Nov 16, 2014
I got a voice mail message from IRS agent "Julie Smith" which cryptically warned that I should call her back at (415) 234-9602 immediately or something very bad may result. I called Julie back. The person who answered spoke with a thick Indian (?) accent and said Julie was unavailable, then asked for the phone number from which I was calling. Stupidly, I told her. She then told me that my my wife owed back taxes and threatened that the police were going to come to my house this evening and arrest my wife for tax fraud unless I immediately took care of the past due taxes she "owes." I was told she will spend 5 years in jail for fraud then be released with a "black mark" on her credit. As a lawyer, I asked whether my wife was ever served with a Complaint or Notice of Delinquency. The scammer said "Yes, she was sent a notice by certified mail in September but no one was home to sign for the letter." I told her that unsigned certified mail does not constitute proper service in the State of California. I then asked whether the police that were coming to arrest my wife were city, state or federal police. I asked which section of the tax code my wife was in violation of. I lied and said this phone call is being recorded. "I have given you enough warning!" she literally screamed then hung up on me. I called back, strangely no one was available to take my call and the voice mailbox was full. I'll try again Monday cause I certainly would hate for my wife to get arrested when actually it is me that is in a bit of arrears with the IRS. I knew this was a scam from the get-go because the police and firemen are the only government workers I know of who actually work on Saturdays. Not only a scammer, but a rude scammer.