"IRS" scam calls ....

[spdrun]

Some dude speaking in a heavy West African accent left a message on my cell phone something like this... "This message is for Mr. (got the last name almost right but first name was incorrect), we require that you or your attorney contact us immediately. This is Mr. ------ from the Internal Revenue Service, IRS, and we need to speak to you immediately about a debt owed, if you do not return our calls, you are subject to immediate arrest, confiscation of property, and other sanctions."

Are people really so stupid as to fall for this crap?

[t walgamuth]

Maybe.

[dynalow]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Maybe.

[dynalow]

Lot of this $hit going on now....

Tax Scams - YouTube


IRS Warns of Pervasive Telephone Scam

IR-2013-84, Oct. 31, 2013

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today warned consumers about a sophisticated phone scam targeting taxpayers, including recent immigrants, throughout the country.

Victims are told they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are then threatened with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s license. In many cases, the caller becomes hostile and insulting.

“This scam has hit taxpayers in nearly every state in the country. We want to educate taxpayers so they can help protect themselves. Rest assured, we do not and will not ask for credit card numbers over the phone, nor request a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer,” says IRS Acting Commissioner Danny Werfel. “If someone unexpectedly calls claiming to be from the IRS and threatens police arrest, deportation or license revocation if you don’t pay immediately, that is a sign that it really isn’t the IRS calling.” Werfel noted that the first IRS contact with taxpayers on a tax issue is likely to occur via mail

Other characteristics of this scam include:
•Scammers use fake names and IRS badge numbers. They generally use common names and surnames to identify themselves.
•Scammers may be able to recite the last four digits of a victim’s Social Security Number.
•Scammers spoof the IRS toll-free number on caller ID to make it appear that it’s the IRS calling.
•Scammers sometimes send bogus IRS emails to some victims to support their bogus calls.
•Victims hear background noise of other calls being conducted to mimic a call site.
•After threatening victims with jail time or driver’s license revocation, scammers hang up and others soon call back pretending to be from the local police or DMV, and the caller ID supports their claim.

If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, here’s what you should do:.................................


here's what I'd do..... Tell 'em "Go Fwk Yourself" as loud as I could.

The IRS never makes first contact regarding a tax matter via the telephone....NEVER!

[Botnst]

For goodness sakes do not donate to a Tea Party affiliated organization.

[Idle]

I have contact with the IRS about every six months. My taxes are complicated.

This has been a constant thing for about thirty years. Sometime I own them, sometimes they owe me.

I have NEVER received a phone call from them for a simple reason. It is too costly for them to do so. A letter creates a paper trail and this trail is always necessary to resolve a conflict. I am, of course, free to call them.

Sometimes the amounts are large and sometimes they are small. One was for sixty-seven cents.

So any phone call is a scam. Even after you have contacted them by phone they will respond by letter. It is all a part of the necessary paper trail.

[Mölyapina]

Is that a copyright violation ?

[TnBob]

Report the number and message to the FBI and the DHS.

[spdrun]

Originally Posted by TnBob

Report the number and message to the FBI and the DHS.

As far as the latter idea, I don't communicate with organizations that shouldn't exist.

[panZZer]

Originally Posted by spdrun

Some dude speaking in a heavy West African accent left a message on my cell phone something like this... "This message is for Mr. (got the last name almost right but first name was incorrect), we require that you or your attorney contact us immediately. This is Mr. ------ from the Internal Revenue Service, IRS, and we need to speak to you immediately about a debt owed, if you do not return our calls, you are subject to immediate arrest, confiscation of property, and other sanctions."

Are people really so stupid as to fall for this crap?

I got one from the DC area code -west african accent , saying they were the justice dept,, the first monday morning of the shutdown. Just said F*** Off and hung up.

[spdrun]

Originally Posted by panZZer

I got one from the DC area code -west african accent , saying they were the justice dept,, the first monday morning of the shutdown. Just said F*** Off and hung up.

It might be fun to mess with the guy, arrange a meeting for him to "receive" the debt in cash, then have the cops waiting.

[Botnst]

Calling MedMech…..