Beware the IRS Phone Scam

Yesterday I received a phone call from phone number 509-588-7291. I was on the other line, so it went to voicemail. When I checked the voicemail, I only heard the tail end of the recording which was basically “and a lawsuit is being filed against you. Please return this call immediately.” (Updated: today I got a call from 786-358-0999 that was the same thing)

I figured I might as well call it back to see who was calling my house and get them to stop because I knew the calls would just continue if I didn’t.

The call went a little something like this:

Me: Did you call me saying something about a lawsuit?

Them: Yes. Is this Tracy Meyer?

Me: Yes. (I knew what they were going for)

Them: I’m so and so from the IRS. My badge number is IRM 2604782. I’m calling in regard to a discrepancy in your tax returns for the years 2008-2013. Blah Blah. Reciting some alleged tax code. A warrant will be executed for your arrest. Your driver’s license will be revoked. You need to pay us immediately.

Me: Giggle.

Them: Ma’am, why are you laughing. This is not a laughing matter. This is official IRS business and you need to take it seriously. Why are you laughing?

Me: Because this is ridiculous.

Them: Then you leave us no choice. I am executing the arrest warrant immediately and the police will be arriving in the next 45 minutes. <click>

Fortunately for me, I watch the news and knew that this was a scam. Unfortunately, a lot of other people have been taken in by it. In fact, a member of my own family was. As of August 2014, over 1,000 people lost $5 million through scams like this. I’m sure the number is considerably higher now.

The IRS has warned about scams of this kind. Here are some tips directly from the IRS. The IRS:

• • Never asks for credit card, debit card or prepaid card information over the telephone.
  • Never insists that taxpayers use a specific payment method to pay tax obligations

• Never requests immediate payment over the telephone and will not take enforcement action immediately following a phone conversation. Taxpayers usually receive prior notification of IRS enforcement action involving IRS tax liens or levies.

In fact, the IRS warns specifically of some of the tactics used against me such as “fake names and IRS badge numbers” and “threatening victims with jail time or driver’s license revocation.” Apparently they have even gone further and called back after hanging up, pretending to be the local police or the DMV–with a spoofed caller ID that supports their claim. They also sometimes spoof the IRS number on your caller ID when they call and may even know the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.

The IRS encourages people to fill out an FTC Complaint if this happens to them so that they can track trends in these scams.

If you know someone who might be susceptible to a scam such as this, PLEASE educate them about it. Send them this post. Direct them to the IRS website. If they aren’t online, just have a conversation about it.

If you want to know what this kind of call sounds like, take a look at this pretty humorous video below of one of these scammers and a police officer. The caller says his office is located at the “White House” and transfers the call to President Obama.