(916) 845-3118

Received an attempted phone call to a Pinger text only message number I have never given to the Franchise Tax Board. Since its a text only platform, the call didn't go through. I didn't recognize the number, but it was a (916) Sacramento number, so it could be the state trying to contact me for some reason, so I googled it, and found from this and other sites that the caller is identifying themselves as from the California Franchise Tax Board. Based on comments from other sites, it appears to be an identity thief trying to get personal information.

But out of an excess of caution, I called the Identity Fraud Hotline number at the Franchise Tax Board at (916) 845-7088 to see if they could tell me if it was a legitimate number or not. They could not confirm that it was a legitimate FTB number. Doesn't mean its not, but also doesn't mean it is. The operator also told me that the only reason they would be calling me would be if I owed them money (I do not) or if I had sent them something asking them to contact me (I did not). He also said that if someone had tried to contact me, there should be a notation in my file. There was no such notation, and I can think of no reason the state would be trying to call me.

His recommendation was that I *not* return the call, and wait to see if I actually receive a legitimate letter from the Franchise Tax Board. He said if there was a legitimate contact effort, I should receive written communication. So I recommend that's what you do, too, don't give them any information, don't return a missed call, and just wait to see if you receive correspondence from the FTB.

I just had a conversation with a representative of the Calif. FTB. The calls to me this morning from 916-845-3118 were legitimate and she verified that there is such a person on the FTB who called and talked to me.

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