2014 IRS Phone Call Scam

[bustr]

If you receive a call from 571-526-0022 and the person tells you they are from the IRS and your SSN shows you are tax delinquent and charges are about to be filed. It is a scam. Here is the message left for me.

 Messsage on my phone answer recorder - call from Brian Smith from the IRS, Taxholder Dept. (Herndon VA) that my SS# was used for Tax Fraud and that a filing in the courts was going to be issued this morning. He wanted me to call back. Telephone call back number is 1-571-526-0022.

I searched for the phone number and on many phone scam sites, people are reporting this number, name and message. Checked the IRS and they have an ongoing case. Currently there is an uptick in this scam. So far the largest amount fraudulently taken from a person I could find is $11,000.

The IRS sends you a registered letter in these cases. If they call and leave a message, it's professional, agent identifies themselves, notes your case number and leaves a call back number and web addresses. And the call is from a local in state IRS office phone number. If you do pick up the phone or call back on this scam, you will be pressured into sending some sum like $500 from a local store that handles cashiers checks and wire transfers to a sketchy address or be arrested. The IRS either takes the money directly from your bank account or will only accept a check or draft transfer to an IRS location you can verify at IRS.gov.

The IRS has people so scared in this country that many will freak and call back out of real fear of the IRS ruining their lives. This criminal group is leveraging the very real fear of the IRS we all have.

[skydud]

I got a call from Microsoft today telling me that my computer has problems. I said to him "I don't think so" and hung up the phone.

[The Fugitive]

I got a call from Microsoft today telling me that my computer has problems. I said to him "I don't think so" and hung up the phone.

   My wife loves this guy. He's called us a few times and she love giving him a hard time. First time they said it, she said "Thanks! I'll go check!" and hung up. Next time she pretended to not understand what he was talking about and just kept egging him on until HE hung up. 

[Zoney]

Back when I had a home phone and would get these calls I would turn it around and try to sell them my "new "invention" that I would make up as I go along.  Then I would ask for their supervisor and pitch him, then I would ask for their marketing department and pitch them, I've even pitched them investing in this new company I was 'about" to form and pitch them investing in it to get in "on the ground floor".  I always figure it wasn't a waste of time if I was the one laughing when I hung up.

[pembquist]

An oldy but a goody: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7OgWcwgB50

[jeep00]

I have no fear of the IRS. Nor do I feel much beyond apathy for those taken in by these things. And onve found if ever they should hang them from their fingernails and when they are done force them to make political shill calls.

[MrKrabs]

I had a gentleman come into my store a few months ago seeking to purchase money orders in excess of our $1000 cap limit.

Noticing the man wasn't strong in English I inquired what he was looking to do...

After patiently talking to the man I learned him and his family were immigrants and some POS were attempting to wring him dry posing as the IRS...

Sadly, the man had already submitted money to the fake IRS 1 week before as part of their tax re-payment plan so he can avoid inprisonment...

What is even sadder is that another one of our stores sold this man money orders in excess of the $1000 cap in the first place and neglected to even log the money orders as per policy...

It's not just the dirtbags who prey upon people. It's the senseless idiots that don't follow anti-laundering  policies are to blame as well...

I'm sorry people under no normal circumstances come in to buy hundreds or even thousands of dollars in pre-paids cards or even money orders... Unless it is obvious it is for rent, but even then they should never been sold if they violated the $1000 cap.
 

[Shamus]

When I get these calls I act real interested for a while to set the hook then say "hang on a minute someones at the door"I set the phone down and go watch tv.

[cattb]

I got a call from Microsoft today telling me that my computer has problems. I said to him "I don't think so" and hung up the phone.

I had one from Microsoft awhile back also, but I told them I used Linux. Few sentences of conversation later the person told me they didn't know what Linux was.

[rpm]

A friend of mine was almost fooled in an out of state bail scam involving a family member. FYI, if anyone ever mentions getting a Green Dot money pack card, it's a scam.

[Randy1]

The one running down here is a call from Washington DC saying your have received a grant.

Like most other land line people, I got a good, easy to read from a distant, caller id.  8 out of 10 calls or some sort of get your money phone calls.  If I don't know the number, I don't answer.

Those blue spinning ball caller ids work well.

[wpeters]

If you have ever read Catch Me if You Can you know that easier than ever to scam.  If you haven't either read the book or listen to it on audible

[guncrasher]

the one around here is the electrical company calling saying their electricity is going to be turned off due to non-payment.  a friend's wife got taken for 300 bucks.


semp

[bustr]

If AARP has you on their list, this group is buying the same list. Last year, same scam, except it was a woman with a recent immigrant Russian accent. Essentially she was looking at a report from the IRS that said I owed undisclosed back taxes and I needed to contact her to resolve the issue.

This year's person and message was reworked and almost sounded like an IRS agent by the data being given. I always back trace the phone numbers. IRS always calls you from it's office inside of your state. Not from Virginia or D.C.

[skydud]

The one running down here is a call from Washington DC saying your have received a grant.

Like most other land line people, I got a good, easy to read from a distant, caller id.  8 out of 10 calls or some sort of get your money phone calls.  If I don't know the number, I don't answer.

Those blue spinning ball caller ids work well.

Some voip phones have a feature which blocks the caller for non-valid caller id's. The asks them to press a button to confirm they are not a machine. It blocks a lot of calls out.