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The Kitchen Table

IRS phone call scam

11 years ago

Today we had a phone call purportedly from the IRS. It said to call back before close of day and use this referral number. After dialing and waiting quite a long time, it occurred to my husband that it might be a scam. Checked the phone number on the computer where many responders proclaimed it a scam. Hubby played along for awhile, refused to give info and said he thought it was a scam. Voice assured him it wasn't . Wanted ss#. Hubby said you called me, use the reference number you gave me. Finally he told them he would call back using the IRS number in the phone book.

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arkansas girl

11 years ago

teri, was this in your USPS mail? Or mail as in email? I would think that you should take this to the post office and turn it over to the authorities because now it becomes mail fraud which I would think is probably a felony offense? Not sure but it's something pretty serious!

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Comments (12)

asm198 - Zone 6a (MO)
11 years ago
It's a common scam. http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Warns-of-Pervasive-Telephone-Scam
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
11 years ago
Yes for a while I was getting several a day, thankfully they moved on.
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SCAM SCAM...eventually they ask for your credit card numbers. THEY HAVE NO STREET ADDRESS AND NO WAY TO HAVE YOU CALL THEM. The only recourse, I've found, is to report the number to the FTC. FIrst, register your number on the do not call list at http://www.donotcall.gov Once you have been registered, report each and every call, the date and time of call. It takes 2 minutes to do it. This company uses numbers in many, many area codes. I've googled at least 10 or more. All the same. I talked to the guy today and told him to take me off the list and he said I had to call my bank to request that. THIS IS ILLEGAL, people. According to donotcall.gov, You may file a complaint if you received an unwanted call after your number was on the National Registry for 31 days. You may also file a complaint if you received a call that used a recorded message instead of a live person (whether or not your number was on the Registry). AND I FIND THIS INTERESTING... "A consumer who receives a telemarketing call despite being on the registry will be able to file a complaint with the FTC, either online or by calling a toll-free number. Violators could be fined up to $16,000 per incident. "
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arkansas girl
11 years ago
We were getting these for a while too. They were really stupid sounding and the man had a thick foreign accent and he was sounding all mean and nasty...HA! It was very obviously a scam. Apparently they have tried to make it sound more legitimate! Just FWIW, the IRS will never call anyone on the phone. Their first line of communication is always a letter. I suppose that will be next, the scammers will mail us a really official looking letter?
Hellion
11 years ago
The IRS does not call you and neither do the police departments. Don't call the numbers back.
User
11 years ago
We had one like that. Hubby took the phone and asked the guy his employee ID number. Guy asked why and hubby told him he works for the IRS and wants to give the guy a good review. (Hubby doesn't work for the IRS, was just giving the guy some of his own medicine.) We haven't had any more calls.
terilyn
11 years ago
Look out, we got a very official looking letter yesterday, saying they couldn't process our return without identity verification. We haven't filed yet. Called our accountant, he said it was a scam.
terilyn
11 years ago
In was USPS mail. Husband has been on hold with the IRS for over an hour now.
joyfulguy
11 years ago
Hi terilyn,

Can he invoice them for his waiting time?

Maybe he should try - to see what reaction he might get ... but ... maybe not, if he wouldn't care for even a preliminary audit.

o j
Jessica Barlow
11 years ago
Thanks for the heads up! The was obviously a scam. Good thing you guys hung up, though you never should have called in the first place. Were you aware that the scammers can phone numbers that looked like toll free hotlines but are actually premium numbers. Calls to these numbers can charge you enormously.
Jessica Barlow
11 years ago
Well, next time you guys get a phone call from someone claiming to be from IRS and asking for money, here's what you should do:

1. If you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS. They can help you set up a payment arrangement.

2. If you get a call and you know it's a scam, refer the call to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

3. File a complaint with the FTC through their website.

4. Expose the phone scam by reporting it to Callercenter.com. Submit a complaint and warn others.

Remember that the IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers to discuss tax issue and demand immediate payment.
mama goose_gw zn6OH
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I received one of the IRS letters, and called them via the number in phone book--not a number or email addrs on the letter. I was told the letter was legitimate, sent in response to a scam tax filing. I was advised to return the enclosed form to the address listed, with the following handwritten message, "I did not file a tax return."

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