The IRS scam again....claiming to be from the investigation division of the IRS trying to collect back taxes so I could avoid being arrested. I've been called on 3 occasions over the last couple of months by 3 different numbers...all claiming the same...mostly from Connecticut exchanges...all either Indian or Pakistani. They are using Magic Jack to do this. That I know because one of the ladies...obviously a poorly trained con artist...accidentally gave me an "IRS" call back number that turned out to be for Magic Jack.
Got five calls from this number this morning on my cell phone. Didn't leave a message but kept calling until I picked up. Every time I asked where they were calling from, the lady (heavy Indian accent) continued to state that she was calling from the IRS department but refused to give me more information. Kept telling me that there's a problem with my taxes and that if I hung up the phone, there will be a warrant placed out for my arrest (this is after she called and initially stated that there's already a warrant out for my arrest). I kept telling her to mail me the information and that I will not handle any business over the phone because I don't know if she is who she says she is. The lady started to lose her temper and kept insisting that she will have a warrant for my arrest placed out. I told her to go ahead but I still wasn't going to give her my information over the phone and she hung up on me mid-sentence. The lady refused to give me a number to call back so I can confirm that she is calling from the IRS and immediately changed the subject. She did say that it will be a three-way conference call.
I received a voice mail with this number from a lady with a South Asian accent, claiming that there was a warrant for my arrest. She presented herself as Amy Johnson, an IRS investigator. When I called back, she said "CP2000" and "CP11A" investigatory letters had been mailed out, with no response, and now my case was in the "red-banded" phase and there were no further options for reconciliation. I was not asked for payment or for my SSN. In fact, she repeatedly stated there was no chance for me to pay now. She provided a case ID, listed specific charges ("misrepresented finances with the intent to embezzle"; "felony"; "acts that violate the constitution", etc.) and specific fines and sentences ("if you lose your case, everything to your name can be confiscated and you can also be fined $xx - $yy and jailed for zz months to life").
She asked mainly (1) if I'd ever been arrested before; (2) how I prepared my taxes; (3) if I'd ever sent or received money from abroad; (4) if I had ever had traffic violations. To the second question, I answered that I used software and she wanted to know which software and if I am "professional enough" to use it. When I asked what that meant, she just talked about how mistakes can happen and that professional assistance is recommended (she also said that professionals can also make these mistakes).
Much of the conversation was "recorded for use in court and will also be shared with Homeland Security" and much of the language was intimidating, including clauses like "if you interrupt me, it will work against you". Ultimately, she said that following this conversation, she would have to turn it over to the police, who would be contacting me within 72 hours to detain me. She asked "would you like me to end this phone call and transfer it to the police or how do you plan to proceed?" I'm still not sure what her aim was with this question. I said I planned to call a lawyer.
A direct call to the IRS (after a hold of 60 min+) confirmed this was a scam.