now”)
Requesting sensitive forms or account changes
Pressuring you to act quickly without verifying
❗ VERY IMPORTANT:
If it’s an IRS issue, the IRS does NOT call, text, or email you first.
📬 The IRS initially contacts you by mail.
💡 Protect yourself:
Don’t trust unexpected calls, emails, or letters about taxes or payments
Never sign forms you don’t fully understand
Never share your SSN, EIN, or banking information without verifying
Always confirm with a trusted tax professional
If something feels off… trust your gut
🛑 When in doubt, pause and verify. A legitimate issue will still be there after you check—scammers rely on panic.
Please share this to spread awareness. These scams are becoming more common, and staying informed is the best defense.
Stay safe out there 🙏
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