FAKE IRS PHONE SCARE SCAM

[Ace-Garageguy]

This has been mentioned here before, but they hit my number the other day. This is the automated transcript my system makes of every incoming call. 

I KNOW all of you are too smart to fall for this carp, but just in case...unless you get a registered letter in the mail, it's all phony. Do NOT call back, or give these walking turds any information.

   

Voicemail from (706) 956-0479

"Hello this call is officially a final notice from IRS Internal Revenue Service. The reason of this call is to inform you that the IRS is filing a lawsuit against you to get more information about this case file. Please call immediately on our department number 706-956-0479. I repeat 706-956-0479. Thank you."

 

[SfanGoch]

Rossville, Georgia.

[Harry P.]

https://www.shouldianswer.com/phone-number/7069560479

[Lunajammer]

https://www.shouldianswer.com/phone-number/7069560479

Never heard of this site. Cool. Thanks.

Don't know if it's just me but it seems like phone scams, reports of victims and warning statements from officials seems to be really ramped up lately. I wonder if this partly a result of all those corporate customer security breaches we've heard about the last couple years.

[Ace-Garageguy]

You can just google whatever number comes in on your caller-ID and be directed to multiple sites that log complaints, too.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Don't know if it's just me but it seems like phone scams, reports of victims and warning statements from officials seems to be really ramped up lately. I wonder if this partly a result of all those corporate customer security breaches we've heard about the last couple years.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to find someone within the IRS who has access to a database of people who have had "issues" has sold contact info too.

Lot easier to put a scare into folks who have had a little problem in the past, and people are terrified of the IRS in general.

Edited June 10, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[SfanGoch]

The IRS never initiates calls and it never discusses sensitive financial business over the phone. The scammers use bulk dialers which make calls out to a large set of numbers; and, any, that are successful are forwarded to whatever destination they choose. That means, if you answer one of these calls, it could be rerouted to someplace like Trinidad and Tobago, Nigeria or any other distant, high cost international location. Then, you'll be charged some absurd amount of money against your telephone bill.

[mike 51]

"Lot easier to put a scare into folks who have had a little problem in the past, and people are terrified of the IRS in general"

IF they've had dealings with the IRS before,they'd know it doesn't operate this way.  

Only people that don't know how the IRS works would be "terrified" by it..

 

[Tom Geiger]

 One month last year, my mortgage company didn't record my payment correctly and it set off a very quick  "Mortgage Payment Not Received" on the 16th of the month, in email and text. "Call Bank Immediately".  I checked my bank account and indeed they had received it.  The next day I get the same notices, so I called them (to the number on my billing statement).  They looked me up and said yes, I was fine.  And I asked why they were so terse with supposed one day late.  The lady told me there was a scam where someone was sending notices that the mortgage payment code had changed for on-line banking, and people were sending their mortgage payments to some scam bank account somewhere!

[my66s55]

The IRS had a data breach again this year at the end of January or in February some time. 

[Petetrucker07]

My wife got a call like this. She called me kinda freaking out. I told her the IRS does everything by mail. And 2nd of all, they called the home phone. We have no idea what the house number is to give it out or put it on anything. 

A buddy of mine, his mom gets a scam call 3 or 4 times a month. She's gotten this "lawsuit" call about 10 times.

[slusher]

The IRS never initiates calls and it never discusses sensitive financial business over the phone. The scammers use bulk dialers which make calls out to a large set of numbers; and, any, that are successful are forwarded to whatever destination they choose. That means, if you answer one of these calls, it could be rerouted to someplace like Trinidad and Tobago, Nigeria or any other distant, high cost international location. Then, you'll be charged some absurd amount of money against your telephone bill.

I Don't have a land line my cell is my home phone and I am thankful no calls like this but I do know the IRS would mail out a notice. Nobody would get any money until i investigate everything anyway..

[bobthehobbyguy]

I as a habit don't answer numbers that I don't know.   I then go on line and do a search. There are several sites that allow people to post notes who the calls are from and purpose. If I see that its a scam I block the number. 

And yes the IRS uses the mail not phone calls.

[Pete J.]

Yea, I have had two common scam calls.  The IRS one is pretty much the latest one and I just let it go to my answering machine.  The other one is the "This is John from Microsoft security and your computer has been sending us messages".  The later one has figured out how to spoof caller ID and show a local cell phone.  When they come on, I play a game with them and keep them on the line as long as possible which really annoys them.   My conversation goes something like this.  "Are you at your computer"  No, let me go upstairs. Silence.  "Are you there"  Yes.  Silence.   "Is it on?"  No, should I turn it on?  "Yes, please"  "Is it on yet?"  No, it takes a long time to boot.  silence.  "Is it up"  No, it takes a while.  Usually after a couple of these they tell me to commit an unnatural act and hang up.  Over time the calls get less and less frequent.  They are about 6 months apart now.  They use to be a couple of times a week. 

[Dave Van]

I like the scammers that leave a message that sounds like a cross of Yoda, Tarzan and Frankenstein!!!

'Call us you must...or fine will be greatly expanded....only call once we will....WARNING!'

I PLAYED IT 20 TIMES BEFORE i DELETED IT.....HOW DID THEY NOT TRICK ME WITH SUCH A AUTHENTIC MESSAGE!!!

[peteski]

I don't think the IRS scam is related to any data breaches. I think the scammers just call either random or sequential phone numbers.  As far as faking caller ID, most of the scammers and sales-pitch callers do that. It is really easy to do.  The best one I've seen so far is when the Caller ID showed my own phone number calling me!

Edited June 13, 2016 by peteski

[Joe Handley]

Haven't had the IRS call yet, don't think my folks have either, but my sister and I both regularly get the extended warranty calls for her Challenger and my 200, they hang up quick when I tell them I already bought one (as did she, both lifetime as well) when we bought the cars.  We do occasionally get the "Microsoft" call, although we all know better.  My Mom's Little Sister gets annoyed by them, she doesn't even own a computer, but will get calls saying there are issues with it anyway.

[disabled modeler]

Yep my mom got a good scare from these jokers....

[TarheelRick]

I also have received all of these scam calls.  However, two of my favorites are the "extended vehicle warranty" which I answer with "Which vehicle" - click - or "You mean my '83 S-10 with 105K miles?" - click.  The other is "Your grandson/nephew has been arrested and you need to send money to..."  Neither my sister nor I have kids, so there is no grandson or nephew; but I do love to drag them on, although normally I will simply hang up.

To be on the serious side, as mentioned above, those who still have their parents or other elder family members need to talk with them about these scams.

[Dave Van]

I also have received all of these scam calls.  However, two of my favorites are the "extended vehicle warranty" which I answer with "Which vehicle" - click - or "You mean my '83 S-10 with 105K miles?" - click.  The other is "Your grandson/nephew has been arrested and you need to send money to..."  Neither my sister nor I have kids, so there is no grandson or nephew; but I do love to drag them on, although normally I will simply hang up.

To be on the serious side, as mentioned above, those who still have their parents or other elder family members need to talk with them about these scams.

I always tell them my 46 Ford needs some work......'click'....

[Joe Handley]

 

I always tell them my 46 Ford needs some work......'click'....

I was tempted to see if they would sell me one for my Jeep this last time,  it's only 18 years old and only has 160k on the clock. Maybe offer to let them replace that rusty brake line and leaky radiator, as well as questionable power steering pump and bad clock spring.

[Tom Geiger]

 and bad clock spring.

The clock spring was finally recognized as a defect to safety equipment and was added to the warranty (wire up the column to the air bag in the steering wheel).  Mine was replaced on my 1996 Caravan when it had maybe 100,000 miles on it.

[Joe Handley]

Hmm, may have to ask my dealership then.

[Agent G]

While working I sometimes receive calls from all over the country questioning the validity of the "Las Vegas Lottery" and "do I really need to pay taxes before claiming the jackpot?"

The scammers are good. They begin their pitch by mentioning they are Agent "so and so" of the (non existent) "Las Vegas Gaming Board". I found that they are combining first and last real names of agents in each of the six divisions. Our website previously listed an employee roster by division.

Then they claim you have won some freakishly large amount but "taxes are due". Go ahead and pay this amount, a relatively small number, to this account and we'll begin the jackpot process. It progresses from there. No one ever receives a jackpot pay out. They hook you and keep at it. If you inquire about how you were picked, the caller ad libs some strange assortment of facts as to how you qualify. 

All of the victims I have spoken to are elderly and some refuse to believe they have been duped. They call me and do not believe what I tell them.

It has been so critical at times I have contacted the victim's local law enforcement agency and had them respond to investigate. I have no jurisdiction as all live outside Nevada.

Key points to remember here.

Greed gets the best of us sometimes.

You don't win something you didn't enter.

There is no "Las Vegas Lottery" nor is there a "Nevada Lottery". I have to drive to California or Arizona to purchase Powerball. No lottery in Nevada at all.

There is no "Las Vegas Gaming Board". The Nevada Gaming Control Board is a state agency. The Board itself is three members appointed by the Governor. The Nevada Gaming Commission is a five member panel appointed by the Governor.

No state agency will facilitate tax payments. Casinos will only assist in the simple preparation of IRS Title 31 tax forms, W2G, W9 etc. Nevada has no state tax. You deal with the IRS by submitting forms, nothing else.

As previously mentioned, warn your elderly friends and family. If any one does receive a call like this, contact local authorities. 

G

[CometMan]

I got the IRS one last year on my voice mail, ( I also NEVER answer a call from ANY number I don't recognize, if the same number shows up more than once, I google it to see where it is coming from) a man with the most common name you've ever heard, with a VERY heavy Scottish accent, said that if I didn't call them back within 24 hrs., (it was late Saturday night when I got the call) I would be arrested by the "local cops"! Once the initial shock of receiving a call like that wore off, (a few minutes) I listened to the message several more times just for the entertainment value! But, there are definitely many people out there that would panic and do what they say that need to be extremely cautious.