A recorded message from516-785-9767 shown on caller ID as a PAY PHONE left a message saying they were from the IRS.
The phone number they asked me to call was 202-239-5702. I never called.
We should all call this phone number and tell them we know who they are.
I received a message on my phone telling me it was from the IRS and they had been unable to reach me (there were no ;prior messages, nor letters from the IRS) and were therefore bringing a lawsuit against me --- if I wanted further information on the case to call 202 239-5702. I checked online and one site said the number was a mobile phone; also checked with my accountant and she told me it was a scam --- the IRS never phones people -- they use the U. S. Postal Service to communicate. She also told me that anyone receiving this type of call should go to the IRS website, they have posted information on such scams.
To follow up on my previous message --- I checked out the IRS website and entered telephone scams in the search box. This resulted in several articles --- a good one for getting further information is: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Warns-of-Pervasive-Telephone-Scam.
I copied the following information from that article:
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today warned consumers about a sophisticated phone scam targeting taxpayers,... 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.
“This scam has hit taxpayers in nearly every state in the country. We want to educate taxpayers so they can help protect themselves. 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. “If someone unexpectedly calls claiming to be from the IRS and threatens police arrest, deportation or license revocation if you don’t pay immediately, that is a sign that it really isn’t the IRS calling.” We noted that the first IRS contact with taxpayers on a tax issue is likely to occur via
If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, here’s what you should do:
•If you know you owe taxes or you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS at 1.800.829.1040. The IRS employees at that line can help you with a payment issue – if there really is such an issue.
•If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to think that you owe any taxes (for example, you’ve never received a bill or the caller made some bogus threats as described above), then call and report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1.800.366.4484.
•You can file a complaint using the FTC Complaint Assistant; choose “Other” and then “Imposter Scams.” If the complaint involves someone impersonating the IRS, include the words “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.
Message left said it was IRS and they were trying to reach me. I actually called the number which said it was "Magic Jack" and the this was an unassigned number