I got the call, looked up and found this thread...so I called back (blocking my number) and told "Steven Clarke) that I was aware this was a scam and told him he was a POS and to get a real job! Made me feel better!
This is a Pakistan or India based IRS scam. Do not fall for it. The IRS does not initiate any legal action via phone.
Read http://www.treasury.gov/tigta/press/press_tigta-2014-03.htm
As general background information, here are a few things you can do:
1) Report it to TIGTA under http://www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_scam.shtml especially if you have become a victim (lost money, gave personal information etc.). You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint (include “IRS Telephone Scam" in your complaint). This way you can also help the government establish specific fraud patterns.
2) Help kill their phone lines but not by calling them back directly (the number may be spoofed and repeat calls by you may - under exceptional circumstances- amount to harassment). The scammers use Voice over IP lines (e.g. magicJack (Ymax corporation)) to make it seem as if they are calling from the US. This is always against these companys' terms of service and can lead to immediate termination of their contract and blocking of their IP addresses for future attempts to register. Do a reverse look up of their telephone number (e.g. www.whitepages.com) to identify the Voice over IP provider and report it to the company and/or law enforcement (local police and/or state attorney general)
3) If you are really annoyed: call or write to your representative in Congress. As these scams happen all over the country maybe this will trigger a reaction and provide US law enforcement agencies with the political backing and the resources they need to work in India and Pakistan together with local authorities (it can happen, read: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/ex-call-cen ... mmission-320427). A US task force has already been set up in Jamaica to nab scammers there (see http://www.ice.gov/doclib/news/library/reports/cornerstone/cornerstone7-1.pdf). You can use the following template for your letter (more powerful!) or email:
I received a call from this number but I knew it was a phony call so I hung up.
I also received a call from 202-666-4010 and when they tried to engaged me in conversation I told them that I knew it was a phony call and I hung up the phone.
I got a call from same number, Julie Smith and Stephen Clark - very intimidating. When I googled the phone number I found this page describing the SCAM. I am emailing the address above to report. How frustrating!
The electronic message said "This is Hotline to My Divisionist. 202-241-7314 I repeat 202-241-7341. Do not disregard this call or we will be forced to take action against you. Goodbye and take care." I did not return call but searched the web. Then went to 800 notes, going through Startpage.
I got the call, looked up and found this thread...so I called back (blocking my number) and told "Steven Clarke) that I was aware this was a scam and told him he was a POS and to get a real job! Made me feel better!