Mentioned something about IATA and claims to be calling about some lawsuit against my social. Barely could understand him the English was so bad. Didn't bother calling back as this was obviously some sort of scam.
Robo call claiming to be IRS. Threatened to put lien on my assets unless I settle taxes owed to the IRS. Wanted me to call them back at a specific number.
Received this call, sounded like an automated robo-call claiming to be IRS and that they were going to send someone to do paperwork within the next 24 hours. Yeah, ok sounds like a scam to me.
This was a robocall warning me that a lien is about to be placed against me by the IRS and that a "bill collection officer" will be knocking at my door. The computer-generated voice and stilted English were so awful that I actually laughed out loud when I heard it. Here is the voice mail transcription:
"marking-lean(?) on your assets and your bank account is due to your inability to settle your dues with the IRS a bill collection officer would visit you soon to complete paper work. If you have any questions then call our text default line 321-394-9033. I repeat it's 321-394-9033 for personal taxes press one for business taxes press two."
These are criminal extortionists operating in overseas boiler rooms using VOIP to alter their identities and locations and out of the reach of US law enforcement.
If someone calls saying he's an IRS agent and demands that you send money immediately, hang up.
It's a phone scam.In fact, it tops the IRS "Dirty Dozen" list of tax scams this year, and it's been surging in recent months, the agency said Thursday.
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), which oversees the IRS, has received reports of 290,000 scam calls since October 2013 and said nearly 3,000 victims have been swindled out of $14 million so far.
By altering their caller ID number to make it look like they're calling from an IRS office, these scammers often threaten vulnerable people like the elderly and new immigrants with things like arrest, deportation or the loss of their driver's license if they don't pay immediately for money purportedly owed.
Often leaving messages that say it's "urgent" you call them back, the scammers use common names and sometimes say they are from the IRS Criminal Division. They may even claim to know the last four digits of your Social Security number and send follow-up emails that appear to be from the IRS, TIGTA said.
They often demand that payments be made by prepaid debit card.
Once they make their threats, the scammers have been known to call back and again disguise their caller ID so it appears they are calling from the police department or the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Or sometimes when they call, they may say you have a refund due and ask you to provide personal information so you can claim it.
The real IRS will usually contact you by regular mail first, if it needs to contact you at all. And the agency never demands immediate payment by phone or asks for credit card or debit numbers if they do call. It also never asks for personal or financial information by email, text or social media.
If you get what you suspect is a scam call, report it to TIGTA through its Web site or call 800-366-4484.