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)
Wow I just got a call just now from 202-241-0640 saying the same ish! Smh crazy word
Date: Tue, 27 May 2014 19:54:44 +0000
Subject: Final Notification
From: markwhitedoj@gmail.com
To:
This is to inform you about a legal case which is against your name and against your Social security number.So before we download this case file in to the federal court, kindly get back to us on 702 609 9301.
If there is no Quick Response Found From Your End. There Would Be Legal Action Taken against You and the Legal Case Paper’s would be forwarded to Your Employer’s Place Also.
Captain Mark White
702 609 9301
Federal Crime enforcement Network
I have found a message on my answering machine from ph.# 202-241-4904, which was coming from Washington DC.it was a guy with a very heavy accent who said his name is Max Morgan from Crime Investigation Dept.- talking about a 'warrant' that was issued against me and a family member for some error in my end of the year taxes. Ther accent was so heavy, that I needed to listen at least 10 times to the message and even tho I didn't understand too much. The accent seems to be Indian.
He asked in his message to call him back. I got worry at first, but i decided to call back. I called back the same ph.# - and it showed on caller ID it was an IRS phone # - and the greeting did belong to IRS dept. But the guy did answer after the IRS greeting was over- we had a long conversation - i was asking continuously 'what is the reason he has called me?' - and he couldn't explain me much, but insisted it was about some errors re: my taxes. He asked me to take with me my cell phone, to go to a Rite Aide or another store [i forgot the name of store he said] - and he will give me instructions on what i need to do - meaning that i need to fill out a 'voucher' [probably to send money somewhere,..!], then to take this voucher back home with me, then to meet with a lawyer sent by him - to whom I need to give this voucher plus to sign a statement in which i need to accept that i know the error that i've done in my income taxes. Also in the conversation he said that i did not file taxes every year - which is not true, i always file taxes.
I told him that I will take this conversation to the police dept. - he said: 'i will call the police for you right now'. Then immediately he called back from another ph.number 'unknown' 911 - he was again on the phone, pretending he was someone else from the police dept. I told thim: that's you again, you called back from 911, how can you do this?. He said that if I don't go to the store to do what he told me to do - then a lawyer will come to my doorstep, and the police will come to arrest me.
He didn't call back.
He said his name was Max Morgan on the message on answering machine - and when I called him back his name was Max Anderson. It was the same guy with the heavy accent .It seemed he could very easy change the phone line - from IRS dept. to unknown 911.
Of course, I've realized it is a BIG SCAM. It is unbelievable tho how he can use IRS and 911 as a cover up for his own phone lines - and nobody can catch him. And he continues to do this, scaring a lot of people.
my sister get call today and she get the message and hung up.
but the point is that these scam people are still doing it as of 5/30/2014
same call today but from an officer Shawn Woods- very thick accent... hung up and called back the number same guy answered and transferred me to officer Shawn Woods which I swear is the same guy lol # is 646-351-1239
I gave them no info just hung up
I just got a call for 'John Brown' for the same agency. The name alone sounded like a scam. For Real. I screen all my calls so I just listened to the message. What a joke.? The number he left was 800-982-1278.
Here's another number to watch out for 202 241 9814. Same as above. This was awful.
Hello, I just received the same call. I wasn't around the phone when they called but decided to look up the number on the web. I could not find any info from the number left in the message. So I looked up Federal Crimes of Investigation and found this website. I read the the article and decided to call the gentleman back. His name was John Smith. The man who answered the phone was name Kevin Smith. He explained what the complaint against me was and asked if I received anything from the courts. I said, "No." He said, "OK I let me explain everything to you first. I have 3 lawyers listening for quality assurance . . " I stopped him there and asked for their names. He said, "why?" and I replied, "because I would like their names." He asked again, "why I would need their names?" and I said it was my right. The man started to yell at me and ended the phone call saying, "F#$@ you!" Hmmm . . . does that mean the complaint is dismissed? They should keep heir cool if they want our info.
I came home today to a message on my machine from Officer Jack Davis,Indian accent, from the Federal Investigation Department. He left a number, 309-200-0753, and said that there was a federal case against me. When I called the number he just answered with a "Hello". I had to ask if this was Jack Davis. He hesitated just a beat before he said yes. The case involved $800 that I supposedly borrowed from one of those fast cash places. My case number was 1000589. Did I want to pay it back and avoid court? I said I don't think so! It's not my debt. He had my e-mail and my home address. If I went to court the amount would go up, probably four times as much. He said he would send the papers to the attorney general of my state and a cop would deliver them to me tomorrow and I'd better have a lawyer. I sent an e-mail to the FBI asking if there really was such a person or a case with that number. That was about 7:00 PM so I don't expect to hear from them until tomorrow.
I just received a phone call from 800-678-0507 a male named John Brown. Sounds like fraud to me. I'm retired. So I just hung up and now waiting to be placed under arrest.
I received a voice mail message from 803-900-9401and a Guy identifies himself as "Jeff Brown", a guy with an accent so heavy you could barely could understand the message. Scary thing was he knew my name and used my business phone number that is not published in the yellow pages or on the internet, so he must have gained access from the government business listing database. He also said he was from the Federal Crime Investigation Department. I looked up the phone # on reverse look-up, it did not have a name but said it was in south carolina. I called him back, sounded like the same guy this time when I asked his name it was "Roy Wilson". I said where are you calling from, he said south carolina, I asked for an address for his office, he hung up. I called him back, it went to voice mail, and on the 4th call, he picked up and said don't call this # again. I knew it was a scam, I wanted him to know I knew. My guess he bought cell phones in south carolina, but he could be anywhere, maybe in another country. Now I'm worried me might have my SS# based on other comments here.
Same thing here. Guy called from an 800 number saying he was Officer Mike Miller (heavy Indian or Pakistani accent) with the Federal Crime Investigation Department. He was calling for my elderly father saying he had been named in a federal case and that if I didn't cooperate with him then officers would show up at my house the next day. I asked him for a non toll free number I could do a reverse directory on to verify it he was legit. He would not give one. I asked him for his government email address, which he didn't. I even asked what the official website address was for the department he supposedly worked at...at which point he finally hung up on me. But the hold time he was threatening and kept telling me I had to listen to him or else. Glad I got his call rather than my father. If he calls again I will have a few strong words for him.
I also got a call from a phone number (844) 244-4492. The Caller identified himself as calling from the Federal Crime Investigations Department. He said that an IRS complaint has been filed against my name for not paying personal income taxes to State of Florida for the past five years. He said that I can avoid a law suit by sending through Western Union $1,225, to my own address and and then sending him the MTCN number. once, I started questioning him he said that I need to go to the nearest CVS and call his number from there. He will give me further instructions.
I hope there is a way to trace this scam call and stop these people!
I have the same problem on my cell, they say 844 244-4492 and it is same thing heaqvy indian accent
My wife received a call today (07/05/14) from someone claiming to be officer Daniel Wright from the Federal crime investigation dept. The person told my wife that there was a criminal complaint filed against me. The person would not give my wife any details about the complaint. I wife had a very difficult time understanding him and kept asking him to repeat himself. After several minutes of this the person said I should call them back at 1-800-678-0507. I googled the number and found it was a scam. We never called back but expect they will call back again, maybe using a different number. You have to be very careful with this kind phone scam and not give out any personal information.
Just got a similar call from "John Brown" I am the primary suspect in a legal case filed against me and I need to call him immediately before "WE" show up at your doorstep or place of business. Interestingly enough, "THEY" did not mention my name. I got the feeling that "THEY" have no idea who they were calling. Also, from what I know about the Feds, they don't usually call to let you know they are investigating any illegal behavior. Your warning would probably come at two in the morning as they hauled you, handcuffed, off to prison.
I received very similar phone call today by a gentleman stating his name was Mike Durant claiming that he is a federal crime investigator after questioning him to get more information for what branch of the government he work for he disconnected. I called the FBI and advise them and they told me to report it to the FTC at 1 877 382 4357.
Same type of call I got today, from officer Mark White, 202-241-8309. I couldn't understand half of what he said.
Wow I got a call today from officer Peter with the criminal investigators office.
He said that there was fraudulent activity on my social security#. So I called back I was panicked. I have never been in trouble. So when I called back Peter answered and asked who he was speaking with. That's when I said my name. He said is this your address. I said I'll tell u when u tell me what the warrant is for. He said no you'll answer my question. That's when I just hung up and called my local sheriff's office.
I too just got a call from Mr. Peter William (William...not Williams) from the Federal Crime Investigation Service Number 844-244-4492. Said he had a charge against me identified by my SSN. Second one this year...this time with a different name and number. But the same thick Indian/Pakistani accent. Total scam...and a bad one at that.
I got the same call Friday July 18 2014 I didn't answer becuase I didn't know the number. He left a message stating he was officer Kevin Smith calling from the Federal Crime Investigation Department there was a legal complaint filed against my name. I needed to call him at 844-244-4492 before anything goes wrong with you and place officers at your door or place of employment so give me a call and tell them goodbye and have a blessed day.
Got a call from 202-241-9814. When I asked who is calling a guy with a heavy accent start to yell something nonsensical about an investigation and criminals. It seems they try to find old people, scare them and try to get their personal info. FBI probably have to start to take care of such things.
I received a call from Jack Davis. He was very rude and wanted me to respond with yes and no. I kept responding with "you tell me". He got very irate. He tried to bully me with threats of the police. He wanted to know if I had ever been in trouble in the past or if I had a criminal past. I again said " you tell me" . He lost his cool and told me that the police would be at my door in two hours. I wish I could send them to his door.
I got the same call on July 24 2014 I didn't know the number. He left a message. It was an officer calling from the Federal Crime Investigation Department there was a legal complaint filed against my name. I needed to call him at 844-244-4492. He said I have three warrants for my arrest. I own 45000,00 to the IRS we can take care of this over the phone. I realize it was a scam. He had my address which freaked me out. I told him I am a DOD employee with a TS clearance if anyone would know my company would be the first to know about an arrest warrant for me. I could hear others talking in the background. He has an Indian accent. At the end of the phone call he said a sheriff would be out to arrest me ,have a blessed day.
I wanted to share what I got after researching the web and came across this site and read the comments. I received my first call from 844-244-4492 on July 15, but no voice mail. Same date and phone number mentioned earlier in these posts. Received second call on July 24, but with a voice mail this time! It was the same Indian/Pakistan dude that everyone keeps writing about or ends up talking to on the phone. He said he was Officer Michael Johnson with the Federal Crime and Investigation Department. He was calling because "they" (whoever they are) received a federal case file that was against me and that my social security number is registered under federal investigation. I am to call him back at 844-244-4492, which he repeated twice. Otherwise, "they" would bring legal action against ME! I figured this was a scam, because he said my first and last name, but he used my former surname! The IRS and Social Security have my current last name correctly in their files. My comment on all of this is, if your gut/intuition thinks it's wrong or not right, it probably is NOT! You made need to report it or make some calls to the appropriate authorities.