MorningPerson
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,503
Location: Central Pennsylvania
Jul 4, 2014 21:35:44 GMT
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Post by MorningPerson on Dec 9, 2014 14:30:22 GMT
I just got a phone call from the Internal Revenue Service in Washington DC informing me that there's a big problem with my tax returns from 2008 to 2012, and I could potentially be in huge legal trouble. At least I think that's what he said. His (Indian?) accent was so thick that I'm not really sure. I think it was the same guy who called me from Microsoft several times in the past year offering to help get rid of a virus on my computer. ETA: What scam will these guys come up with next?
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,689
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Dec 9, 2014 14:32:22 GMT
Doesn't the IRS inform you about your return in paper/letter form.
DO NOT GIVE OUT ANY INFORMATION!
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Post by krc11 on Dec 9, 2014 14:35:51 GMT
haha. good one! I heard Microsoft in India had a layoff but the IRS was happy to employ those people with their telephone and English skills.
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Post by miominmio on Dec 9, 2014 14:38:15 GMT
Ohh, be careful, otherwise the FBI will make a house call;-). At least that's what they told my mom, and we don't even live in the US.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 26, 2024 3:29:19 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2014 14:38:26 GMT
I've had the same thing happen to me and it unnerved me for a bit. Then I looked it up and found out it was a scam...what a relief!
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MorningPerson
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,503
Location: Central Pennsylvania
Jul 4, 2014 21:35:44 GMT
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Post by MorningPerson on Dec 9, 2014 14:38:48 GMT
Doesn't the IRS inform you about your return in paper/letter form.
DO NOT GIVE OUT ANY INFORMATION! Sorry, I should have made it more clear that I was more amused by this call than anything. Although he did tell me that the reason he was calling was because they tried to come to my house to deliver the important papers on July 26, August 14 and August 16 (or something like that) but no one was home.
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Post by moonglowe21 on Dec 9, 2014 14:41:11 GMT
You and I can share a jail cell, lol! I get fake calls from them all the time. It's usually a voicemail that goes something like "If I don't hear from you or from your attorney, then all I can do for you is, I wish you luck" LOLOLOL! It sounds like an Indian accent, but at the same time, it sounds mostly like a robot so who knows!
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lindas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,146
Jun 26, 2014 5:46:37 GMT
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Post by lindas on Dec 9, 2014 14:53:39 GMT
We were getting those calls repeatedly a few months ago so DH decided to return the call one day. He played their game for a few minutes then threatened to report them to the police and the IRS fraud division. They hung up so he called back acting like they had been disconnected. He did this about 3 or 4 times but they kept hanging up. We've never gotten a call since. You had to be here, it was hysterical.
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Post by beachbum on Dec 9, 2014 14:57:44 GMT
He told me I needed to contact my attorney. I told him he was sitting right next to me, since my DH was a circuit court judge. Somehow we got disconnected!!! Scum.
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scrappinghappy
Pearl Clutcher
“I’m late, I’m late for a very important date. No time to say “Hello.” Goodbye. I’m late...."
Posts: 4,306
Jun 26, 2014 19:30:06 GMT
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Post by scrappinghappy on Dec 9, 2014 14:58:01 GMT
I got one and called them back. I pretended to be an attorney for my client and told them I'd be billing THEM at $375 an hour and asked for a credit card number. He told me to HOLD ON WHILE HE WENT TO GET IT!! bwaahaaahaaahaaa. Obviously never got one. I did keep him on the line for more than an hour - tons of fun and 1 less hour he could be fleecing someone else.
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Post by Crack-a-lackin on Dec 9, 2014 14:58:38 GMT
They just called me. Weirdest part is my phone didn't ring and there isn't a record in my call log. It's not even 7am here so it was a little surprising to get a VM this early. My person was a woman with a robotic voice. I was going to call her back but she forgot a digit in the phone number (number starts with "0 2" and only 9 digits). I guess I'll be going to jail too I shouldn't joke too much because I'm concerned they'll call my mom. She would freak out so I'll have to warn her.
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Post by hop2 on Dec 9, 2014 15:08:57 GMT
Doesn't the IRS inform you about your return in paper/letter form.
DO NOT GIVE OUT ANY INFORMATION! Yes the IRS always creates a paper trail.
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Post by hop2 on Dec 9, 2014 15:10:50 GMT
They just called me. Weirdest part is my phone didn't ring and there isn't a record in my call log. It's not even 7am here so it was a little surprising to get a VM this early. My person was a woman with a robotic voice. I was going to call her back but she forgot a digit in the phone number (number starts with "0 2" and only 9 digits). I guess I'll be going to jail too I shouldn't joke too much because I'm concerned they'll call my mom. She would freak out so I'll have to warn her. Refupea party in tax jail?
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Peamac
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea # 418
Posts: 4,218
Jun 26, 2014 0:09:18 GMT
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Post by Peamac on Dec 9, 2014 15:16:26 GMT
A friend of mine just posted on Facebook last week about repeated calls she got - the guy was very intimidating, but she knew it was a scam.
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Post by epeanymous on Dec 9, 2014 15:18:03 GMT
We got that phone call too. Rolled my eyes, hung up.
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Post by bigbundt on Dec 9, 2014 15:26:02 GMT
We had this happen a couple of months ago. What was frustrating is my DH would tell them he knew this was a scam and then hang up and they would call right back! This happened about 10 times one right after the other.
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Post by genny on Dec 9, 2014 15:31:37 GMT
We got the same call last year -- in regards to a tax year where our bookkeeper had had a stroke and we found several mistakes she made after her return to work…so we were reasonably concerned at first…but then I got to thinking 'don't they always mail a letter?'. A quick google search eased my mind. Ugh I cannot stand these scammers. A young person with little to no experience with the IRS or an elderly person (like my mom) with no tech savvy at all could easily be duped. SO frustrating!
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Post by canadianscrappergirl on Dec 9, 2014 15:37:39 GMT
Hahahaha I had that same guy tell me my computer wasn't working properly I told him my f**king computer was fine so f**k off ugh I seriously get at least 5 of these types of calls a week geez.
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Post by kmcginn on Dec 9, 2014 15:38:10 GMT
I love the ones that say, "There's nothing wrong with your credit card but you MUST call me IMMEDIATELY!" Hello, if there's nothing wrong with my CC, why would I call you - immediately or ever?
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Post by peasapie on Dec 9, 2014 15:38:59 GMT
haha yeah. Hey, I keep turning up these long-lost relatives who left me all their money. I only need to give them my bank account information to receive it. Sweet!
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Post by mikklynn on Dec 9, 2014 16:05:15 GMT
Maybe he can help you with an inheritance, too!
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Post by scrapmaven on Dec 9, 2014 16:07:42 GMT
At least the police aren't down the hill waiting to arrest you. Guess the IRS does things differently in my neighborhood. Btw-it's plausible that the Microsoft guy works two jobs. Times are tough, ya know. hehe.
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pridemom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,843
Jul 12, 2014 21:58:10 GMT
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Post by pridemom on Dec 9, 2014 16:08:23 GMT
Our local law enforcement made an announcement about this scam today. It's terrible how some people prey on others.
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Post by ferblover on Dec 9, 2014 16:11:23 GMT
Just explain you are waiting for your 2 million from a Nigerian Prince and then you will be able to pay your back tax problem!
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Post by cadoodlebug on Dec 9, 2014 16:18:22 GMT
Sadly many people fall for these scams, especially the elderly who often can least afford it.
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MorningPerson
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,503
Location: Central Pennsylvania
Jul 4, 2014 21:35:44 GMT
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Post by MorningPerson on Dec 10, 2014 0:18:09 GMT
Y'all have so many creative ways to deal with these calls! Truly though, I'm with those of you who worry about elderly people who are most vulnerable to these scam artists. Which is why, whenever I'm bored and can keep a phone call going while I'm folding laundry or emptying the dishwasher etc., I see how long I can keep these people on the phone with me and thus maybe prevent someone else from getting scammed. (Similar to what you did scrappinghappy.) Several months ago I managed to string along a "Microsoft representative" for at least a half hour. When he realized that I was playing dumb (I finally asked him how he would feel if his mother got a call from someone like him) he told me to f* off. I'm still reeling from this.
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Dec 10, 2014 0:22:47 GMT
They just called me. Weirdest part is my phone didn't ring and there isn't a record in my call log. It's not even 7am here so it was a little surprising to get a VM this early. My person was a woman with a robotic voice. I was going to call her back but she forgot a digit in the phone number (number starts with "0 2" and only 9 digits). I guess I'll be going to jail too I shouldn't joke too much because I'm concerned they'll call my mom. She would freak out so I'll have to warn her. Refupea party in tax jail? Yeah, but what are you all going to wear in order to ID yourselves as peas? You'll have to get little green peas tattooed on you somewhere before you report to federal prison! Or maybe you can all go to Camp Cupcake or whatever it is: password is SIDEWALK CUPCAKES.
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Post by 2peaornot2pea on Dec 10, 2014 0:34:49 GMT
I have gotten fake IRS recorded messages left on my vmail. I just roll my eyes and delete the message. If the IRS wants to reach anyone, they send letters via USPS so that there is a paper trail.
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Post by monklady123 on Dec 10, 2014 0:58:39 GMT
My dh had some fun with this one a few months ago. He got called twice (they left messages), so he took the phone number to work. He works for the federal government and all outgoing calls have their number scrambled, so all you see in the Caller-ID is "United States Government". Dh hoped that if he called and the scammers saw that in their own caller ID they might get nervous. In fact, dh called off and on multiple times that day and they never answered. He hoped he made them worry.
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Post by kelbel827 on Dec 10, 2014 1:09:22 GMT
I probably would have said "aren't you the guy who wanted to help me with my computer virus a week ago"
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