202-618-1489

Someone with an identifiable Indian accent at this number left a message on my land line in which he threatened arrest and some sort of federal action.  No idea what he is talking about.  Quite absurd.

I got the same call.  Seems like a fraud

Here are a few warning signs that could signal a debt collection scam:

The debt collector threatens you. Legitimate debt collectors probably won't claim that they'll have you arrested or claim that they or their employees are law enforcement officers.
The debt collector refuses to give you information about your debt or is trying to collect a debt you do not recognize. You have certain rights to ask a debt collector to verify the debt. You can use this sample letter to request this information. Ask for an explanation in writing before you pay.
The debt collector refuses to give you a mailing address or phone number.
The debt collector asks you for sensitive personal financial information. You should never provide anyone with your personal financial information unless you are sure they're legitimate.

If you think that a caller may be a fake debt collector:

Ask the caller for his or her name, company, street address, telephone number, and professional license number. Many states require debt collectors to be licensed. Check the information the caller provides you with your state officials, or the state in which the debt collector holds a license. If the caller refuses or is unable to provide you with information about his company, or if you can’t verify the information he provides, do not give money to the caller or company.
Tell the caller that you refuse to discuss any debt until you get a written "validation notice." This notice must include:
The amount of the debt
The name of the creditor you owe
A description of certain rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
If a caller refuses to give you all of this information, consider requesting this information in writing or seeking assistance before paying the debt to make sure the debt, and the company, are valid.

Tip: You can consider sending the collector a letter requesting the information by using one of the CFPB's sample letters. You can also submit a complaint to the CFPB or you can contact your state Attorney General’s office.

Do not give the caller personal financial or other sensitive information. Never give out or confirm personal financial or other sensitive information like your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number unless you know the company or person you are talking with is a real debt collector. Scam artists, like fake debt collectors, can use your information to commit identity theft such as:
Charging your existing credit cards
Opening new credit card or checking accounts
Writing fraudulent checks
Taking out loans in your name
Contact your creditor. If the debt is legitimate – but you think the collector may not be – contact your creditor about the calls. Share the information you have about the suspicious calls and find out who, if anyone, the creditor has authorized to collect the debt.
Report the call. Submit a complaint with the CFPB or get in touch with your state Attorney General's office with information about suspicious callers.
Stop speaking with the caller.If nothing else works and you believe the calls are fraudulent, send a letter demanding that the caller stop contacting you, and keep a copy for your files.
Tip: You can use this sample letter to write a letter demanding the debt collector stop contacting you. By law, real debt collectors must stop calling you if you ask them to in writing.

Tip: If you're having trouble with debt collection, you can submit a complaint with the CFPB online or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372).

http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/1699/h ... legitimate.html

We just received a call from this phone number and the person informed us that a sheriff would be at our door in 2 hours to arrest us.  We do not owe any money to the IRS.  Who should we report this call to?

There is a widespread IRS or "tax scam" being  practiced by scammers on both Canadian and USA residents.
USA tax payers should read this:
http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Reiterate ... -Telephone-Scam

Short answer:
The IRS never initiates a contact via phone.
They always send a snailmail first.

Educational post:
This scam is also described as scam #11, here:
http://phonehelp.2truth.com/facts_rev.html

Remember to return here, to 800notes.com, after you look at any of the information at that site, either to post more information, or to let us know you avoided the scam, or to read any further information about that number that others may post.

We received the same message today.

Just called & left a message at 10:30 am saying the nature & purpose of his call was to inform me of a legal petition notice for federal tax evasion against my name (didn't say my name though) and should call back before goes to federal court house or get arrested. Had a heavy foreign accent. Heard about this scam on the news last week, saying if there is any tax issue they would send you something in the mail not phone you.

I've received a call from this number numerous times stating I have an IRS debt situation, and threatens jail time.   I do not owe the IRS any back money.  This is harrasment, and I will notify the proper authorities.

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today warned consumers about a sophisticated phone scam targeting taxpayers, including recent immigrants, throughout the country.

Victims are told they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are then threatened with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s license. In many cases, the caller becomes hostile and insulting.

“This scam has hit taxpayers in nearly every state in the country.  We want to educate taxpayers so they can help protect themselves.  Rest assured, we do not and will not ask for credit card numbers over the phone, nor request a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer,” says IRS Acting Commissioner Danny Werfel. “If someone unexpectedly calls claiming to be from the IRS and threatens police arrest, deportation or license revocation if you don’t pay immediately, that is a sign that it really isn’t the IRS calling.” Werfel noted that the first IRS contact with taxpayers on a tax issue is likely to occur via mail
Other characteristics of this scam include:
Scammers use fake names and IRS badge numbers. They generally use common names and surnames to identify themselves.
Scammers may be able to recite the last four digits of a victim’s Social Security Number.
Scammers spoof the IRS toll-free number on caller ID to make it appear that it’s the IRS calling.
Scammers sometimes send bogus IRS emails to some victims to support their bogus calls.
Victims hear background noise of other calls being conducted to mimic a call site.
After threatening victims with jail time or driver’s license revocation, scammers hang up and others soon call back pretending to be from the local police or DMV, and the caller ID supports their claim.
If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, here’s what you should do:
If you know you owe taxes or you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS at 1.800.829.1040. The IRS employees at that line can help you with a payment issue – if there really is such an issue.
If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to think that you owe any taxes (for example, you’ve never received a bill or the caller made some bogus threats as described above), then call and report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1.800.366.4484.
If you’ve been targeted by this scam, you should also contact the Federal Trade Commission and use their “FTC Complaint Assistant” at FTC.gov.  Please add "IRS Telephone Scam" to the comments of your complaint.
Taxpayers should be aware that there are other unrelated scams (such as a lottery sweepstakes) and solicitations (such as debt relief) that fraudulently claim to be from the IRS.
The IRS encourages taxpayers to be vigilant against phone and email scams that use the IRS as a lure. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information.  This includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media channels. The IRS also does not ask for PINs, passwords or similar confidential access information for credit card, bank or other financial accounts. Recipients should not open any attachments or click on any links contained in the message. Instead, forward the e-mail to phishing@irs.gov.

More information on how to report phishing scams involving the IRS is available on the genuine IRS website, IRS.gov.

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Warns-of-Pervasive-Telephone-Scam

Heavy Indian accent - claiming to be from IRS  202-618-1489 - stating if I do not pay my back taxes  now (I have none), I will be arrested in two hours.  Bring it on, crook!

I did call back and got the scammer. He answers with "IRS". It's a Google account .

I could here other in the background, sounds like a boiler room.
These crooks are annoying!

You need a : CALL TYPE - SCAMMER/CROOK

I have received two such calls but didn't recognize the number so I let the answering machine get them.  Hang up usually occurs.  Today I received a message telling me that I face being arrested unless I return this call 202-618-1489.  Nothing was said about why I would be arrested.  The caller sounded Pakistani.  He did say though "until then, have a nice day".  I didn't call back but went directly to my computer and entered "call from Washington, DC" and found this page explaining the scam.  I wish more people would consider using the internet before getting themselves in trouble.  If you don't have a computer, call someone who does.

I came home to a message from this number stating that they were going to take legal action regarding my tax evasion and that i was going to end up in jail if i did not call back. I tried to call the number but of course no one answered. My husband tried to call later that day and he was able to leave a message (it was a google account). My husband told this person on the message that we knew he was scamming people and that we are going to report him to the authorities.

scam don't call

Just received the same call. Ignore it. Clearly a scam!!

Please disconnect so we don't get any more calls from this number

I got the same call. I could barely understand what he was saying.I am blocking the number

I too received a call from an unknown caller, they left the following message on my answering machine.

That we have recieved a legal service notice company tax evasion in your name.  Before this matter goes to the federal plan goes out or before you get arrested.  I need you to call back as soon as possible.  You can reach me on 202-618-1489.  I repeat the number is 202-618-1489. Until then have a great day bye.

This caller had a very heavy Indian accent. The phone number traced to Washing DC as a Google VOIP

I see people have been reporting this since Jan 9th, does it do any good to report it, why don't they get shutdown?

i received an email with a very suspicious offer with the same phone number as a reference.