I received two messages on my answering machine from a Dennis Gray with the United States Treasury Dept. regarding a so-called "Federal Criminal Offense" and the need to appear before a grand jury! I was suspicious right away because he said "We are trying to contact you regarding..." But did not say a name. He left a regular phone number and not an 800 number. I would think if it were a matter this serious, they would have sent a subpoena long before calling!
Same thing just happened to me. Indian accent and all. Didn't ask for anyone but mentioned a federal criminal case. I tried to call back and the number is disconnected. Definitely a scam.
I got a call from this number but didn't pick up. It was man with an Indian accent. He left a message saying there was a case pending on a federal criminal case brought by the U.S. treasury dept and someone needed to call back immidietly. Never said who he was calling for though. I only called back because I get a good bit of calls for some lady named Debra that a lot of debt collectors are looking for. I mainly wanted to tell them wrong number stop calling here. When I dialed this number a very odd recording said "this number is disconnected. Then said the first four digits of my phone number and said "this is a recording".
Definitely a scam. So annoying.
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.