2132933920

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

Got a call this week with a message left on the voice mail stating what others had except the phone number was 213 401-2878
said it was Steve Madder or Martin second attempt ...federal offense ..help us help you...etc.

Got called twice from this guy  213-293-3920

i received numerous calls from"Steve Martin" enforcement for US Treasury. When i called back the number was not active.  I forgot to tell my husband about it.  Then my husband got a call on his CELL PHONE with the same type of message.  He called the IRS and was transferred all over before finally being told is was a fraudulent call.  Seriously, they must have some information to have our house AND cell number!!!  SCARY

Just received the same call.  clearly a scam, but could see some people falling for it.

Just got two messages in ten minutes from this guy.   Heavy accent.  Claims from U. S. Treasury, threatening magistrate or grand jury for a federal criminal offense.   Wants me to call 213-293-3920 but caller id shows his call was from 530-419-3982.

Same thing just happened to me today.  He left two messages.  I got a call saying that this was Steve Martin (or Moderin?) and were trying to reach me (they did not use a name) and that it was the Department of Treasury.  This was the second attempt and that failure to respond would result in me having to go before a judge (or something like that).  I called the number they left on my machine (213) 293-3920 but it is an invalid phone number. I called the (530) 419-3982 number that popped up on caller ID and they said it was the Department of Treasury and asked me for my name.  I said, "this is the US Treasury?" They said, "Yes.  What is your name?"  I said, "Let me get your name first."  The man said an Indian name.  When I asked him to repeat it, he hung up.   Just called again and said, "This is Chris Evans and I represent the Department of Treasury."  I said, "What Department of Treasury?"  He hung up.  

I received 4 voices from the same number and with the same threat about having to go before a magistrate or grand jury.  He left the same name as well.  

Got the same message today from 213 293-3920. Left a message on my machine.
Could hardly understand him. Clearly a scam looking for personal information.

Pretty disgusting. Anything to get some sucker to give up personal info or wire money to some offshore account.
Probably hoping to get some nervous senior citizen who scares easy.

Got a 5 phone calls on October,7 from # 530-419 3982. It was a recording with indian acsent asking to call the # 213 293 3920. How to stop it ???

It's really time for DHS to take up this matter.  These foreign scammers have gotten WAY out of hand.

This number has been calling my home 3 times a day leaving voice mails stating I am under investigation with the legal system due to not paying taxes from the past.  My 11 year old called me at work while sitting at the kitchen table doing homework listening to a voice mail that her mom could be arrested.
Are these people not in prison for this yet?? How have they not been caught infuriates me.

got two messages. the first time i hung up.  the second time, the heavily Indian accent said he was Steve Martin or Steve Modern also from treasury and second attempt to stop magistrate or grand jury. Tried to call back, rang forever.  Never heard of anyone without voicemail or machine.  Any way, absolutely thought it was scam and still do.  As  a lawyer I know if the government wants you they will write or show up at your door.

If you have registered your name and number on the Do Not Call List

then you can file a complaint here...

Offenders can get fine over a $1,000.00 per call..

https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

I called the guy back and told him I needed his help representing me in front of the federal grand jury.  I told him to call me back on my cell, but the number I gave him was a S.A. friend at the local FBI

Got the same scam call

3 phone calls from 510-356-5746 saying he was, Steve martin, calling from the U.S. Treasury  and we would need to appear in front of a federal magistrate if we did not call him back for help to avoid prosecution.

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

Didn't answer.  Left message saying they needed to talk to me in regards to a criminal investigation.  Never called back.  But for the record it is actually in the US Constitution that you cannot be imprisoned for owing taxes.  Don't fall for this type of scam ever.

Some law office called me using the number 1-213-293-1942 stating I was going to arrested for a so called bad check and that they had sent a sheriff deputy with a warrant for my arrest . They told to make payment arrangements and even sent me a email so they could access my account . Be careful these losers are good and sound convincing they give no history or any background about themselves . So I know they are fake . Just call your local sheriff and police depts and they will tell you it's fake !!