Two calls today to a phone number that I use for outgoing calls only. Phone number is NOT provided to any legitimate place(s) of business. Call #1 = Message (female, automated): "get more information about this case file, please call immediately on 404-482-9785. I repeat, 404-482-9785." Call #2 = I picked up phone. Line was dead.
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.
Got a call at 9:14 this morning from this number. They left a message stating that the IRS was filing a lawsuit against me. Never got any written notice and have no money to sue me over, so I knew it was a scam. I called the number and got some East Indian chick who got offended when I asked why the IRS would sue me when I have no money. I then chuckled She said: "Did I say anything funny? Thank you for laughing." She then hung up.
Rang- showed up on caller ID as Atlanta GA- no other info. I answered- automated message saying IRS has been trying to reach me and this is last attempt before filing lawsuit. Has to be totally bogus number as I have no unpaid taxes. Tried to call back to ask to be removed from the list and busy for a long time. Finally rang and no one ever answered. This is a scam-block the number if you can and I urge others to also report it as abuse to FCC. Thanks
2 calls from this number-automated message stating "IRS is filling lawsuit against you". Is that even correct grammar? Scam! block this number if you can and report it FCC.