Confirmed fraud attempt (IRS script). 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. 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:
Same type phone call I got last week. Different number. I feel sorry for the people that fall for this. Could potentially ruin your life. The IRS re-issued a warning 6 days ago stating they NEVER contact you this way, by phone or e-mail. They would send something in writing. I think it's terrible these people can't be punished in some way. Just because it's a foreign country? It's too bad.
Confirmed fraud attempt (IRS script). 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. 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 think I was the victim of a IRS scam call...still freaking out a bit.
Message left on cell from (800) 829-1040 on 9/10/2014 (women with a strong indian accent):
"This message is intended for Lewis. Hi this is Nancy Smith from the Internal revenue services IRS The reason and the purpose for my call is just to let you know that we have received a legal petition notice against your name and that your social security number. before this matter goes to the federal claim court house and you are arrested, kindly call us back on our number 202-609-7028. Thank you and have a great day."
I returned the call on 9/12/14 to number left and it was answered by a man with heavy accent. He told me that the IRS had audited me for 2005-2010 tax returns and was suing me and that there were many counts of tax fraud filed in my name. The charges range from tax evasion, social security misrepresentation, money laundering and cyber fraud. No money was asked to be sent, but they wanted me to be home so that I could receive subpoena and be served with papers. Also, I would be arrested and taken in to jail and all my property and bank accounts would be seized. The man suggested that I should have a criminal tax fraud lawyer to represent me. Some personal information had been read to me so I believed that it might be true. Also, because I had owed back tax on a cashed-out retirement acct, I thought maybe it had something to do with that. He kept asking if I understood the charges and if I had any questions, but I kept saying no...I need to get off the phone and call a lawyer right now! I really was freaking out and could not continue the conversation with this man so I hung up so that I could call a criminal attorney. Once off the phone I immediately called the IRS from the number on the IRS official site. After speaking to I RS I felt much better because they confirmed none of the charges. I did try calling the 202 number back, but it went to voice mail and the vm box was full.