In recent days, many people have received blue envelopes in the mail that look suspiciously like official letters from the Dutch Tax Authority (Belastingdienst). However, these letters are fake. They are designed to look genuine, but this is a scam. The Belastingdienst urges citizens to be especially careful.
How to recognize a real envelope from Belastingdienst
The official envelopes of the Belastingdienst are completely blue. They no white frames, neither on the edges of the envelope itself, nor around the address window. Counterfeit letters often have such frames, which is why they can easily be mistaken for real, especially if you open the mail in a hurry. Fraudsters try to copy the style and color scheme as accurately as possible.
If you have any doubts, do not open or pay for the letter immediately. Look carefully.
Beware of fake messages through other channels as well.
The threat doesn't just come from paper mail. Fraudsters send fake messages via WhatsApp, SMS or e-mail, disguising them as messages from Belastingdienst. There may be an official logo, an official tone of voice, and even a bank account number. However, such messages are fake.
This type of fraud is called phishing - an attempt to obtain your money or data by posing as a reliable organization.
How do you know if a message is real?
- Belastingdienst never sends payment requests via WhatsApp or e-mail.
- All invoices and payment details are contained only in official letters and in your personal account at:
If you are not sure, always log in to your personal account first and check if such information is there.
Also Belastingdienst never asks your BSN (personal number), bank account number or DigiD by phone, email or messengers. If you receive such a message, it is almost certainly a scam.
What to do if you receive a suspicious message?
- Log in to your account on the Belastingdienst websiteIf there is no such information there, the letter is most likely fake.
- Compare the specified account number with the official details on the tax website.
- Report a fake email:
- Through the site tax.nl.
- Through the portal Fraudehelpdesk.nl, where information about all types of digital fraud is collected.
The sooner you report, the more people you can protect from being scammed.
Be carefull
Fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated. They create letters, websites and messages that are difficult to distinguish from the real thing. Therefore:
- Never click on payment links, sent in messages.
- Do not share personal information by phone, email or instant messengers.
- Check all suspicious emails through your personal account.
If you have received a suspicious letter, SMS or message asking you to pay - check everything carefully. If you have the slightest doubt, contact the tax office and Be sure to report any suspicious incident.
Publication date: 09.07.2025/XNUMX/XNUMX
