Consumer Alert
It’s the IRS calling…or is it?
Here at the FTC, we think about scams all day long. What are the scammers’ new angles? How can we keep ahead of them? We hear from people about the scams they see, and we turn that into tips people use to spot and avoid scams.
But scammers find FTC staff, just as they find the rest of America. My colleagues and I have even gotten calls on our work phones, offering reduced credit card interest rates, or claiming to be tech support calling about problems with our computers. We also get the calls at home. In fact, someone claiming to work for the IRS called my house just last week:
This has all the signs of an IRS imposter scam. In fact, the IRS won’t call out of the blue to ask for payment, won’t demand a specific form of payment, and won’t leave a message threatening to sue you if you don’t pay right away. Have you gotten a bogus IRS call like this? If you did, report the call to the FTC and to TIGTA – include the phone number it came from, along with any details you have.
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In reply to 818-309-1017 left voicemail by 1hitw0nder
Also a thick Indian accent from a man who talked fast and got annoyed with my questions. He called from 769-206-3828. When I looked up the number, I was directed to this sight. He knew my name and address and said charges were being filed against me for medical fraud. He proceeded to tell me that I could resolve the issue then or plead my case at the courthouse. He was evasive when I asked him where the courthouse was. He finally relented and sais, "Here." There is no way I could travel to MS. He then told me if I didn't do either, "the police will haul" me to the courthouse. I told him we'd do that then and hung up. He gave me a case number and a "badge number." The badge number is: 201589 When I search for it, I am also led here. I did try to file a complaint. The first sight was "blocked for security" something and the second sight wanted me to add "a valid email address." I've been using that email for years.
In reply to Also a thick Indian accent by g. olyvia
You can report this to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. The information you give will go into a secure database that the FTC and other law enforcement agencies use for investigations.
In reply to I got the same automated by Rob L
I received a call from 661-451-1055 claiming I didn't properly file my taxes and there was a warrant for my arrest. Bogus IRS fraud
I received a voice recording phone number 1 747 200-9552 advising they were the IRS and need to talk to me regarding a recent tax filing and if I didn't respond the police will be picking me up. I knew it was a fraud because the IRS notify you by letter, but I called just to see what they would say. Basically the male that answered the phone identified himself as a representative from the IRS and asked why I was calling, I received a call and returning the call. I believe they have caller ID and he repeated my address and said that is correct. He told me I was being recorded and not to talk while he was talking. I told him to record this I know the IRS does not conduct business by making phone calls and not to call my phone number again and that I was reporting him to the IRS. He said thank you.
In reply to Just received a call with a by goodyco
In reply to I received an automated by worried
The IRS does not call and threaten people.