I got one this afternoon concerning lost firearms and records related to the recent bad storms. It sounded legit. They asked to call if records/firearms were lost. A reverse phone number ck is unsubstantiated.

Nothing legit about it.

No. This does NOT sound legit. Federal agencies are slow to respond. Having been through several significant disasters this sounds bogus.

Just one more inventive scam.

I don't think most federal agencies call like that, you'd be sent an official letter.

On a Sunday? From a .gov agency? Uh...hell no! Total scam

Call them back and tell them you lost 8 M-16’s and a crate of Barrett rifles.

Entirely possible.

ATF has been contacting certain people over the course of the last 36 hours. However, IOIs are the ones making the calls not 1811s (special agents). It is entirely possible that some field divisions are using emergency ring down systems. In areas where a state of emergency have been declared, class 3 holders are permitted to secure their class 3 items at an SOT without transfer paperwork.

It’s entirely probably the call was legit. However, like anything else, it’s a scam till it’s verified not.

I think not. I often get calls from ATF at work. The caller id displays their office number. If you are unsure, ask for the office they work for, then look up that number and call to verify.

When the OP said automated call, I assumed it was one of those pre-recorded calls like some legitimate businesses and way too many spammers used. If the call came to me and I had a relationship with anybody at the ATF (inspector I dealt with regularly, etc), I’d call them and ask them about it. There are a lot of scammers out there, but it could be legit. Calling the number left in the automated message would not be happening without confirmation from some that I knew was at the ATF…

If you're an active FFL, this very well sounds legit.

I have received 2 automated calls this week (one from today, yes, on a Sunday) from the Orange County area asking to keep firearms inventories secure and to report any loss or theft.

They make these calls sort of as a PSA whenever there's a break in at a local FFL that has resulted in firearms stolen, etc.

+1 on darkest2000

I get a break in call about every 6 months.

I received the same ATF automated calls and email from the ATF regarding theft of firearms in Orange County. I also received the same notifications about 3 years ago when a FFL was burglarized in Orange County.
Here’s the email:
This is an important message from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Two Federal firearms licensees in Orange County, CA have experienced burglaries that resulted in theft of firearms. Please ensure the security of both your inventory and property and report all suspicious persons or activity to your local police department. If a security alarm is activated please do not disregard and immediately notify the police department as this may be an attempt to gain access to your inventory. Additionally, notify ATF at 888-367-5762 if you find any of your firearms missing, lost or stolen.

Type 3 FFl, I received an email also, from an official address.
I have nothing to report as my area escape serious damage.

Not a call but I got an email about a break in and theft at a local gun store on a Sunday. I laughed because I was one of the first to respond to the break in (it was in my city) on a Friday.

I'm and FFL, yes, if you are an FFL, it is absolutely legit.

We receive calls from time to time, with time sensitive information from an automated ATF call line.

May be wide spread due to weather, or crimes local to us.

Yep, I have an 03 FFL, and got both an automated call and an email from the ATF yesterday.

It appears that they're making these calls to all FFLs in the quad state area affected by the recent deadly tornadoes. (Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois.)