Being a small business owner for over 20 years with enough contact from the IRS, I figured this was a scam. The IRS's contact is only in written letters and NEVER calls anyone, unless you call them first and request a call back.
As such, please do what I did and have fun with it. I kept calling until someone answered- you'll get through if u keep at it. First ask what their name and position is. First person told me "Officer John Robinson, investigator with the IRS", in a broken middle/ south eastern accent. I asked what this was about. He stated it was due to tax evasion and if I didn't rectify this immediately, the SEC would soon be at my door to arrest me.
I laughingly responded that he must be needing my bank account and credit card numbers to rectify this quickly. I followed by telling him what a [***] he was to think I was dumb enough to fall for such BS. I then unleashed a vitriolic vulgar rant against him. He hung up at some point before I was finished.
Being he didn't hear my rant in its entirety and enjoying the fact that I obviously frustrated him not falling victim to or getting intimidated by his threats , I called back. It took about 10 calls to get past the " number not found" message and the answers with no response until another live one answered. That time it was "Senior Officer Robert Daniels" with a similar accent, my guess from India.
I again unleashed my vitriolic rant, as vulgar as I could muster against him, and to my surprise he was still on line when I ran out of things to say. He responded that he was trying to help rectify this matter but no longer could with my attitude. He then stated that the SEC along with law enforcement would be arresting me soon. In response I told him to F--- OFF, GO TO HELL and I hope everybody you contact with this BS scam responds the same way I did!!
So please everybody, do what I did.. Have fun with it!!! Maybe it'll help put an end to these types of scams..
I had some fun as well. I said I only deal in cash, and asked to meet in person. They said they did not operate that way, so I offered more cash to solve the problem. I quoted some made up regulation that says the IRS would take cash. This really frustrated the guy...