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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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Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts
Scams
Government Impersonators
IRS Impersonators

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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.

ADARKUMA011
March 22, 2019
Hi, I received call from 206-278-5002 today, saying that he is from "IRS Dept". I heard about IRS Telephone Scam couple of months back. I just hang-up the phone.
Don’t use
April 09, 2019
Something has just happened to me 8446909120 called me and left a message said they been calling me for 6 months on tax fraud And since I haven’t responded they are investigating and a law suit will be filed. I called back and it was a lady with a thick Indian accent and when u asked her questions she hung up on me lol! a scam
IRS Scam
April 12, 2019
Just got called from 8446909120. Called and they said there was a law suit against me and asked for a credit card to pay late fees. This is a scam!! The IRS will NEVER call you. They will always mail out a litter. Don't get fooled by this!!
BG
April 12, 2019
I got that call on my cell phone. I didn't call back because I didn't think IRS would be calling me and if they did they would have a real person on the line who already knew my social security number.
Rob
April 15, 2019
I just received a call from a potential IRS scammer that claims that I owe some money and I need to call immediately to comply. The number came from 202.573.9695.
Hi
April 17, 2019
323 825 3888 they're saying that call them back to deal with some issues they're from the IRS they're not scam alert
Mrs. Madaboutit.
April 23, 2019
Just got a call from 209 890 0423. Returned the call and a woman answered but I hung up because I came across the above info. a real person was there on the line. But I'm not going to call them back.
Educator
April 25, 2019
somebody call me from 410 226 7720 and told that all my SS suspended. Please let me know if this real number and organization or scam. thank you
Robel
May 02, 2019
I have received two robo calls asking me for my social security # and to call back at this # ‭+1 (315) 854-9144‬ and this #‭(208) 435-2712‬. They appear to be two different scams in that they use different scripts and premises for their calls. I’d love to know how I got on their lists.
Emc
May 15, 2019
My call is from a person claiming to be a special agent, criminal division. Calling from 281-753-4540.
Business Owner
May 21, 2019
Looks like they have returned to using this number. I just got a call from "Vanessa" regarding the Lien on my 941 Business Taxes. I dont have a lien. Beware and be careful.
hankmaggie
May 21, 2019
I have been getting text messages for "Luce" that she has won some Amazon discount. So terribly annoying!
Bob's your uncle
May 22, 2019
Just got a call from 011 370 5 251 0378 (Vilnius) which hung up after one ring, then got a call about my social security number on a VM from 800-909-1020.Obviously a scam.
Rmanis
May 23, 2019
I received a call today saying there was a case against me for tax evasion. It was a recording. It gave a case number and a return phone number, 202-852-2089.
RB
June 14, 2019

In reply to by Rmanis

I received a call from the same number on the same day telling me to contact them about a case and they gave me this number 202-852-2089 and told me to call for info and the massage sed that someone with your name has a case against them.
SJD
May 27, 2019
I received a call on 5-23-19 saying there was a case against me for tax evasion. It was a recording. It gave a case number and a return phone number, 202-852-2089.
PCG
June 06, 2019
Is this a scam phone number too 817-601-7735?
MKirk
June 10, 2019

In reply to by PCG

Yes. I got a scam call from the same number. (817) 601-7735 Threatening to sue.
lia
June 10, 2019
i missed a call today from 800-267-8533 that was an automated message informing me that my social security number had been suspended due to suspicious activity and to press '1'. your social can't be suspended. this is a scam to get personal info.
Concerned
June 13, 2019
Just received a voicemail from the IRS about owing funds and to call this # in CA 626-509-8332. It seems like a scam!
RP
July 01, 2019
Just got a fake call to 'call IRS immediately at 520-595-0727' (verbally stated). Caller Id shows 825-042-7505. Apparent scam. Interesting that they repeated the verbal number twice, so they really want one to call back.
Annoyed Consumer
July 10, 2019
I received a call from (360) 474-4540 and caller (who's English was terrible) left message that my SS was suspended/cancelled due to suspicious activity. Extremely annoying and why can't a stop be put to this?
Mo
August 12, 2019
This number is being used again. This time is "The Office of Social Security" on the line. SCAM SCAM SCAM
LML
August 27, 2019
I just got a call and voicemail from 1-800-810-5196 saying my SSN has been suspended due to suspicious activity.
LD0467
September 11, 2019
Just got a call from this number today saying I'm going to jail for Social Security Fraud?
Ejoy
September 12, 2019
voicemail that my SSN was in jeopardy and so was my "freedom" from phone 201-852-4789. When called back the message I get was "The subscribers voicemail is full, call back later."
sokau
September 13, 2019
+1 800 317 2645 don’t know much but I know it’s a scam and also this umber threatened to have an arrest warrant on me even tho I never did anything +1 443 737 4754
Matt
September 25, 2019
206 567 9342, thanks to this video, I was able to identify this number as a scam. Thank you so so much!!!!
Michael
November 01, 2019
(347) 389-0647 claims to be the Social Security Administration
Fed UP!
November 06, 2019
Call from 1-800-578-8901 saying they were going to suspend my Social Security... bla bla bla... from a computer voice recording. I pressed 1 to "reach my appointed representative" and no one would speak to me... I just heard foreign accents of men talking. I really wanted to tell someone off but didn't get the opportunity. I hope ppl don't fall for this... what a shame.
Tickedoff@: scammer
November 13, 2019
202-852-4790 called and left a message saying I am be investigated for criminal activity and said press one for officer or something like that.
steve
November 13, 2019
Same old scam, new number 512-377-9817 called my cell phone. IRS doesn't have my cell phone number, lol. DELETE THE NUMBER. Also, the IRS don't call, they mail their papers to you.
jamesyip
June 19, 2020
I just received a call with the number of 1-202-313-7459. a male voice: telling me that my Social security number has been reported by someone that my ID also has been hacked. Has to call this number immediately to settle or the said ss # will be canceled. A few days ago, a similar call that I had missed and went to my mail box with a very unclearfemale voice saying the same incident on my social security number ...... if not call back her number will have bad consequences..... I didn't pay much notice and didn't call back just left in my voice recorder log. Please advise what to do have a peaceful Ming. Thank you
Mel
July 28, 2020
Got weird call I never answer numbers I dont know unless leave voice message. This number left weird voice message. I call number and mute my phone say nothing at all. I call, and call then they say is this mark. I hung up, and called again everytime they would say social security administration. This needs to be looked into and reported so none falls for their mess. The number was a (239) 310-4715
Jennifera69
August 29, 2020
I had a VM asking me to call 202-932-6193 at the Social Security Administration for a suspension notice rcvd against my SSN for fraudulent activity in the DC area.
CrystalDon't u…
December 03, 2020
I received multiple callsStating that I had a fraud claim against my Social Security I just hung up on them I would think that Social Security would send me a letter stating to Call them. To make appointment with SS. I just hung up on them Then I got another call. From number 8148034614 asking is this Mark. I said No they hung up. Found strange. Because I had a text like 10 minutes prior saying click on link that there was a refund for Mark. I get messages all the time. Sometimes they tell me package is going to be delivered that day by fed x or ups. Also text that always ask for Mark.
gotscamcalled
February 08, 2021
Got an obviously suspect automated call from 589 780 5002 stating that I had some legal enforcement action filed against my social security number for fraudulent activities. Said that if I don't contact them, then I'd lose my social security number.
Djavar
February 10, 2021
I just received a call from ph# 916-424-0992. it was an automated/robo call and the recording stated that they were placing my social security number on hold due to suspicious activity.
SDM
February 17, 2021
I received a call today from 1-430-252-7797. When I called back, it was an automated message saying that I could be added to a list to have $10,000 of my student loan reduced under the current presidency. It gave me a number to call (only got 1-501-274 part of that number) to get the website. I was transferred instead to a real person. I told ther person I was trying to get the website, and she promptly hung up. SCAMMERS!!!
Fed up
March 17, 2021
Receiving calls from 209-643-8832 with message "repeating again 209-643-8832 call us to verify information, otherwise legal action will be taken against you" without identifying the caller's identity. did search the number, getting nothing.
tnistu
March 18, 2021
I recently got a call from someone who said they were calling about my request to have an IRS specialist help me with my taxes. I didn't request tax help, but I lost all my tax papers and I didn't know what to do exactly so I thought maybe i forgot.the woman on the phone said if I wanted to talk to the specialist right now to stay on the line and if I didn't to leave a phone number where they can reach me I don't know why they needed it because they already called me and so I thought well what the heck he's online now I'll talk to him as soon as I got online he asked me what the problem was I told him I lost my papers and what should I do there was silence on the other end of the phone for a few seconds and then he asked me how much tax did I had and I said well none that I know of and then he hung up. I mean it's possible if it was IRS that they got disconnected but I then thought oh my gosh I think this is a scam or something oh wow and I was just trying to find out if they do call you at home and help you with your taxes and where do they find the time I need to know that because I need to find time like that in my life
Weird call
March 23, 2021
Had an odd message today. Guy didn't identify himself and left number claiming he could cut my taxes and then told me to call back. He then stated what he said was my tax id number and told me to repeat it back when I call him so he could use it to look me up. Normally the scam calls I get are asking for info and I'm wondering if this is a different angle to get me on the phone to give the info later on.
Natalie
April 12, 2021
They keep calling my Mom from phone # 3204061054 and it is frustrating.
Kevin
April 14, 2021

In reply to by Natalie

Natalie, I have been getting calls from that same # for the last week or two. Have never responded but agreed it is frustrating!
IMCONFUSED
April 13, 2021
i’ve gotten a call from +1 (502) 357-1623 talking about my case. I don’t have a case. They said if I don’t call them back they will take legal action. Anyone help?
Bean
April 19, 2021
(949)204-9158 4/19/21 left a message on phone, call back, no agent # or name, no case file #, told them it was against Law to be calling a childs phone, said give us child number we take off list, I said you called it so you have it, Im reporting to attorities, thank you, have nice day.......
Jade
April 21, 2021
A male answered saying "Hello grandma can you hear me." I hung up quickly because my grandchildren don't call me by that name.
Tay
May 11, 2021
I just got a call for this number (360)236-4946 sounds like a Robot saying your social security number has been compromised. I knew it was a scam because I got scammed few years ago paid them and everything will not get me again!
Imontothem
June 14, 2021
Just got a robo call from Kentucky (502) 569-1478 saying that my Social Security Number has been suspended due to possible fraudulent use. Press 1 to speak to someone. Right.......
Sam
June 14, 2021
got a call from 2085579423, seems to be a robocall saying it is from Federal about a financial transaction, wonder how they get the numbers, just hung up
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