The IRS still uses ink and paper if they have a problem with tax delinquency. Their agents do not ambush and terrify citizens like cheap hoodlums by phone or email. Here's the word from the *real* IRS, excerpted:
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today warned consumers about a sophisticated phone scam targeting taxpayers, including recent immigrants, throughout the country.
Victims are told they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are then threatened with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s license. In many cases, the caller becomes hostile and insulting.
... "Rest assured, we do not and will not ask for credit card numbers over the phone, nor request a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer,” says IRS Acting Commissioner Danny Werfel. .... Werfel noted that the first IRS contact with taxpayers on a tax issue is likely to occur via mail.
source: "IRS Warns of Pervasive Telephone Scam" - 31 Oct 2013
http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Warns-of-Pervasive-Telephone-Scam
The Federal Trade Commission echoed the warning this month:
"The Treasury Inspector General for Taxpayer Administration (TIGTA) warns that crooks posing as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) officials are contacting people claiming they owe taxes. The caller demands a prepaid debit card, wire transfer or a credit card number for payment. If the person doesn’t comply, the caller threatens to arrest or deport the target, or take away their driver’s license or business."
Fake IRS collectors are calling
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/fake-irs-collectors-are-calling
I got a call and it was mostly just weird talking that we couldn't understand. Called them back and there was this screechy beeping sound that I can't describe but I could hear tapping in the background. It steadily changed into a pattern that seemed a tiny bit different each time. I was never asked for a voice mail so they must've picked up I suppose. Morse code maybe? Will keep updated.