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

Received a call from thick accented man claiming to be with the IRS.  He told me if I didn't may $2000 that I owe IRS and $295 penalty, they would seize my property, etc.  I told him to "have at it" and show me proof.  Please people, do not fall for this crap.  It is a scam, big time.   If he is from the IRS and they seize my stuff, they will have a whole lot of nothing!!  He kept reciting the same junk over and over, so I just hung up.

They are smart. Tell you different things you just believe them. They change their voice on the phone. Stupid Indians.

Desparately need loan but not a fool.  When they asked me for money I told them why  do you think I'm calling you.  I need a loan.  Anyway ran across this info when number was: googled.  James really gets around

American Loans and Max Daniel are total scams.  He was insisting that I take the loan with a security deposit of $170.00 up front. I told him it felt like a scam and he acted as though he was insulted.  He then told me he was going to "black list" my social so that I could not apply with any other companies for these types of loans.  He really upset me so I decided to search for the company online to no avail.  I put in the phone number he left and it led me to this page.  THANK GOD FOR THE INTERNET!  THIS COMPANY IS A TOTAL SCAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That depends on how you paid. If you sent it Western Union or paid via GreenDot , you're screwed. However, if you gave a checking account number, there's hope.

1) Go file a police report with your local authorities (do this either way)
ETA - take the report to the bank with you.
2) If you gave your account number, go to your bank and stop payment.
3) Close the account and open a new one with a new number.
4) Place a flag on your credit report with Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. This will prevent any possible identity theft by requiring new lines of credit applied for to be verified that it is you applying. This coverage is free of charge and lasts for 6 months.

Dang I got scammed 350. anyone know a way I can get my money back?

said they were with american finance

I got a call saying I can get a loan upto 7500.00 to give them code 868144 its the same guy changing his voice. Its a scam do not do this.

I received a call from this number from someone going by the name of James saying I was approved for a loan up to the amount of $6,000. I knew it was to good to be true because as I began asking ?s about fees , repayment & such I was hung up on then called back 10mins later. They had all my info, smh! What a sham so glad I googled  finding this site before I commit. They will most definitely not be scamming me. Be careful with calls like these.

I am SO GLAD I LOOKED HERE!  I got a call from some dude stating I had been approved for a loan up to 7,000.  I thought it would be legit because I have been applying for loans.  They knew all my info AND the last 4 of my social!  I didn't call the number they gave me to call.  I looked here first.  Glad I didn't call, although now I am scared because they knew my ssn.

Got a call stating that this company would approve a loan. First person told me the monthly installment would be $120 per month. The second guy said $150 per month.  He wanted me to go to Walmart with $150 to send him and said it would be reimbursed along with the amount of the loan.  Glad I checked here first.....  I was sure it was a scam but wanted to verify.

I got a call from  a guy named Kevin Brown with an Indian accent. He tells me he could give me a loan of 3,000  but I had to take confirmation # and call his loan officer to complete transaction.  Then James tells me to prepay first payment of 196.00 and I would get it back with the loan. I asked for the web site and he gave me American financing.net I checked out the site. The numbers ee completely different and I plan to report them in the morning.

this guy wanted at first 160.00 then after i called him he wanted 210.00

Just got beat for $660. Wow.

Wow, they got my boyfriend and I. I made a fraud report and the police are checking into this. They had us go to Walmart and use that friendly card. 410.00  is what they got from us.

i was scammed out of almost 5000.. did anyone get any money back? this was my first time trying something like this and i didnt know what i was doing... does anyone know how to help?  thank you

Thank you for posting this information, I received a call as well and was told the same information, I am glad I did further research because when you are in a desperate situation, every things looks good. You have saved me from a lot of headache. God Bless you

Donna
received the same thing Wish I would have checked them out beforehand. Then it was additional $400 and we got into a yelling match. He also said it was for the red flag on my credit and the way it stood I could not get a loan for 20 years WHAT A SCAM. REPORT to www.IC3.gov, www.FTC.org and to the bank since they have ALL your information,lastly file a police report. They have locations all over Kansas and other states.  This ring needs to be broken up. Who knows how much they are making every day off us consumers! And boy do I feel stupid!

They keep calling me too . American Payday Loans  or Cash America

I received a call this morning. Asked to put $295 on a vanilla reload network card. I put it on a vanilla visa. He called me back & said that the credit companies have a red flag on me & I need to send in 745 to get the flag removed. Uh. Think ill just hang on to this money. Consolidate & save a headache

kara do u knw the web address because my friend fell for it and im trying to find them thank u

James called me this morning. He said I was approved for a loan but since my credit score is so low that I needed to send in my first monthly payment. He wanted me to get some prepaid visa to send in the payment but when I explained to him I live in a small town and only had a western union here he said I could send it that way. He also said not to tell them (western union teller) that I was sending money to a loan company or they would charge me extra. He also said i could take the western union fee out of my payment and that I would recieve my loan plus get the payment I sent in on my card within the hour after sending it. Im glad I checked into this a little more. Im a single mom with two kids, their dad left us with nothing and I was really hoping that i could get this loan so that I could get us a house and get the car fixed. Im happy I didnt send anything because I couldnt afford to loose any money right now. Is there any company out there that can give me a loan with low monthly payments

I been getting call from n every time the price goes up dont mess wit them

Scam terrorist threats and sexual harassment name used James Anderson and matt brown

Thanks for this information.  I talk to some man this morning.  He was promising a loan etc.  I knew it was to good to be true.  I am thankful I did not give him any account info.

Thanks

Paulete

These guys are after one thing and one thing only - your money!  They call promising you a loan, a willingness to send $10,000 within one hour with no agreement and no credit check.  All you have to do is give them your bank account number so they can wipe your account out.  It's as simple and disgusting as that.

Called 4x...after I specifically said...and screamed into the phone after the 4th time....to NOT CALL ME!!! Middle Eastern, Indian accent, claiming I filled out loan paperwork with their company....I am reporting this number ASAP!

Thay will scam u out of your money!