Large Scale Central

FYI new IRS phone scam

General Discussion
#1

Received a phone call this morning 415 926 4146 (don’t call back) normally I let the machine take it but as this was at 7:30 am I wanted to start the day off right by yelling at the usual telemarketers I picked up. Instead I got an offical sounding automated voice claiming to be agent so-and-so of the IRS and to immediately call back the number to prevent “further legal actions”.

Now I can smell a turd from a mile away and this stunk really bad. Having been self employed for many years I know a bit about how the IRS works and blind phone calls at 7:30am on a weekend are not the way your notified if there is an issue. So I went to the IRS site to see if there were any phone scam warning, of course there were, so I did a little digging using a return call number check and sure enough that number had complaints about scammers trying to extort money. So I have reported said number to the real IRS scam service.

So this is just a simple FYI to be aware, the real IRS will always contact you via snail mail first and NEVER outside of normal business hours and if you have any doubt a phone call to them will settle the matter fairly quickly.

http://www.whocalledme.com/PhoneNumber/415-926-4146

Yes Bob I know, but this was a new twist on the usual phishing expedition.

#2

Folks, my SWMBO is a Tax Professional, and an IRS Enrolled Agent. Having read this post to her, she hunted up the following link on the IRS web site.

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Scams-Consumer-Alerts

There is information relating directly to this and other current and past scams on the site.

What a way to start the New Year.

#3

Thanks Bob that’s the IRS page I went to.

PS they called back, I’m so very tempted to return the call and just laugh obnoxiously at them.

#4

Vic,

I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of any response. We know it is a scam, I would let it go.

Bob C.

#5

Our scam was a guy calling “from Microsoft” telling us that our PC was infected with a virus and that I had to get on line immediately, so that he could take control of our computer and fix the problem. I screwed with him for a while, telling him I would call him back when I wasn’t so busy. The number he gave me, which was in Pico Rivera (part of LA) is controlled by a phone company that seems to provide service to various scammers. Guess I coulda told him I used Linux or had a Mac but that was too easy.

#6

Last year we got a message on our answering machine along those lines. The guy, talking with a pronounced lisp, and with very poor audio quality of the recording played into our machine, stated that there was a problem with “you tax return” and that “you are to call” the number he gave as soon as possible. My mom was concerned until I explained that it was a scam. First, the caller didn’t use either of our names. Second, the IRS would not leave such a message on an answering machine where anyone in the household could hear it. And a recorded message? No, if there was a problem, a person would get in touch with us, not play a really bad recording into our answering machine.

I would guess that there are still folks out there who fall for this crud, or else the scammers would quit doing it. Its a shame that people have to scam money from other folks, instead of putting their time, efforts and skills into earning money legitimately.

#7

Dave,

The days of ‘honest living’ are long gone. The few ‘dinosaurs’ like us that are left are few and far between.

Consider the $1.95 credit card scam. They purchase a list of credit card numbers. Some of these will be defunct for what ever reason. Now they set up a computer program to tap each account for $1.95. If only 100,000 of the half million numbers produce a return, you do the math. Now this is done each and every month. Near 200K each month for next to no effort and minimal investment … Add in to that the anonymity of the internet, and there ya have it.

Our problem Dave is we have to look ourselves in the mirror in the morning. Those folks don’t have a mirror, we do.

#8

Incoming phone calls have gotten so untrustworthy over the past few years that we don’t answer ANY call unless we recognize the caller’s phone number. There was a time when you had no clue who was calling until you picked up the receiver. And that was a time when you got a busy signal if you were calling someone who was on their phone.

Then, as if phone scams aren’t enough, they try to get us via email scams. Again, I don’t care how much money someone has for me in a bank in Nigeria, I’m not responding to that email. I don’t even open any emails that look a tiny bit suspicious.

This will catch up to all of us at some point and we’ll all go underground.

#9

Thats what we do Dan. We figure if its something important or someone we know they’ll leave a message.

#10

We are getting a new problem. When someone calls, the Caller I.D. shows OUR OWN PHONE NUMBER!

#11

That ought to be easy to tell it is a scammer…:slight_smile:

#12

Yep, phone number that doesnt come up with a name, and isnt a local number, gets ignored.

#13

LOL well they called back again, same robotic message. I am so very tempted to call back singing the Monty Python SPAM song only using the word ‘scam’ …but I know better than that.

#14

I got the call this morning. Caller ID said it was coming from a Pay Phone. I let the female voice ramble on a bit about my IRS penalties, then I disconnected.

#15

Yep I do as Dan, If I don’t recognize the number I avoid them. Any more I don’t trust any of the crap that comes up. Later RJD

#16

A few months ago we had one of these scammers call, early in the morning, claiming to be with the IRS. Very thick Indian or Pakistani type accent. Was insisting that a payment had to be made immediately to avoid jail. Had Cris in a panic, so she woke me up to take the call. I listened briefly, then told the guy he was a crook and I was calling the cops. Then he’s going, No, no, the police are already on the way, you’re going to jail, blah blah blah.

He kept calling back for a while but we just hung up (or screened the call and didn’t answer) and that was the end of it.

#17

So the police didn’t arrest you…imagine that

#18

Bob McCown said:
Yep, phone number that doesnt come up with a name, and isnt a local number, gets ignored.

I figure if it is serious they will sick an attorney on me then I know its not a scam.

#19

For these annoying crooks I have a small MP3 module loaded with ITT sound of a SHAY whistle.
Played VERY loudly soon puts paid to the call…and if the telephone screen shows a withheld number…they get the same…if they cant be bothered to let their number show…tough…