Federal Crimes of Investigation Office - scam phone call
Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 3:05PM 
Funny story. Just as I was leaving to meet a friend for lunch today I got a call from a number I didn't recognize in Washington state - 206-259-6363. A man with an Indian (perhaps Pakistani) accent told me he was an officer from the Federal Crimes of Investigation Office and that I needed to give him all my personal information to verify my identity.
"I'm sorry, the federal what?" I asked
"The Federal Crimes of Investigation Office," he repeated, "And this is very serious, so you need to give me all of your information immediately or be arrested in the next 24 hours."
"Um, no."
"Ma'am, don't make this worse. I already have your social security number, xxx-xx-xxxx." (Which was actually my social security number.)
"Actually, you give me all your personal information and I will call back to verify you are who you say you are," I irritably demanded back."What is your badge number?"
"My badge number is 72."
"Your badge number is seventy-two?! Oh really. And what is your name?"
"My name is Officer Sam Smith. The Federal Crimes of Investigation Office is a division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation."
"OK, Officer Sam Smith with badge number 72, I'll get back to you after I've had a word with the FBI."
I hung up on him. Then I dialed back the area code 206 number he called me from thinking it would be a spoofed number, and to my surprise, he answered the phone.
"Are you kidding me with this, you really think I'm falling for this?"
"Don't make this worse ma'am, you are in very big trouble, I have a signed affidavit here saying you are guilty of wire fraud and our state doesn't take that lightly."
"Oh really? Wire fraud, from your office in Washington state ... not Washington, D.C., correct?"
"Yes, and if you do not cooperate, I will next call your bank and freeze your assets and you won't be able to withdraw one penny."
"Well, I compliment you on your English, but go screw yourself," I replied as he hung up on me.
I then looked up the number for the local New York FBI office and was transferred to an officer who was very nice. The FBI agent said, "No, that is a scam, don't give him any information at all." I told him that's what I suspected, but that the man -- er, I'm sorry, Officer Sam Smith -- had my actual social security number. "Oh, well, you should call the Social Security Administration right away and let them know somebody has it."
The entire time I was on the phone, I received incoming calls from the number "911."
After giving the phone number and information, I hung up with the actual FBI and called back the fake FCIO 'officer.'
"I've just spoken with the FBI and reported everything you've done today, they say it's a scam."
"Ma'am, this is not a scam."
"And I don't have time for this, good luck with that."
Once I hung up he never called back. But, sigh, now I have to report that my social security number has been stolen to the credit bureaus, the SSA, and who knows who else.
At least lunch was really good.
For more on identitfy theft and other scams like this, the FBI has an information page here.
You can also submit an online tip to the FBI here if you've been victimized.
Reader Comments (118)
Same thing happened to me: 'officer Allen Walton" (heavy african accent) from the federal bureau of crime investigation. Said that that I had three complaints against me from the IRS and that they could help me. When I declined, he got nasty and said that an officer was on his way to arrest me if i didn't cooperate with them. I told him that he was full of crap and I was calling the FBI.
My husband answered a call yesterday from 202-800-9954 with a guy saying his name was Mike Anderson with Federal Crime Investigation and it was someone without an accent (sounded American) and said same thing about how he needed to talk to me and that I was very important I call back because I was under investigation. When my husband pressed him for more info on who he was, he repeated that he needed to talk to me immediately and just hung up. Funny thing also is that the phone he called was not under my name so not sure where they are getting this but a bit concerning. Definitely a scam. Never ever give personal info over the phone! Might want to put a freeze on your credit reports as well.
We got a voice mail on my land line from a woman with a Spanish accent, who said she was with the Federal Criminal Investigation Dept. and she knew my wife's name and my name and said that there was a warrant for our arrest and to call back. I have caller ID and the number is the same one that other callers have gotten: 424-210-3580. However, my wife got very upset and was really worried. The bastards are causing havoc with our lives and getting away with it. I called them back but no one picked up. The bastards must be asleep. I plan to report them to the FBI as we are law abiding citizens and dont need this kind of harassment. We cant let them get away with it, and it makes me so angry to think that they are messing around with us. They are messing with the wrong people..
I just got a call from Federal crimes Investigation thye person who had Indian/Pakistani accent got my name and transfered me to "oficer Shawn Marshall" from Federal crimes Investigation on inquiring he gave me his badge #3592 and that I should not interrupt that he knows where I live (at that time he became abnoxiously loud) and that I have 3 cases against me and this is an on going investigation and that I should cooprate, upon saying that he was harressing he hung up after saying you wait and see. I called in local PD and they are looking into it.
I got a call today from someone claiming to be a Federal crimes Investigation officer. He said that they had arrest warrants and had 3 charges against me. All 3 charges had to do with IRS. He connected me to another person named Justin Hall.
I asked them for their phone number and names. The phone number they gave me was 7322002563; names were Justin Hall and Allen Carder. I was in a hurry to get out and hung up on them before they could continue.
After a few minutes, I called them from a different number and someone answered the phone. The person who initiated the call seemed to have an accent but I could not figure it out. I was a bit scared and called local police. They said that it is a scam and nothing can be done as these people throw away their numbers.
I wish something could be done to stop this type of harassment. Hope this posting will help others.
My husband and I have been dealing with this for months now. They have called none stop and have even sent email. Yesterday I got an email stating that there was a warrant for my husband. Now my father works with the police department and has looked everything up and shows no charges or warrants for my husband at all. We have blocked and called PD and FBI to report. He has gone by Mike, Mark, and now Kelly from multiple numbers just like today's was 201-203-7843. In the email the name was Frank Hamilton who was a lawyer with an aol.com email address and the signed judge name is unclear who "signed" it but it looks to be like a Christian or Christopher and I can read the last name.
One of my employee got screwed for $10,000 Yesterday .It was so sad he saved this money last year by driving truck and it went away just like that
Someone called him from 202 area code told him he owe IRS this money if he won't pay it today he will be arrested and deported back to India. They told him he can't talk to anyone because he is being recorded they stayed with him on the phone the whole time. This poor guy is not so clever he fell into traps so easily.
That is so messed up can't believe this happened to him
We even has a voicemail on my wife's phone from lady name Linda Scott.she left a voicemail that we need to call back at 802-464-8643, otherwise she will be arrested.
I called back this morning same lady on the voicemail picked up the phone I told her I got a call from u last night and she replied
u got a wrong number
I just had the same type off call, only they were asking for someone who has never lived at my phone number. We have been dealing with collection calls for the same person for the past 7 years. They called from 202-800-8554. "Officer" Laura Woods with a very thick accent. The guy kept asking if I wanted to be his friend and if I was married. These people need to get a life and real job.
MAr04 the guy still is calling.... I got a call this morning thought it was a sales call so didnot pick up then heard the message saying that I have a criminal case filed against me and if I donot call back and talk to Justin Hall within 30 min. I will have police at my door step to arrest me(he had my home address). So I call back and talk to Justin Hall He tells me I have 2 charges against me started with 2011 Tax return not filed. I said, me and my husband file joint returns through an accountant so can`t be possible we have missed 2011 and secondly since we file joint why is the case filed against only me? He said he has my husband`s info too and spelled out his name which was misspelled so I asked him to spell my husbands last name which is different from mine. He spelled same as mine thats when he realised that he has been caught and hung up before a say a word.
Got a call a couple of days ago from the federal department. Basically he fail to mention which department and ID. So this creep (sorry) is suppose to call back at the end of the Month. The number which he called from was 7178899995. Has anyone gotten a call from this number?
last night i got a call from 202-239-6259, Washington DC, and the indian guy said he work for the Dept of Investigation from the IRS.
THIC IS A SCAM.
Last night i got a call from 202-239-6259, Washington DC, and the indian guy said he work for the Dept of Investigation from the IRS.
THIS IS A SCAM. pls don't waste your time on this.
Last night i got a call from 202-239-6259, Washington DC, and the indian guy said he work for the Dept of Investigation from the IRS.
THIS IS A SCAM. pls don't waste your time on this
Same hapened to me today! an indian guy left me a phone message saying that his name is Eskivo Nacho.He left his number which is 646 -396-9686.From his accent and the way he talked ,it seemed he is a SCAMMER.The number is in New York City.What do they think ??? Are we Naive or Stupid ???HAHAHAHAHA
I just received a call today April 1, 2014 I didn't answer because I did not recognized the number (914-363-4706) . His name was Alex Watkins from the Federal Crime Investigation Bureau (at least that's what he said????) . He had a Indian/Pakistan accent and I had to play the recording a couple of times to understand what he was saying. I looked up where he said he was from and came across this blogger. Reading the first couple of comments blew me away, being that it is so exact to what I received!!! With me owning a business I get calls from all over. when I get out of state numbers I let them leave and a message than I call back, but this was really strange. APRIL FOOL didn't get me. LOL
I received a call today from number 646-396-9686, from some one claiming he is from Federal Crimes Investigation. He said there are three pending cases against me for violation federal tax laws. He asked me if my county sheriff has contacted me about this. I said no. He then transferred me to some one he claimed is an officer( I miss the name he quoted). The office came online after a few seconds and gave me the same BS and mentioned that he is going to ask me few questions and that there are others present on the call, and my answers are subject to an oath to being truthful (some BS like that). I told him, I will call my attorney to contact him. He immediately hung up.
In retrospect, I should have probed a little bit to see what information they already have about me.
I have got a call three times in three days from these folks with heavy accent talking about being in trouble. They say they are from federal crime investigation department and have an affidavit. Keep saying that since you did not respond, this is the final call and they have said that it is a final call two times already. The numbers they are asking me to call back on: 2024596029, 2028641140. Some officer Rich jobs. JOKERS!
Fuck these towel head robe wearing sand nigga faggots I'm a black man by the way I keep getting emails from the feds but when I called the number some sand nigga picked saying they were going to freeze my accounts take me to court bitch i just got out I think if the feds wanted me they know where to find me I said the guy tried to explaine so I asked to speak to an American a white person that speaks American English let me speak to one of my people they couldn't produce a true American to my satisfaction any federal government or state offices are full of white folks not sand niggaz if a sand nigga calls or email you claiming to be a fed investigator with a double digit badge # its a fuckin towelhead robe wearing terrorist fuck ala bitches suck my American
dick gihad
I received the call today from 202-241-4904 and the person claimed its time sensitive and even he can not pronounce my name. He never mentioned my last name.
I just got the same call today from a "senior IRS officer" i told him to go fuck himself. caller id number was 2012037843
I got the same call to message recorder. The caller id showed "Anonymous" but the female caller provided the following number for Federal Crime Investigation.
646-937-9955
When I called back, she provided me the address as follows;
674 Skyline Drive, New York City, NY.
I just got the same call tonight from #: 325-500-0066. Idiot called himself officer Nick Flemming and told me he was with the Financial Crkme and Investigation Dept. With the Federal Government. He even gave me a federal Case Number. Good thing I work with attorneys but I did report this!
Got the similar message on my voicemail from Officer Jacks at ... pause for the few seconds ... then say Federal Criminal Investigative Department. Thick accent and talked fast, had to listen several times and still could not understand everything except for the "Federal Case against you" and gave the case number really fast and can't clearly make out the number even after several replay. Phone number is from 202-546-8934 in Washington DC.
HELLLO! JUST JOINING THE CROWD HERE.. I CAME HOME TO THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE WHICH CAME FROM NUMBER 202 / 241 - 0697. THE SCAM CALL CAME FROM A "STACY THOMSON" claiming that she was calling FROM THE CRIMINAL INVESTRIGATION BUREAU AND THAT THERE WAS A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO MY ACTIVITIES AND THAT LEGAL ACTIONS HAD BEGUN AGAINST ME. STACEY WAS URGING THAT I CALL IF I WANTED TO KNOW THE DETAILS. (I DID NOT.) I CALLED THE FBI AND WAS TOLD TO IGNORE IT. THE FBI SAYS THERE IS NO SUCH DIVISION AND THESE SCAMS ARE ALL TOO COMMON.
I received a call last week from 202-864-1148 - a guy with Pakistani accent said he is calling from "crime investigation department, Washington DC". I have heard about this fraud already, so I asked him which division does that department fall under, he kept repeating "crime investigation department, washington dc". When I told him there is no such department in the US government, he hung up.