A computer generated message was left saying to call the (202)864-1600 phone. He identified himself as Armando (something) from the tax audit department from the IRS, saying "We have received a legal petition against your name... for Tax evasion and/or Tax fraud. " and to "please call before you are arrested by the Sheriffs office". The message did NOT mention my name directly - that seemed strange, and I had not received any mail from IRS. I had already filed my taxes through TurboTax. It seemed odd that the Sheriff would be involved at all!
I did not pick up. The call was repeated that same day. I also noticed another call from a different 202 number -- no message. I figured it had to be a scam of some sort.
This is a Pakistan or India based IRS scam. Do not fall for it. The IRS does not initiate any legal action via phone.
Read http://www.treasury.gov/tigta/press/press_tigta-2014-03.htm
As general background information, here are a few things you can do:
1) Report it to TIGTA under http://www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_scam.shtml especially if you have become a victim (lost money, gave personal information etc.). You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint (include “IRS Telephone Scam" in your complaint). This way you can also help the government establish specific fraud patterns.
2) Help kill their phone lines. The scammers use Voice over IP lines (e.g. magicJack (Ymax corporation)) to make it seem as if they are calling from the US. This is always against these companys' terms of service and can lead to immediate termination of their contract and blocking of their IP addresses for future attempts to register. Do a reverse look up of their telephone number (e.g. www.whitepages.com) to identify the Voice over IP provider and report it to the company and or law enforcement (local police and/or state attorney general)
3) If you are really annoyed: call or write to your representative in Congress. As these scams happen all over the country maybe this will trigger a reaction and provide US law enforcement agencies with the political backing and the resources they need to work in India and Pakistan together with local authorities (it can happen, read: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/ex-call-cen ... mmission-320427). A US task force has already been set up in Jamaica to nab scammers there (see http://www.ice.gov/doclib/news/library/reports/cornerstone/cornerstone7-1.pdf). You can use the following template for your letter (more powerful!) or email:
Just got a call from them an hour ago. I asked all kinds of questions and frustrated the scammer. Told him I had to call my accountant who files all my taxes, at first he said I couldn't then told me to call him back in 10 minutes. Called a friend who used to work for IRS to confirm scam, while on the phone the SOB had the nerve to call me back! Be careful, they give false badge numbers and employee numbers and even read the IRS codes you have been charged with breaking. Remember, the IRS can not contact you by phone or e-mail to start legal proceedings and will never demand immediate payment over the phone.
Thanks for the info. I have recieved 4 computer generated voice messages from Fernando Rodriquez at 1-202-864-1600 stating he was with the IRS Tax Audit Department and that he was calling regarding a legal petition for tax fraud or evasion against "Your" name (never told me what name he was calling for in a house with 3 roomates) - each time we listen to the message we all laugh as we know it is not real and not against any of us, we alluse the same tax accountant for the past 8 years and when we told her she laughed and said to ignore it. Silly SCAM Artists! Although I feel bad for anyone that falls for it.
I also received this call and was terrified! I am relieved to find it is not legitimate and at the same time, furious that I spent a sleepless night trying to figure out what the matter was!