skip to main content

The Kitchen Table

IRS phone call scam

9 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.

Featured Answer

arkansas girl

9 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!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

asm198 - Zone 6a (MO)
9 years ago
It's a common scam. http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Warns-of-Pervasive-Telephone-Scam
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
9 years ago
Yes for a while I was getting several a day, thankfully they moved on.
Related Discussions
Possible phone scam - has anyone had one of these?
Q
Comments (4)
Jel 48, please don't respond to any phone requests as they're all scams. If someone legit (ss, fbi, police dept, bank of any kind, etc.,) really needed to contact you, they would send you a snail-mail letter. I'm glad you didn't fall for it. I wonder how those people who run these things sleep at night.
...See More
The Lady from IRS Called Me Twice
Q
Comments (27)
I had the same experience as bob_cville...got a letter from IRS and had to call them. No other option. I receive SS survivor's benefits and the letter said I may qualify for more $ on my own retirement account, so I may want to apply for retirement benefits. It's possible to look at potential benefits online, EXCEPT if you are currently receiving any SS benefits. It sounded good to me, until the 75 min wait on hold- and the person I talked to couldn't help me, she was only able to make an appt for me to apply. That was in early May, the first available appt is July 5!! And if I have to cancel or move it, I have to call and wait on hold for another hour or more; it's crazy making. Then 2 weeks later, I received a letter saying that my application for SSI was denied. I never applied for SSI, it was not mentioned in my conversation with the agent....(I know I wouldn't qualify, so would never have applied for it). What a total waste of govt resources to send me that letter.
...See More
New Microsoft phone scam
Q
Comments (18)
I have donotcall and the phone rings once and then stops. If it rings more than once I look at caller ID and if I don't recognize the number or name, it goes to voice mail. We were expecting a call from Apple almost two years ago and coincidentally got one of these scammers. Thankfully nothing happened but not because my husband was smart. As he talked with this guy with an accent and started doing stuff on the computer I googled the number. Guess what?.. Nigeria. I've only gotten one call since then and I let him have it.
...See More
Yet Another New Phone Scam (for me)
Q
Comments (9)
The product I was using was Norton 360, I've always presumed they are on the up-and-up. But I got tired of all the come-ons to purchase Lifelock and a more secure router from them after paying them quite a bit for protection. It was constant. Kudzu9, awhile back I posted here asking if Windows Defender was good enough. You advised me that Avast Free was very good and gave me instructions (so complete and easy to follow, thank you) on how to switch when my contract was up. So when the contract was going to end I did the switch a couple of days before it ended. Everything went fine, I had uninstalled Norton before I downloaded the Avast program. So 2 days after the contract was to end was when I got the phone call. I just think it's quite a coincidence. I'm just wondering if it's a scare tactic. The robot that left the message never gave the company name. Mayfleur01, I don't know what you are referring to concerning ACH, what is that?
...See More
arkansas girl
9 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
9 years ago
The IRS does not call you and neither do the police departments. Don't call the numbers back.
User
9 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
9 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
9 years ago
In was USPS mail. Husband has been on hold with the IRS for over an hour now.
joyfulguy
9 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
9 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
9 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
9 years ago
last modified: 9 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."

Related Stories

DISASTER PREP & RECOVERY 10 Contractor Scam Warning Signs

By Vanessa Brunner

Protect yourself, your home and your finances after a natural disaster by following these tips for sniffing out storm chasers

HOME TECH Turn Your Smart Phone Into a Home Security System

Monitor your home a less expensive way by putting your phone and some new gadgets to work

HOME TECH Why Google Just Paid $3.2 Billion for a Company That Makes Thermostats

By Mitchell Parker

Smart home technology just got a new champion — and everyone is speculating about the reasons

LIVING ROOMS New This Week: 3 Living Rooms That Ditch the Tech for Family

By Mitchell Parker

Quiet and serene, these spaces invite family and friends to congregate

DECLUTTERING Downsizing Help: How to Get Rid of Your Extra Stuff

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Sell, consign, donate? We walk you through the options so you can sail through scaling down

BEDROOMS Dream Spaces: Bedrooms With Amazing Views

By Lisa Higgins

Soaring over the city or nestled amidst nature, these sleeping spaces focus on the most divinely designed feature of all

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen Remodel Costs: 3 Budgets, 3 Kitchens

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

What you can expect from a kitchen remodel with a budget from $20,000 to $100,000

HOME TECH New Strategies for Hiding the TV

By Becky Harris

Its easy to be discreet when you've got cabinets, panels and high-tech TV hiders like these

THE HARDWORKING HOME CES 2015: Inching Toward a Smarter Home

By Mitchell Parker

Companies are betting big on connected devices in 2015. Here’s a look at what’s to come

HOME OFFICES The 20 Most Popular Home Office Photos of 2015

By Becky Harris

Technology paves the way for space-saving work areas, while designers make up for small sizes with style

Sponsored

More Discussions

What are you reading? April 2024 Edition

67

Let's start a chain reaction game -- Part 4

107

Ninapearl -- An idea for my scoliosis twin

13

Friday Music Theme (FNM) Earth Day/Arbor Day

27

Non scratch wire mesh cleaning cloths

8