Voicemail message claimed to be from the IRS regarding a criminal issue. Returned the call which was answered by someone with a thick foreign accent. When I asked to speak to someone who I can understand, she said I was dumb. Total scam.
Voicemail message claimed to be from the IRS regarding a criminal issue. Returned the call which was answered by someone with a thick foreign accent. When I asked to speak to someone who I can understand, she said I was dumb. Total scam.
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. 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.
Received a call from a supposed IRS Officer Heather Gray. Voice mail was very difficult to understand as the caller could barely pronounce the words on the script she was reading.
This scam is targeting US citizens with foreign sounding last names.
The IRS does not communicate by phone - only by mail.
I called the number and spoke with someone pretending to be a Rose Wilson IRS badge number 10000 in the Washington DC office. I explained to her that impersonating an IRS officer is a federal crime.
I have previously contacted YMAX and they basically told me to go jump in a lake. So I'm filing complaints with the Florida Attorney General and the BBB in Florida.