202-239-7374

http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/states/newsrel/2010/denver111010.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: November 10, 2010
Contact: Mike Turner
Number:  720-895-4214

Alert - Extortion Scam - Alert
DEA Warns Public of Extortion Scam by DEA Special Agent Impersonators

NOV 10 -- (Denver) The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is warning the public about criminals posing as DEA special agents or other law enforcement personnel as part of an international extortion scheme.

The criminals call the victims (who in most cases previously purchased drugs over the Internet or by telephone) and identify themselves as DEA agents or law enforcement officials from other agencies. The impersonators inform their victims that purchasing drugs over the Internet or by telephone is illegal, and that enforcement action will be taken against them unless they pay a fine.  In most cases, the impersonators instruct their victims to pay the "fine" via wire transfer to a designated location, usually overseas.  If victims refuse to send money, the impersonators often threaten to arrest them or search their property.  Some victims who purchased their drugs using a credit card also reported fraudulent use of their credit cards.

Impersonating a federal agent is a violation of federal law.  The public should be aware that no DEA agent will ever contact members of the public by telephone to demand money or any other form of payment.

The DEA reminds the public to use caution when purchasing controlled substance pharmaceuticals by telephone or through the Internet.  It is illegal to purchase controlled substance pharmaceuticals online or by telephone unless very stringent requirements are met. All pharmacies that dispense controlled substance pharmaceuticals by means of the Internet must be registered with DEA.  

Kevin Merrill, Acting Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Denver Field Division said, “By ordering any pharmaceutical medications online or by telephone from unknown entities, members of the public risk receiving unsafe, counterfeit, and/or ineffective drugs from criminals who operate outside the law. In addition, personal and financial information could be compromised. Unfortunately, we have received several reports of Colorado citizens being victimized by this scam.”

Anyone receiving a telephone call from a person purporting to be a DEA special agent or other law enforcement official seeking money should refuse the demand and report the threat.

Report Extortion Scam: 1-877-792-2873


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I was not aware of this scam until this phone call.  I have reported it to the DEA hotline number.

The guy even gave me a badge number.  Beware!!!

ALERT - EXTORTION SCAM - ALERT

DEA Warns Public of Extortion Scam by
DEA Special Agent Impersonators

The Drug Enforcement Administration is warning the public about criminals posing as DEA special agents or other law enforcement personnel as part of an international extortion scheme.

The criminals call the victims (who in most cases previously purchased drugs over the lnternet or by telephone) and identify themselves as DEA agents or law enforcement officials from other agencies.  The impersonators inform their victims that purchasing drugs over the lnternet or by telephone is illegal, and that enforcement action will be taken against them unless they pay a fine.  In most cases, the impersonators instruct their victims to pay the "fine" via wire transfer to a designated location, usually overseas.  If victims refuse to send money, the impersonators often threaten to arrest them or search their property.  Some victims who purchased their drugs using a credit card also reported fraudulent use of their credit cards.

Impersonating a federal agent is a violation of federal law.  The public should be aware that no DEA agent will ever contact members of the public by telephone to demand money or any other form of payment.

The DEA reminds the public to use caution when purchasing controlled substance pharmaceuticals by telephone or through the Internet.  It is illegal to purchase controlled substance pharmaceuticals online or by telephone unless very stringent requirements are met.  And, all pharmacies that dispense controlled substance pharmaceuticals by means of the lnternet must be registered with DEA.  By ordering any pharmaceutical medications online or by telephone from unknown entities, members of the public risk receiving unsafe, counterfeit, and/or ineffective drugs from criminals who operate outside the law.  In addition, personal and financial information could be compromised.

Anyone receiving a telephone call from a person purporting to be a DEA special agent or other law enforcement official seeking money should refuse the demand and report the threat.

Report Extortion Scam: 1-877-792-2873

I also received a random call from a person identifing as a DEA agent asking me to call back about an important investigation.  The individual said his name is Christopher Randall and the number he was calling from was 202-239-7374.  He sounded very stern and authoritative and indicated that if I didn't return his call, I could be in serious trouble.  My first reaction was fear, until I remembered that I had received a similar call about 9-12 months ago.  I reported that call to the police and then searched the internet for the phone number.  I was directed to a site that indicated that the calls were fradulant.  

I screen all calls now, and I'm monitoring my credit cards closely!

I rec'd a call from an agent Randolf, who then passed me along to an "agent morris", who gave me his badge number.  They threatened to come down to Texas and seize my property, and that someone was following me right now.  This just didn't seem right.  I did a quick 10 second internet search to find that this was just another scam -- from somewhere in the Caribbean.  

God bless the internet.

I just received a call from a person identifying himself as Special Agent Christopher Randall of the DEA. The phone number was different but all the info sounded the same as above! You can call the DEA Hotline & report that someone is impersonating a DEA agent, give the name they're using & the current phone number they're calling from. I've had these calls before & called them back telling them I just reported their number to the DEA & they sounded nervous. I hung up & waited 5 minutes & then called the number back & it was disconnected & had the message for Magic Jack! Too funny! One time they told me agents were watching me as we speak, so I asked him what my house looked like & what was I doing at that moment. The guy said I was either in my front lawn or sitting in my house ... I was about 200 miles away from my house. I also told him "thank you for warning me that someone will be at my house within 10-15 minutes to arrest me ... Is this what you tell meth producers too? That's nice you give warnings before you bust people!" He just hung up after that!

today is Monday 2/2/2015.  At 12:50 PM  we received a pre-recorded phone call claiming to be the IRS.  It went on to say that they have been attempting to contact us multiple times and this was a final notice.  The message indicated that they are in the process of initiating legal actions against us and we need to call 202-239-7374 immediately for more info.  We screen all calls and this is the first of it's kind making this claim.  There would be no reason we are aware of that the IRS would have issues with us and am sure this is not how the IRS would do business.  We have reported this incident to the DEA number listed to identify a potential extortion scam

I have also received a phone call from the number 315-635-9781 claiming to be the IRS. They stated that the IRS was filing a lawsuit against me and this was their final notice. I have no reason to believe the IRS has any sort of claim against me and I never received any notice before this. I attempted to call 202-239-7374 but the number was disconnected. This is certainly not credible.

I received a phone call from the same number also claiming to be the IRS, stating the call was a final notice as they they were filing a lawsuit against me.

I received a messaged call from 202-239-7374 saying they are the IRS and they are suing me and to call them back.

I recieved same message this morning....automated message and said they were suing me! I was like why? So i looked up scams and there it was.... a bunch of people saying same thing....202 239 7374. Do not fall for this ..if you havent recieved a letter in mail or if you have never not paid taxes just ignore cause its a SCAM

Me too at like 1030 this morning...same message

My husband just received a call from 202-239-7374.  The caller claimed she was from the IRS and that my husband has been overpaid $4300 and he needed to pay it back or we'd get sued and they'd take our property.  She could barely speak English and she became very confrontational when my husband told her she was a scam artist.  He then told her she was full of crap and hung up on her.

Received the same call from the IRS on my answering machine.  I called the 202 number and it was either busy or no answer.  I will report this as a fraud call.  Thank you for sharing this.

Same here.
Automated message on my vmail stating that it was the final call ( I received several calls from them but never answered) and that the IRS was now filing a lawsuit against me.
The number appearing on the screen was (818) 843 9427 but the number to call back was (202) 239 7374 ext 202.
I didn't call back obviously.
Thanks all for sharing.

Same message about an IRS lawsuit was left on my machine this morning.  Caller ID said Texas call and the number was 972-453-9824.  They left a callback number 202-239-7374.

IRS scam wanted me to call 202 239 7374.  the call was from 626-574-9227

I got a call from 310-510-9156  on Feb. 2 and made the mistake of picking it up because I know people at the 310 area code.  It was the same stupid IRS recording threatening a lawsuit.  I knew this was a scam because someone in my area reported it on one of our local news stations to warn others.  I just hung up.  Then, later that day, I got a call from 817-649-9068 and let it roll over to my message center.  There was a message saying ya da ya da about the "lawsuit" and to call 202-239-7374.  These lowlifes are IDIOTS - get a life.

We received a message on our answering machine from this phone number. The caller identified herself IRS, the Internal Revenue Service. She said they are calling to tell us that they are filing a law suit against us.  We should call their Dept # 202-239-7374.  This is their final call.

Same message as so many have received-the IRS will be filing a lawsuit.  Believe me, through past experience, the IRS will NEVER call you.  They will send multiple letters, but never call.  Don't let the fear trigger you to respond to this scam.  These people need to get a real job!