Had this very same experience just now. "IRS has a lawsuit against my company and do I have my lawyer ready right now" because of a "miscalculation of my taxes that did not go through in a proper way". Thick "non-native English accent. Wanted me to make an appointment with the IRS otherwise they will contact local Sherriff's office. He wanted me to 'make an appointment with the IRS office right now and they will provide the documentation" I was immediately on guard and said I would look into this independently. I suspect the act of making the appointment would have been his way to get my information. He never used my name.
Recieved a call this morning 8:20 am telling me a lawsuit had been filed and I needed to call the number on the message, my wife called and the peron said the sheriff dept would be by in 45 min with the paperwork. We were kind of in shock i guess and decided to look online for scam numbers and again got a call from the same number same message, decided it was a scam and again this AM get a third call from the same number who left a message. I am reporting this as a scam and hope no one gets taken advantage of.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, is warning consumers to be on the alert for scam artists posing as debt collectors. It may be hard to tell the difference between a legitimate debt collector and a fake one. Sometimes a fake collector may even have some of your personal information, like a bank account number. A caller may be a fake debt collector if he:
•is seeking payment on a debt for a loan you do not recognize;
•refuses to give you a mailing address or phone number;
•asks you for personal financial or sensitive information; or
•exerts high pressure to try to scare you into paying, such as threatening to have you arrested or to report you to a law enforcement agency.
If you think that a caller may be a fake debt collector:
•Ask the caller for his name, company, street address, and telephone number. Tell the caller that you refuse to discuss any debt until you get a written "validation notice." The notice must include the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor you owe, and your rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
If a caller refuses to give you all of this information, do not pay! Paying a fake debt collector will not always make them go away. They may make up another debt to try to get more money from you.
•Stop speaking with the caller. If you have the caller's address, send a letter demanding that the caller stop contacting you, and keep a copy for your files. By law, real debt collectors must stop calling you if you ask them to in writing.
•Do not give the caller personal financial or other sensitive information. Never give out or confirm personal financial or other sensitive information like your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number unless you know whom you're dealing with. Scam artists, like fake debt collectors, can use your information to commit identity theft – charging your existing credit cards, opening new credit card, checking, or savings accounts, writing fraudulent checks, or taking out loans in your name.
•Contact your creditor. If the debt is legitimate – but you think the collector may not be – contact your creditor about the calls. Share the information you have about the suspicious calls and find out who, if anyone, the creditor has authorized to collect the debt.
•Report the call. Contact the FTC and your state Attorney General's office with information about suspicious callers. Many states have their own debt collection laws in addition to the federal FDCPA. Your Attorney General's office can help you determine your rights under your state's law.
I received the same call while at work. After listening to the message I decided it was a scam, so I looked it up and found your post. Then I decided to wait to see if they would call back. Later the same afternoon they did call again with the same message. I called back right away and spoke to a rep. They asked for the right last name but when I asked for my first name they asked for a name, which we have received mail for before, which is a combination of my name and my sons. When I told them that person doesn't even exist they kindly said thank you and hung up. Scam scam scam
I had the exact same situation happen to me today. Several calls saying charges against me. I called the number back, and the phone was immediately answered by a man with a thick "Non native English" speaking accent. Which I would liken to accents I have heard of speakers from India. He mentioned my last name, but he didn't have my first name until I told him. He then listed off tons of allegations and all the liens, seizures, credit reporting and stuff that was going to happen to me. Then he stated that I could choose to resolve this "now" or fight it. When I said I don't know what you are talking about and I need to talk to someone, the caller quickly stated "I will be sending this to the local agents, and a sheriff will be at your house in 45 min. you need to be there" and he hung up on me. After feeling very confused and upset I found online this phone number reported by many others to be a SCAM. I am reporting this number as a SCAM to my local officials.