Received an automated message saying they were from the irs and that I was in deep trouble for tax fraud. They said that there was a warrant out for my arrest and to avoid this I need to call them back at once.
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 two messages today at 1pm and 4pm same spiel- bench warrant from the IRS LOL - I file tax returns for a living and would know if I am in trouble - I 'd like to Jack with these scammers but don't have time now.
Same thing as everyone else. Asked for my husband but called my cell phone. When I told him I couldn't understand him, he hung up. I called him back. When he wanted more information, I asked where he was from and located. I said, "You don't sound like you're from the IRS." I guess that got him because he said, "F*#@ You" and hung up. Poor guy. I guess I hurt his feelings.
LEFT ME 2 MESSAGES YESTERDAY..... SAID I NEEDED TO CALL THIS NUMBER TO AVOID MORE COMPLICATIONS WITH THE IRS. HE WAS GIVEN MY NUMBER BY THE IRS THAT I WAS IN DEFAULT OF PAYMENT.... UNTRUE!!!! NEED TO STOP THIS PERSON(S).
This joker sent an "automated message" saying that i owed money to the IRS, and had a warrant and i better call back immediately. Luckily I don't trust people with heavy accents demanding money from me on an automated message hahahahahahaha. What huge loser [***] to think we are that stupid?!?!?!?!?! I called back to heavily harass Mr loser and he did not answer unfortunately!!!! The IRS sends a letter if there is a problem. Never send anyone money for anything until you have triple checked the source. GET A F ING JOB LOSERRRRRR!!!!