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Your phone rings. You recognize the number, but when you pick up, it’s someone else. What’s the deal?

Scammers are using fake caller ID information to trick you into thinking they are someone local, someone you trust – like a government agency or police department, or a company you do business with – like your bank or cable provider. The practice is called caller ID spoofing, and scammers don’t care whose phone number they use. One scammer recently used the phone number of an FTC employee.

Don’t rely on caller ID to verify who’s calling. It can be nearly impossible to tell whether the caller ID information is real. Here are a few tips for handling these calls:

  • If you get a strange call from the government, hang up. If you want to check it out, visit the official (.gov) website for contact information. Government employees won’t call out of the blue to demand money or account information.
  • Don’t give out — or confirm — your personal or financial information to someone who calls.
  • Don’t wire money or send money using a reloadable card. In fact, never pay someone who calls out of the blue, even if the name or number on the caller ID looks legit.
  • Feeling pressured to act immediately? Hang up. That’s a sure sign of a scam.

Want more tips for avoiding scams? Check out 10 Ways to Avoid Fraud.

If you’ve received a call from a scammer, with or without fake caller ID information, report it to the FTC and the FCC.

Scams

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

Fed Up
May 11, 2016

In reply to by CICT

Add this 716-224.-2527. Today got a voice message. Said they were IRS and filing a lawsuit against me! Knew it was a scam but frustrated they continue to do this.
Stan
June 11, 2016

In reply to by Fed Up

I received the same voicemail yesterday evening from +1 (719) 217-5837 - Colorado Springs, CO. I immediately googled the scam after listening to the voicemail because I have already filled and paid my taxes this year. I'm so glad others are reporting this issue as it may hopefully prevent someone from getting scammed.
dwight
June 12, 2017

In reply to by Stan

Got recorded mssg. today from 301-307-1755 said they had lawsuit against me for taxes. Stupid me called back to what I thought was IRS. Told them it couldn't be, etc. Reporting to police locally.
kt1188
May 12, 2016

In reply to by CICT

add these two numbers to the IRS scam 804-661-2173 and 206-494-0741. received multiple calls today alone

ADD
May 13, 2016

In reply to by CICT

IRS scam add 213-141-5163. They said they are bringing a lawsuit against me. Asking to call 347-637-6194. Can't they stop these people? Such a shame.
Eb100
May 16, 2016

In reply to by ADD

4026013486 this number contacted me and a automated voice stated to call the number immediately because the IRS has a lawsuit against me. I almost believed it for a second,then said to myself, The IRS doesn't work that way. That's a shame that nothing can be done about this!!!
lulu
May 20, 2016

In reply to by Eb100

I received the same call as well. Had me scared to the point of calling someone for advice!
Tired of these…
August 25, 2017

In reply to by Eb100

I had some kid that called me asking me if I was still shopping for health insurance,I said what company are you calling from and he said the health department and same deal got a call from someone claiming to want to sell me health insurance but blocked the number they were calling from
loverholt
May 27, 2016

In reply to by ADD

There was a recording on our phone on May 14th using the same numbers. we've gotten fake IRS calls before, but this person sounded older and less polished--I had to listen twice before I could figure out all of the digits of the number to call. Maybe he's a relative newcomer to this fraud and that might make him easier to catch.
0918RR1953
May 16, 2016

In reply to by CICT

add this number to your list (202)552-8622 just received a scam call claiming they are with the department of treasury - office of steve parker IRS
ssickandtired
May 17, 2016

In reply to by CICT

Here is another phone number for the IRS scam : 1-206-775-8307. I tried to post a complaint on the white pages, but it says no such number exists, so the scammer is also faking caller ID's. Great. We can't rely on the gov't for everything; the phone companies should try to fix this, too.

Caller Used Ap…
August 08, 2017

In reply to by ssickandtired

BEWARE!!! This stammer's phone ID was the same as IRS Tax Return 800-829-1959. It is a legitimate IRS Number, but that WAS NOT HIS ACTUAL CALLER NUMBER! They can somehow impersonate a phone caller ID. And this guy is slick, he is from INDIA or a MIDDLE EASTERN Country. We spoke in HINDI. I have nothing against any foreign person, I find those Eastern and Middle Eastern cultures fascinating, but there are crooks all over the world - we have plenty right here in the USA.
KEJ
May 18, 2016

In reply to by CICT

Add 360-208-0783 - man called my 85 y/o mother claiming to be IRS (from South Bend, Washington)and scared her enough that I wish he could sit in jail the rest of his life.

He told her she owed $11,000 and that if she didn't pay she would be arrested. They told her to go to a location (in or near a Walgreens store) and bring a debit card to make a "good faith" payment of $500.00. Thank goodness my mother gave no information to him. I researched the number and saw it is connected with numerous scams.

I blocked my number and called it. Sure enough they answer (in a thick foreign accent) as Internal Revenue Service. I had the IRS FAQ page up regarding this type scam, where they clearly state they will never do what this caller did. He answered I said "are you aware that"...and read the IRS warning about people like him. Further,they would send certified letter first and would also never have you go somewhere to make a payment, or send money order, check, etc. Then when my mom told them to send her something in the mail and then she will determine what needs to be done. He then threatened that if she did not pay within 30 min. police would come to arrest her. Of course no police showed up. I reported this to FTC and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

notme
May 20, 2016

In reply to by KEJ

I had that same call a couple weeks ago. I knew it was a scam. I let them believe I was scared. I got a lot of info from them. Then reported it.
Advocate stiff…
May 20, 2016

In reply to by CICT

Add: (509) 643-4470, caller ID says Sunnyside, WA Recvd 2 calls on January 8, 2016 Message left saying they are the IRS, made threats

Ctt
May 25, 2016

In reply to by CICT

Another number that is being used is (202)239-1646.
allen
May 28, 2016

In reply to by Ctt

Received a call from (206)823-3379 Claiming to be IRS wanted us to Call (206)823-3379 The call in number is now blocked. This was 2nd The previous had no Caller ID and I could not right down the number they rattled off (these were telemarketing automation calls.)
Brian
June 23, 2016

In reply to by allen

Add this number as well. (206) 823-3813 Caller ID says 'Bainbridge I WA'. They claim to be an IRS collection agency for over due federal taxes you may owe. They speak of a foreign language which is not clear English speaking. They called me 3 times Today on June 23, 2016....Beware of these scammers!!!
BV
June 27, 2016

In reply to by Brian

Got a call from the same number claiming to be a police agent who had an IRS arrest warrant. Same voice/foreign accent, They were going to arrest us unless we sent them $10K.....
jjhoo
May 31, 2016

In reply to by CICT

Add'l # for the list: 312-878-9026 received call on 5/27/16. I didn't return their call, just deleted the message. I figure if its legit a letter from IRS would be deliver by usps.
Anthony
May 31, 2016

In reply to by CICT

I would like to add (862)229-1349. Called me at my office today. Woman's voice, but a very bad connection. Says they were sending my case to the county court house. I asked for her to send a written validation statement and she quickly said goodbye and hung up.
havehaditwiths…
June 02, 2016

In reply to by CICT

Add these two numbers to this list: 217-710-4151 and 914 266 8208
423jf82
June 03, 2016

In reply to by CICT

Please add this one to the list, brand new today, June 6, 2016. 336-350-2082
Dharma
June 03, 2016

In reply to by CICT

Newest FAKE IRS number showing up on my caller ID # 989-717-7368, and they insist you pay immediately through another number they give - and that number is # 918-843-2393. The worst part for me is that VERIZON will no let me use my Call-Block to stop them from calling repeatedly. Hanging-up on these idiots does nothing to deter them, unfortunately. And CallerBlock is useless.
James
June 03, 2016

In reply to by CICT

Add (855) 646-7113. The IRS called me from China Lol. This site is right, hand up!
thrifty
June 03, 2016

In reply to by CICT

Got 2 calls today 6/3/16 from 712-208-0910 and 2 calls on 5/16/2016 from 757-355-5526
JMD
June 20, 2016

In reply to by CICT

Add 202-803-4385. 3 robocalls today. 1st call said The IRS may sue me, call back ASAP. 2nd call said the IRS IS SUEING me & call them back ASAP. 3rd call said I'm being sued and agents are on their way to ARREST me if I don't call them back immediately.
JT
July 25, 2016

In reply to by CICT

Add (509) 430-5186 to the list. I've received several calls stating they're the IRS and have a lawsuit against me and I need to contact them immediately.
singley1973
July 26, 2016

In reply to by CICT

Add 202-589-7548...saying doing an ongoing investigation with government and I'm involved and have an attorney on hand and to call them back.
Hiplial
September 27, 2019

In reply to by singley1973

My father had a similar situation but he thought it was legit. So he called his friend bill and he said that is was a fraud.
tired of it
August 09, 2016

In reply to by CICT

add this one 215 623 4859 . they will call back several times, after telling them off and hanging up. have told them 5 x's in one call to Stop calling me. also wanting my cking acct, so they can refund $ that i pd for their services. Which i didn't. grrr
DJ
August 12, 2016

In reply to by CICT

Add 313-209-4925 automated call says they are united States treasury call before you get arrested or other go's to federal court! Scam!!!
PAR41031
August 22, 2016

In reply to by CICT

TODAY I GOT AN IRS SCAM CALL FROM 315-520-1664
chrisrn61
August 22, 2016

In reply to by CICT

Please add 202-753-0633 to the scam list
Add #
August 30, 2016

In reply to by CICT

Add # (213)509-2406 I have received multiple calls today on my cell phone. They are threatening legal action. I haven't returned their call.
Misty
January 15, 2017

In reply to by Add #

Add # (829)463-1183 receiving multiple calls every other day.
punkypoop
January 11, 2017

In reply to by CICT

scam call about purchasing my home. I said it was not for sale. called the number back to see if it was real. rang and rang. after multiple callings it now goes to dial- tone. reverse looked up the # here it is 781-518-0621 Has anyone else received this type of call? now afraid of having my home stolen out from under me. am I just being paranoid?
tish
February 01, 2017

In reply to by CICT

Add this number to the list 559-490-0855, got 3 calls from it today,