I got a scary call today from persons purporting to be from IRS. They said that they had sent a letter last Jan. saying that a random audit showed that I had intentionally reported miscalculations and owed some $3,500 for 2008-2012. The address to which they first said they sent it had the wrong zip code; when they "got my file"--NOT pulled it up on computer--after I had told them the correct one, they said they made a mistake and that they had sent it to the right one. Then they said that a law suit was being filed with 4 charges under IRS Code #6331 with threats to garner ALL my assets, deport me if I were a "member" of another country, and issue within 3 hours a warrant for my arrest with imprisonment for up to 6 months. I asked them to resend the letter with all the details so I could tend to it, and they said that they couldn't. When I said that I wanted to submit it to my CPA, they said that wasn't possible and that I had to have a criminal lawyer and appear in court. They kept asking if I had any intention to resolve the issue. I said "yes" various times but that I could not get copies of the letter or any details about what was owed and why. They kept saying that I wasn't answering the question, getting more and more aggressive and not allowing me to respond or ask questions. I finally hung up on them.
I have talked to my CPA and a tax lawyer, and they were both initially concerned and then started laughing!
Red flags:
1. Both were Indian/Pakistani. Okay for the first one but not expected of the one to whom I was transferred, "the chief attorney".
2. The thing about "getting" my file and if I were a "member"--not citizen--of another country.
3. A lot of noise in the background like a tele-marketing business but also a car honking. Sorry, IRS has offices in big, air-conditioned buildings...
4. !!! Contact by phone!!! IRS does NOT contact people by phone, maybe not even email, for these purposes.
5. Refusal to send another copy of the letter when I said that I really didn't get the first one. Said they couldn't and that sending info to the CPA was not allowed. I would need a criminal lawyer to appear with me in court.
6. Such drastic consequences for only $3,500 with no second chance.
7. It was alarming because they had my name, my address (albeit with the wrong zip at first), my phone number, and the first 5 digits of my SS#! They also said that the case was against me alone and did not include my husband which is curious because we file jointly. How could they have separated out my information from the combined whole return???!!!
Result: Apparently this is a Pakistani/Indian scam. I didn't talk to them long enough to get to where they would offer for me to send the money or a fee for their lawyer to settle out of court. Wonder where they would have asked me to send it and to whom?
Watch out! Hang up on them, and they won't call back, realizing that you have probably figured it out and won't take the bait.
I also have gotten spurious emails from the IRS supposedly and report them.
When I got into my car after work today (12 August 2014) I saw I had two calls from (202)239-0131 and there was a voice mail. I could not understand the voice mail, but it was threatening. As I was driving home I received a third call from this number, so I answered it. Due to the connection (my end and the distant end) I could not understand the person calling so I told him I would call him when I got home on my home telephone. I called him and could still barely understand him as the line kept going in and out. However, I ascertained that he was Joseph Brown from the IRS and was calling because an audit of my 2008 to 2012 tax returns showed that I had under paid my taxes to the amount of $1978. He said that a letter was sent to my home and that somebody signed for the letter and that they had prove of this. The letter was sent in January 2014 and that I had not responded. He wanted to know why not. Then he said that there were criminal allegations against me as the IRS determined my tax miscalculation was due to willful fraud. He said that while the IRS does not normally call tax payers in these situations the IRS was calling me because they believed I was generally an honest tax payer and they wanted to give me a chance to handle the issue out of court. He said that today was the last day to handle the issue out of court and that if I did not take care of it today then my social security number would be tracked as a criminal offender, my bank accounts would be frozen, my employer would be notified, the sheriff would be sent to my house to arrest me and that I would have to appear in court to pay the underpaid taxes, penalties and court costs to the tune of around $6700 (I cannot remember the exact amount). All of this was told to me with instructions not to interrupt him and that I would have the opportunity to respond after he finished. When he finished he let me know that the line was being recorded and he needed by intent - did I want to handle the issue out of court or do I want to go to court. I told him I would go to court. He then confirmed my intent and told me that the recording and the letter would be used in court and that I can expect my bank accounts to be frozen in 4 hours and for the sheriff department to come and arrest me in the morning to take me to court. I told him that was fine and then he wished me a good rest of the day. At one point during this conversation he also told me that I needed to have a criminal attorney contact him and also that I could spend as much as six months in jail as this issue was worked out. I now regret calling him from home. All numbers are going on the do not call registry.
Received a voice mail on my cell from a very difficult to understand male claiming his name was Daniel ??? from the Audit department of the IRS. He gave me an 8 digit case number that he said was to expire in 24 hours if I did not call back and that I would then be taken into custody by ???? Knowing my taxes are fine, and knowing the IRS wouldn't leave a message like this via phone, especially with no prior tax problems, I googled 202-239-0131 the number I was to call back and found many others have received the same bogus call from this number. That it was a scam out of India or Pakistan which seems to match the accent of this person.
I also received a call from this number threatening an illegal action against me if I do not respond. At first I got so worried but then I realized that IRS do not communicate via phone tax issues. They got me there for a minute.