I received a similar voice generated message from 202-241-7165 on 10/9/14. Not sure the name used in the call as the audio quality was very poor. Says he is from IRS and to call back that number. I did just to see what or who it was behind this but the line never got through. Another scam number to watch out for! Thanks for sharing everyone
This is some coward hiding behind a magicJack device plugged in at some God-forsaken corner of the world where there is Internet service. He's no better than a common criminal using a magicJack device and your fear the same way a common thief uses a toy pistol hidden in the pocket of his overcoat to make a bulge that looks like a real gun.
You can verify that this is a magicJack number by searching for it at http://www.phonevalidator.com .
This scam has been extensively researched at
http://www.pindropsecurity.com/consumer-fraud ... irs-phone-scam/ and it was found that magicJack numbers are frequently used, and many of the scammers are operating out of India. There is even an audio recording of a call returned to one of these numbers and a written transcript of the recording contained in links from the Pindrop Security blog.
MagicJacks are readily obtainable outside of the United States for about $100 US and can come with up to a year of free calling to the U.S. and Canada. In India, see, for example,
http://magicjack.in .
So it doesn't take long to turn a profit, even if only 0.1% of the people they call are stupid enough to believe the scammers.
In addition to the regular reporting channels, e.g., the Department of the Treasury, the FTC, and/or your local state attorney general's office, you might also report the abuse to YMAX Corp. This is a fully-owned subsidiary of the company that sells magicJacks. YMAX Corp. is in charge of assigning telephone numbers to magicJack devices. I have seen reports that they are pretty good at responding to complaints and may be able to permanently shut off a magicJack device, if necessary, so that it can never be used again.
The YMAX Corp. main web page is at:
http://www.ymaxcorp.com
and their site giving information on how to lodge a complaint is at:
http://www.ymaxcorp.com/contact.html
Note that the "contact" website gives a clickable link to a "live chat" where you can make your complaint.
Just got the call this morning, and wife freaked out, she was really concerned, we have had trouble years ago with I.R.S. I could tell it was a fake. Wonder how many get duped into this one, like the letters from Nigeria. Googled it and wound up here.
If you get a call from this number, it is a scam. Do not call it back. I received a call on June 11, 2014 that said: "This message is intended for you. You or your retained attorney must respond. This is Officer Hada Grey of the Internal Revenue Service. My number is 202-241-2158. I repeat, 202-241-2158. Return this call before we take any legal action against you." The day before, on May 19, I received the identical phone call from 202-241-1366, and by Googling that phone number I discovered that it is a scam that several other people have received. The IRS will not contact tax offenders by telephone, they will send a letter by certified mail.
Received a phone call from this number 202-241-2158 today on June 13th and left a message. Called back and told me I owed IRS a lot of money and needed my attorney's name. That I was not home to sign for the letter they sent me and my driver license was suspended as a result (I contacted DMV and this is untrue). And I should be waiting to receive court paper.
Today my husbands cell phone rang, i answered it, and it was this very same message. It said I'm Heather Gary, same name...beware of this call, I decided to Google it, glad I did.