A scam involving the impersonation of tax department officials has led to the loss of 0.02157939 BTC. The scammer, posing as an official from the tax department, convinced the victim that they had outstanding taxes to pay, leading to the transfer of Bitcoin to 1LhEWaJiuUqqMMj7HYD6Md61EReW1DG7jZ. This fraudulent claim of unpaid taxes was used to extort cryptocurrency from the victim.

• Bitcoin Address: 1LhEWaJiuUqqMMj7HYD6Md61EReW1DG7jZ
• Amount Lost: 0.02157939 BTC (approximately $700 USD)
• Scam Type: Fake Bank and Tax Department Scam

Scam Breakdown:

• Impersonation of Tax Department:
  The scammer contacted the victim, falsely claiming to represent the tax department. The victim was told they had an unpaid tax bill and that immediate payment was required to avoid penalties or legal action.
• Payment via Bitcoin:
  The scammer instructed the victim to settle the alleged tax debt by transferring 0.02157939 BTC to the Bitcoin address 1LhEWaJiuUqqMMj7HYD6Md61EReW1DG7jZ. Under pressure and fearing consequences, the victim complied.
• Loss of Funds:
  After transferring the Bitcoin, the victim realized the tax department communication was fake, and the funds were lost with no way to recover them.

Conclusion

The Bitcoin address 1LhEWaJiuUqqMMj7HYD6Md61EReW1DG7jZ is linked to a fraudulent tax department impersonation scam. Scammers use scare tactics, posing as officials from banks or government departments, to convince victims to send Bitcoin. Always verify the legitimacy of any communication from government or financial institutions and be cautious of requests for cryptocurrency payments. If targeted by this type of scam, report the incident to authorities immediately.