Beware bogus IRS phone solicitations for money

LAGUNA HILLS, Calif. (KABC) -- It's a phone call that can make taxpayers shudder: A person says they're an IRS agent, then demands money, and threatens a huge fine, jail time, even deportation if the money isn't sent right away.

In recent weeks, Eyewitness News has uncovered an increase in the number of calls from people claiming to be IRS agents.

Sometimes the caller ID shows these calls originate in the 202 area code, indicating it's from Washington, D.C. And in some cases the caller ID will even specify "IRS."

But it's a widespread scam, and it's targeting primarily seniors and immigrants.

"IRS will mark a lien on your tax including your house, and your car and all your known banking accounts will be frozen and confiscated."

"Pay $52,000, prove yourself, lose your job, your property will be seized, everything will be seized."

"You've been audited and there's this amount of money you have to pay, right away."

Those were actual phone calls from people identifying themselves as IRS agents demanding money from unsuspecting and law-abiding taxpayers who have done nothing wrong.

Sima Nassiri of Laguna Hills contacted Eyewitness News after receiving several threatening calls in recent days. The callers identified themselves as IRS agents and demanded nearly $4,000 or Sima would be arrested and thrown in jail.

"My heart was beating. I was just so afraid," said Sima. "They are going to come and arrest me. And, he says this whole conversation is being recorded and you are going to be arrested within days unless you take care of this right away. And I hung up on him."

When Eyewitness News contacted the phone numbers made to Sima, the person on the other line assured us they indeed were with the IRS. But each time we called, the connection was poor.

The real IRS says that's most likely because the scam artists are calling from another country.

"The IRS would never threaten you," said Lourdes Souss, Internal Revenue Service.

Souss of the Internal Revenue Service's L.A. office says these scammers often sound authentic because they have personal information, including Social Security numbers of their targets.

"The IRS would never do this kind of thing," said Souss. "First of all, the IRS would never contact you by phone, or visit your house, or send you an email."

The people who claim they're the IRS say you need to settle the debt with them and that you need to go to a CVS pharmacy or an Albertsons and then wire them your money.

That's because those stores have a MoneyGram location inside where you can wire cash directly to another party.

On the MoneyGram phones, customers are even warned about potential fraud with signs that state: "Stop scam. Never send money to someone you don't really know."

Two days after we interviewed Sima, she got another call from a man claiming to be with the IRS:

"This is the IRS officer. We will send a local officer to your mailing address or at your workplace to pick you up. Moreover, you will be the sole responsible for the legal consequences."

With our cameras rolling, Sima called them back.

"Hi, I had a message from you yesterday regarding taxes that is past due."

But when she told them, her conversation was being recorded by us they hung up.

The IRS says the scam artists target the most vulnerable, including senior citizens and immigrants, who they threaten with deportation.

If you get a call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, don't ever give any personal information including social security or credit card information.

If you do owe money to the IRS and you legitimately owe taxes, they'll send you a formal letter, not call you.

If you have any doubt about the caller's identity, call the IRS directly.

"Good luck, calling from IRS. Goodbye."

The IRS says sometimes after threatening victims with jail time, the scammers will hang up and call back later, this time pretending to be from a local police department.