Fake Tax Office Scams in Bulgaria
Fraudsters impersonating Bulgaria's National Revenue Agency (NRA/НАП) threaten businesses and individuals with immediate penalties unless payment is made via bank transfer or Bitcoin ATM.
Part of: Fake Tax Office Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Impersonation of Bulgaria's National Revenue Agency (НАП — Национална агенция за приходите) is used to extort payments from individuals and business owners by exploiting fear of tax audits and penalties. Callers claim the victim owes back taxes or faces an imminent account freeze, demanding immediate payment to a specified account.
The Bulgarian NRA and Ministry of Interior have both issued public warnings about this fraud pattern, but calls continue to target new victims across Bulgaria.
How this scam works on Bulgaria
A caller presents as an NRA inspector and informs the victim that their last tax return had discrepancies. An administrative penalty of BGN 1,500–20,000 will be applied unless immediate payment is made via bank transfer or, increasingly, Bitcoin ATM, to 'suspend the audit.' The caller references the victim's EGN (national ID number) or Bulstat business number to appear authorised.
Email variants send a fake NRA payment notice with a QR code directing payment to a personal account. The notice mimics genuine NRA correspondence including official letterhead and legal article references. Small business owners who recently filed VAT returns are specifically targeted, as their details are often inferrable from public company records.
A secondary variant tells the victim they have a tax refund of BGN 800–5,000 and must pay an NRA 'processing fee' via Easypay to receive it.
Common red flags
- Unsolicited call demanding immediate NRA penalty payment to avoid an audit
- NRA 'representative' requests payment via Bitcoin ATM or Easypay to a personal account
- Email with NRA branding directing payment via QR code to a non-NRA bank account
- Caller references your EGN or Bulstat but cannot provide verifiable case details via official channels
- Tax refund offer requiring a processing fee to release
- Urgency: penalty applies or refund expires within hours
How to protect yourself
- Verify any NRA claim by logging into your NRA e-services portal at nap.bg
- Call the NRA's official information line (0700 18 700) from a separate device to verify
- The NRA collects payments through official bank accounts — never Bitcoin ATMs or Easypay
- Consult your accountant before making any unplanned tax payment
- Report NRA impersonation to the НАП consumer line and to GDBOP
- Set up an NRA e-profile to receive all official correspondence electronically
How to report it
- Report to the NRA at nap.bg or call 0700 18 700
- File a complaint with GDBOP at cybercrime.bg
- Report to local police for extortion (изнудване) if threatened
Frequently asked questions
Does the Bulgarian NRA ever contact taxpayers by phone for immediate payment?
The NRA communicates official tax demands through its e-services portal and registered correspondence. Telephone calls demanding immediate payment are not part of the NRA's collection process. Any such call should be treated as fraud.