IRS scam. Here's the message I got on my VM, left on Jan 26th 2015 at 10:41 am PST <my comments are in brackets>:
"This message is for <my name>. This is Officer Shirley ... Shirley Cruz <couldn't remember the name she was supposed to use?> I'm calling you from the criminal investigation <sic> of Internal Revenue Service. The moment you receive this message, <what? call back in the middle of the night, when I got the message?!?> you need to give me a call back on the IRS number of crime investigation <sic> on 415-932-8051. I'll repeat it. 415-932-8051. <Sure, your personal cell phone.> There's a notice issued on your name, and there are serious allegations as against your name <sic> by the criminal investigation of Internal Revenue Service <sic>. As it's a matter of urgency, I'm looking forward to speak <sic> to you. Thank you."
The bad English and foreign accent were the first giveaways that this is a scam. A little research finds that they've been calling from all of these numbers also:
415-932-8285
415-932-8018
415-932-8044
415-932-8025
The scammers must have gotten a "family plan" from YMax Communications Mobile in San Francisco.
I also just got this call. Robot voice that was already talking before my answering machine picked up. I did not think it could be legitimate and was also suspicious of the timing -- Saturday morning of a holiday weekend. Thanks to Erik for the link. Looks like Julie Smith is a very busy "agent".
Today got the message Julie Smith with IRS..you or your attorney call back..time sensitive. Obviously a scam as the IRS NEVER calls you first...always contacts you through the mail.
Got this call, Robotic voice from a Julie Smith, it sound like. Telling me they are an IRS Agent, call is urgent.
Do not respond to this. They left a message without saying who they were trying to reach in the household. The IRS will not call and leave this type of message, you would receive IRS notification via postal mail, not phone call or email. Total scam. Please tell all your friends and family to be on the alert for this and especially the vulnerable people, ie. the elderly, who may send them money or even worst give them bank account information.
received an automated voice message to call "Smith" (the first name was unclear) at 415-932-8018 stating they were from the IRS and to call the hotline and do not ignore this message. Called the number and the person who answers has a very heavy Middle Eastern accent and it is very obvious from the background noise that this was a home setting and not an office setting (could hear children and T.V. in the back ground). The man asked for my phone number and name and then proceeds to tell me that I owe back taxes. I tell him that I do not; he then asks me if I think he is lying. I tell him as a matter of fact I do because I had just googled the number as I was calling him at and I know this to be a scam. He then tells me "very good" and hangs up on me. The man introduced himself as "Michael Jones". Beware!!