Fraud Alert: Fake Tax Documents Circulating in Bremen
Warning: Fake 2023 Income Tax Notices Circulating in Bremen and Bremerhaven
Residents of Bremen and Bremerhaven have been alerted to the circulation of fake income tax notices for 2023. To avoid falling victim to these fraudsters, it's essential to be aware of the key indicators that separate authentic tax notices from the counterfeit ones.
Sender Information
Authentic income tax notices will come directly from the official tax authorities, known as the Finanzamt. Verify the sender's details, including the correct postal address and telephone number specific to the Bremen or Bremerhaven tax offices. Be wary of any notices that claim to be from the "financial authorities of the Federal Republic of Germany" or bear the seal "tax office - financial authorities of the Federal Republic of Germany." These designations do not exist on real tax notices.
Request for Payment or Personal Data
Fake notices often demand immediate payment or personal data via unusual payment methods, such as direct transfers to private accounts or cryptocurrency. Official tax authorities typically offer secure, traceable payment options and do not demand sensitive information by email or non-secure methods.
Notice Format and Language
Fraudulent notices may have spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, or formatting that looks unofficial. Genuine tax notices from Germany are usually formal and professionally formatted.
Check for Contribution Numbers or Reference IDs
Official notices will include clear, verifiable identifiers (like Steuer-ID, Beitragsnummer). If these are missing or incorrect, that could indicate a fake notice.
Cross-verification
Suspect notices can be checked by contacting the local Finanzamt directly via official channels before responding or making any payments.
While specific signs for the 2023 Bremen/Bremerhaven income tax fake notices were not found, the general advice for German tax fraud awareness includes:
- Validate sender details with the official Finanzamt Bremen or Bremerhaven website.
- Beware of unsolicited or unexpected payment demands by email or mail.
- Avoid responding or transferring money without first confirming the authenticity by official channels.
In case of doubts or suspicions regarding a tax notice, contact the responsible tax office immediately. If you receive a fake tax notice, inform the responsible tax office and file a criminal complaint with the police.
For the tax office Bremen, you can find them at Rudolf-Hilferding-Platz 1, 28195 Bremen. For the tax office Bremerhaven, visit Rickmersstraße 90, 27568 Bremerhaven.
Taxpayers who choose electronic notification of the tax notice are protected from such fraudsters, as they will not receive the notice by post. Instead, Bremen residents will be notified by email (the notice is not included in this email). Real tax notices from the Bremen tax offices have the bank accounts indicated in their flyer "Bank connections of the Bremen tax offices" at the Sparkasse Bremen or Weser-Elbe Sparkasse. Under no circumstances should payments be made for alleged tax debts on fake tax notices. Only bank connections at the Deutsche Bundesbank are indicated on the tax notices of the Bremen tax offices.
Remember, fake tax notices can increasingly use sophisticated tactics, so always rely on official verification before taking action. If you want to be absolutely certain or have a suspicious notice, contacting the local German tax office (Finanzamt Bremen or Bremerhaven) or consulting professional tax advisors is the safest approach. Stay vigilant and protect yourself from tax fraud!
- Authentic income tax notices for 2023 in Bremen and Bremerhaven will be issued by the Finanzamt, the official tax authorities, and they should be verified by checking the sender's details, such as the correct postal address and phone number specific to the respective tax offices, to distinguish them from counterfeit ones.
- To confirm the legitimacy of a tax notice, it's essential to avoid providing sensitive information or making immediate payments via unconventional methods like direct transfers to private accounts or cryptocurrency, as official tax authorities typically offer secure, traceable payment options and do not demand such information through email or non-secure channels.
