Have you received an email claiming to be from Interactive Brokers asking you to provide tax information to avoid account problems? The message says your account is missing tax documents and includes a link to a website asking you to enter your login details.
Question: Is this email really from Interactive Brokers, and should you trust the link and provide your information?
Investigation Findings: The website linked in the email (interactivebrokers-review.com) is not the official Interactive Brokers site. Security checks show this site is flagged as dangerous and used to steal personal information. The real Interactive Brokers website does not use this domain.
Answer: This email is a scam trying to steal your login and tax information. It is a fraudulent phishing attempt pretending to be from Interactive Brokers. 💡 To protect yourself from scams like this, always verify emails by checking the sender’s real email address and visit the company’s official website directly (do not click links in suspicious emails). Additionally, never share your login or personal information through links sent in unexpected emails. If you think you might have provided information, change your passwords immediately and contact the real company to report the issue.
A typical “InteractiveBrokers Tax Information Required” scam email reads as follows:
Subject: Tax Information Required
From: InteractiveBrokersInteractive Brokers
Tax Information RequiredDear Valued Client,
We are reaching out to inform you that your account is missing required tax documentation.
To avoid any disruption to your service and remain compliant with regulatory standards, please provide the necessary information using the secure link below:
hxxps://interactivebrokers-review.com?token=[removed]
If you have recently submitted this information, please disregard this message.
Thank you for choosing Interactive Brokers.
Interactive Brokers
This communication is provided for information purposes only and is not intended as a recommendation or a solicitation to buy, sell or hold any investment product. Customers are solely responsible for their own trading decisions.
Interactive Brokers LLC, member NYSE, FINRA, SIPC
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🚨 Is the Interactive Brokers Tax Information Required Email a Scam?
The email claiming to be from Interactive Brokers requesting missing tax information is a phishing scam designed to steal your personal information. These deceptive messages target investors by impersonating legitimate financial institutions to trick recipients into entering sensitive login credentials on fraudulent websites.
Key Red Flags:
- 🌐 Suspicious Sender Email: The email is sent from onlinebank@yhmoyu.com, which does not match Interactive Brokers’ official domain, indicating it is fraudulent.
- 🔗 Malicious Link: The included hyperlink directs users to interactivebrokers-review.com, a fake site designed to mimic the real Interactive Brokers login page but flagged by VirusTotal as malicious, phishing, and spam.
- 👤 Fake Login Page: The scam website requests your username and password, potentially capturing your credentials for unauthorized access and identity theft.
- 📅 Domain Registration Anomalies: The fake domain was created recently with registrant privacy protection and is registered in China, unlike Interactive Brokers’ official domains.
- ⚠️ Urgency and Pressure: The message creates false urgency by warning about disrupted service if tax information is not submitted, a common tactic to rush victims into hasty actions without verifying legitimacy.
- ❌ Lack of Personalization: The email uses generic greetings such as “Dear Valued Client” instead of addressing you by name, which legitimate companies typically include.
In summary, the “Interactive Brokers Tax Information Required” email is a scam aimed at phishing your private account credentials through fake websites. It is strongly advised not to click any links or provide any information from such messages. Always verify requests by contacting Interactive Brokers directly via official channels to protect your accounts and personal data.
📧 What to Do When You Receive the “InteractiveBrokers Tax Information Required” Scam Email
We advise everyone who receives this email to follow the simple steps below to protect yourself from potential scams:
- ❌ Do not believe this email.
- 🔒 NEVER share your personal information and login credentials.
- 📎 Do not open unverified email attachments.
- 🚫 If there’s a link in the scam email, do not click it.
- 🔍 Do not enter your login credentials before examining the URL.
- 📣 Report the scam email to the FTC at www.ftc.gov.
If you accidentally click a phishing link or button in the “InteractiveBrokers Tax Information Required” Email, suspect that your computer is infected with malware, or simply want to scan your computer for threats, use one of the free malware removal tools. Additionally, consider taking the following steps:
- 🔑 Change your passwords: Update passwords for your email, banking, and other important accounts.
- 🛡️ Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Add an extra layer of security to your accounts.
- 📞 Contact your financial institutions: Inform them of any suspicious activity.
- 🔄 Monitor your accounts: Keep an eye on your bank statements and credit reports for any unusual activity.
🔍 How to Spot a Phishing Email
Phishing emails often share common characteristics; they are designed to trick victims into clicking on a phishing link or opening a malicious attachment. By recognizing these signs, you can detect phishing emails and prevent identity theft:
💡 Here Are Some Ways to Recognize a Phishing Email
- ✉️ Inconsistencies in Email Addresses: The most obvious way to spot a scam email is by finding inconsistencies in email addresses and domain names. If the email claims to be from a reputable company, like Amazon or PayPal, but is sent from a public email domain such as “gmail.com”, it’s probably a scam.
- 🔠 Misspelled Domain Names: Look carefully for any subtle misspellings in the domain name, such as “arnazon.com” where the “m” is replaced by “rn,” or “paypa1.com,” where the “l” is replaced by “1.” These are common tricks used by scammers.
- 👋 Generic Greetings: If the email starts with a generic “Dear Customer”, “Dear Sir”, or “Dear Madam”, it may not be from your actual shopping site or bank.
- 🔗 Suspicious Links: If you suspect an email may be a scam, do not click on any links. Instead, hover over the link without clicking to see the actual URL in a small popup. This works for both image links and text links.
- 📎 Unexpected Attachments: Email attachments should always be verified before opening. Scan any attachments for viruses, especially if they have unfamiliar extensions or are commonly associated with malware (e.g., .zip, .exe, .scr).
- ⏰ Sense of Urgency: Creating a false sense of urgency is a common tactic in phishing emails. Be wary of emails that claim you must act immediately by calling, opening an attachment, or clicking a link.
- 📝 Spelling and Grammar Errors: Many phishing emails contain spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. Professional companies usually proofread their communications carefully.
- 🔒 Requests for Sensitive Information: Legitimate organizations typically do not ask for sensitive information (like passwords or Social Security numbers) via email.
Conclusion
The InteractiveBrokers Tax Information Required email is a scam, designed to trick recipients into providing sensitive personal and financial information through a fake website. This phishing attempt uses urgent and official-sounding language to create a sense of legitimacy and panic, aiming to steal login credentials and potentially commit identity theft or financial fraud.
The fraudulent website, interactivebrokers-review.com, mimics the real Interactive Brokers login page to deceive users. It has been flagged by multiple security sources, including VirusTotal, as malicious, phishing, and spam. The domain is suspiciously registered with private information listed in China and created in 2025, which further undermines its credibility.
Bottom Line: Do not click on any links or provide any information in response to emails requesting tax information or account verification that come from suspicious or unknown email addresses. Always verify communications by contacting Interactive Brokers directly through their official website or customer support channels. Stay vigilant against phishing scams posing as legitimate financial institutions.
