The short answer
A scam letter usually pushes you to act fast, pay in an unusual way, or call a number it provides. To check any letter, do not use the contact details printed on it. Look up the sender yourself on its official website or an old statement, and ask whether the letter is real.
Is this letter real?
Here is the core method. It works for almost any letter.
- Pause. Scams depend on urgency. A real agency or company will still be there tomorrow.
- Do not use the phone number, website, email, or QR code on the letter. Find the sender’s contact details yourself: a bill or card you already trust, the agency’s official .gov website, or the company’s website typed in by hand. The FTC warns that top search results can be paid ads from impersonators (FTC).
- Ask the real sender whether it sent the letter and whether you owe anything.
- Log in to your real account if you have one (IRS, bank, utility, insurer) and see whether the issue shows up there.
- Never pay by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or payment app because a letter told you to. The FTC says government agencies do not demand payment these ways, and scammers prefer them because the money is hard to trace and recover (FTC).
What the letter says, section by section
Scam letters copy real ones, so instead of sections, here are the parts of a letter where red flags tend to hide.
The sender
Watch for official-sounding names that do not exist. The FTC gives “National Sweepstakes Bureau” as an example of a fake agency name (FTC). A real logo proves nothing, since logos are easy to copy.
The headline
“FINAL NOTICE,” “IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED,” or “Call IMMEDIATELY” are pressure tactics. Real final notices exist, but a scary headline alone is a reason to slow down and verify.
The demand
What does it want? Money, a fee before you receive money, your Social Security number, bank details, or a password. The FTC says government agencies will never call, email, text, or message you on social media to ask for money or personal information (FTC).
The payment instructions
Gift cards, wire transfers, crypto, payment apps, or paying a person rather than an agency are major red flags. IRS payments, for example, go to the “United States Treasury” (IRS).
The fine print
Read it. The FTC describes “final notice” mailers where the small print admits the check-like insert is not a check (FTC).
Common scam letters and how to check each one
Fake IRS letters
The IRS usually contacts people by mail first, so a letter alone is not suspicious. Signs of a fake: threats of arrest or deportation, demands to pay right away by gift card or wire, or no chance to question or appeal the amount. The IRS says it does not threaten to bring in police to arrest you for not paying (IRS).
How to check: Look up the notice number (in the right corner of the letter, like “CP2000”) on Understanding your IRS notice or letter. Log in to your IRS online account, where certain notices and letters appear. A missing copy does not prove it is fake. If it does not show up or looks suspicious, the IRS says to call 800-829-1040 (IRS).
Fake debt collectors
Watch for a debt you do not recognize, threats of arrest, refusal to give a mailing address, or pressure to pay before you get details. The FTC says real collectors cannot threaten arrest or pretend to be lawyers or government officials (FTC). A real collector must give you information about the debt, in its first contact or within five days after.
How to check: Contact the original creditor using a number you trust. Our guide to the debt validation notice explains what a real notice must include and how to dispute.
Fake checks and “you won” letters
A letter says you won a prize or got a job as a mystery shopper, and includes a check. You are told to deposit it and send part of the money back for “taxes” or “fees.” The FTC explains that banks must make funds available quickly, but it can take weeks to discover a check is fake, and then you must repay the bank (FTC). The FTC also says real sweepstakes are free, and it is illegal to ask you to pay to increase your odds of winning (FTC).
How to check: Never deposit a check from a stranger and send money back. If you think a prize might be real, contact the company through its official website, not the letter.
Unclaimed property letters
Some letters offer to recover money that a state is holding for you, for a fee. These are not always scams. Unclaimed.org, run by state unclaimed property administrators, says these finders are in most cases legal, and some states limit their fees (Unclaimed.org). But you never have to pay. The FTC says every state lets you search for free, and that a request for an upfront “processing” fee or personal information to release funds is a scam (FTC).
How to check: Search for free through your state’s official program at unclaimed.org/search.
Fake invoices and renewal notices
A letter, email, or text says your antivirus, tech support, or other subscription renewed for a large amount and gives a number to call to cancel or get a refund. In one version the FTC describes, sent by email and text, the scammer may ask for remote access to your computer, fakes an overpaid refund, then asks for the difference back in gift cards (FTC).
How to check: Look at your bank or card statement. If there is no matching charge, do not call the number in the notice. If there is an unauthorized charge, contact your bank or card issuer using the number on your card or statement.
“Final notice” warranty mailers
These look like urgent notices about your car or home. The FTC describes a “FINAL NOTICE” mailer that seemed to come from a bank, with a fake check-like insert, where callers reached someone selling a home or appliance warranty or service contract (FTC). For cars, the FTC says “expiring warranty” companies may seem to represent your dealer or manufacturer but probably are not working with them, and a service contract is not a warranty under federal law (FTC).
How to check: Call your dealer, manufacturer, or bank using a number you already have. Search the company name and phone number with words like “complaint” or “scam.”
Fake utility shutoff threats
Scammers threaten to cut off your gas, power, or water unless you pay right away by wire, crypto, payment app, or gift card. The FTC says real utilities will not demand immediate payment or ask you to pay those ways (FTC). See our utility shutoff notice guide for how real notices work.
What to do next
- Do not pay, call, click, or scan anything on the letter until you verify it.
- Verify independently using the steps above.
- If it is real, read it carefully and note any deadline. Real letters can have short deadlines too.
- If it is fake, report it. Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For scams sent through the U.S. Mail, report to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at uspis.gov/report or 1-877-876-2455. You can also tell your state attorney general (IRS) and the real company or agency being impersonated.
- If you already paid or shared information, act quickly. Contact your bank or card issuer, the gift card company (number on the back of the card), or the wire transfer company, whichever you used (FTC). If you shared personal information, go to IdentityTheft.gov for recovery steps.
If you do nothing about a fake letter, that is often fine. The bigger risk is ignoring a real one. That is why verifying matters more than guessing.
Common mistakes
- Calling the number on the letter to “check.” You will reach the scammer.
- Trusting caller ID, logos, or a real-looking address. These can be faked or copied.
- Depositing a check from a stranger and sending money back.
- Paying a fee to collect a prize or unclaimed money. Real prizes and state unclaimed property searches are free.
- Assuming every scary letter is fake. Real collection letters, court papers, and shutoff notices exist. Verify before you dismiss.
Where to get free help
- FTC: learn about scams and report them at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- U.S. Postal Inspection Service: report mail fraud at uspis.gov/report or 1-877-876-2455.
- IRS: check notices at irs.gov or call 800-829-1040.
- IdentityTheft.gov: step-by-step recovery plans if your information was stolen.
- Your state attorney general: find yours through USAGov.
- A trusted person: a friend or family member can be a calm second set of eyes before you act.
How Plainly helps
When a letter feels off, you want a calm second look before you call anyone or pay anything. Plainly turns it into plain English, quickly. Take a photo of the letter (up to five pages) and Plainly tells you:
- What it is: what the letter claims to be and who it says it is from.
- What it wants from you: what it asks you to do.
- Your deadline and how urgent it is: any deadline it sets.
- The numbers that matter: the amounts and contact details it gives.
- Anything that looks off: possible scam signals worth checking before you pay or call anyone.
- What it could not read: parts of your photo that were not clear, so you know what to double-check.
You can listen to the explanation read aloud, share it with someone who helps you, and find it later in My Scans on your device. It works on the web, iOS, and Android, needs no account, and Plainly does not store your photos.
To be clear about what Plainly can and cannot do: it points out possible scam signals it sees in the letter, such as gift card payment demands, threats of arrest, or pressure to call immediately. It cannot confirm who actually sent a letter, and it is not a fraud determination. A letter with no flags can still be fake, and a real letter can still look alarming. Always verify with the sender using contact details you find yourself.
Plainly can make mistakes, so check dates and amounts against your letter before you act.
Scan a letter you are unsure about with Plainly
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a letter from the IRS is real?
Look up the notice number on irs.gov, check your IRS online account, or call the IRS at 800-829-1040. The IRS does not demand gift cards or threaten arrest.
Is it safe to call the number on a letter?
Not if you are unsure the letter is real. Find the sender’s number yourself from a trusted bill, card, or official website.
Someone sent me a check and asked me to send some back. Is that a scam?
Yes, that pattern is a classic fake check scam. The check can bounce weeks later, and you would owe the bank the money.
Do I have to pay to get unclaimed money?
No. Every state lets you search and claim for free through its official program. Third-party finders may charge a fee, but you can skip them.
Where do I report a scam letter?
Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For scams sent by mail, also report to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Plainly explains documents in plain language. It is not legal, tax, medical, or financial advice. Always check important dates, amounts, and contact details against the original letter.