The IRS called me yet again this morning...

[Beemerguy53]

I got yet another phone call from the IRS this morning. Of course, my caller ID didn't say "IRS"...just some number from out-of-state. When I listened to the voicemail (I don't answer the phone if I don't recognize the caller) it was the "IRS" telling me that in order to avoid a criminal indictment, I'd better call them back right away.

When this first happened, I actually did call back one time, and got a guy with a foreign accent who I could barely understand. I told him I was an FBI agent, and I asked for his badge number. Of course, he hung up.

I'm sure everyone here is Internet-savvy, but just in case you have any friends or relatives who aren't, or who might be vulnerable to this sort of scam, remind them that the IRS isn't going to call you at home.

You know, I never cease to be amazed at the sheer number of low-lifes who spend their time devising schemes to defraud people...

 

[moralem]

I call them back and then ask how much do I owe them and where do i send the money.......they want a credit card and I tell them if I had a credit card do you think I would be behind in my taxes.....they don't get the joke, English not being their first language......I am easily entertained.

 

[Old TexMex]

I got yet another phone call from the IRS this morning. Of course, my caller ID didn't say "IRS"...just some number from out-of-state. When I listened to the voicemail (I don't answer the phone if I don't recognize the caller) it was the "IRS" telling me that in order to avoid a criminal indictment, I'd better call them back right away.

When this first happened, I actually did call back one time, and got a guy with a foreign accent who I could barely understand. I told him I was an FBI agent, and I asked for his badge number. Of course, he hung up.

I'm sure everyone here is Internet-savvy, but just in case you have any friends or relatives who aren't, or who might be vulnerable to this sort of scam, remind that the IRS isn't going to call you at home.

You know, I never cease to be amazed at the sheer number of low-lifes who spend their time devising schemes to defraud people...

Hey, that's a new tactic of the IRS. Now they're going to indict you for impersonating a federal officer. They clever, them Revenoors....

I'm expecting a call from the Vatican, offering papal dispensation at a new reduced rate. Credit cards accepted, of course.

 

[16thVACav]

I've gotten a couple of those calls too. Maybe when we are arrested and convicted of tax evasion, we can be cell mates. We can pass the time by discussing revolvers.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Here's a couple of informative articles on this topic from the Washington Post...

If you have elderly friends or relatives, please share this with them...

That is NOT the IRS Calling You! - The Washington Post

In the face of IRS impersonators, vive la resistance! - The Washington Post

 

[OLDSTER]

I told the caller that I was devastated and wanted to clear the outstanding taxes owed immediately. When I asked if he or a representative could meet me in a hour at the local Perkins---CLICK

 

[Gunsguna]

I got yet another phone call from the IRS this morning. Of course, my caller ID didn't say "IRS"...just some number from out-of-state. When I listened to the voicemail (I don't answer the phone if I don't recognize the caller) it was the "IRS" telling me that in order to avoid a criminal indictment, I'd better call them back right away.

When this first happened, I actually did call back one time, and got a guy with a foreign accent who I could barely understand. I told him I was an FBI agent, and I asked for his badge number. Of course, he hung up.

I'm sure everyone here is Internet-savvy, but just in case you have any friends or relatives who aren't, or who might be vulnerable to this sort of scam, remind that the IRS isn't going to call you at home.

You know, I never cease to be amazed at the sheer number of low-lifes who spend their time devising schemes to defraud people...

Yup, I get them too. Most of the time I don't bother to answer the phone, but occasionally I will answer just to mess with them. As everyone knows, the IRS does not make phone calls... and one might argue they don't answer them either.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

You would (or would not) be surprised at the number of people who panic and pay up - then call me. "Should I have paid that they say they were the I.R.S?" "Probably not, the IRS does not make unsolicited phone calls" "Oh" "Shall we call your credit card company....?"

 

[Rule3]

I gave them your phone number on the condition they stop calling me.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Yup, I get them too. Most of the time I don't bother to answer the phone, but occasionally I will answer just to mess with them. As everyone knows, the IRS does not make phone calls... and one might argue they don't answer them either.

I read another article advising against calling them back just to toy with them. The article pointed out that these are criminals, after all, and if they have your phone number they probably also have a lot of other information about you, such as your name and address. Not a good idea to provoke them...

Of course, I read that AFTER I called the scammers back and told them I was an FBI agent...

 

[REM 3200]

Yep, I got them twice this week. First time I just hung up.
The second time I got a human and told him my name was Buford T. Justice. He didn't get, so I hung up again.
Too bad as it would have been fun to play him for a while wasting his time.

 

[Old TexMex]

I gave them your phone number on the condition they stop calling me.

Now that IS deplorable.

 

[Gunsguna]

I read another article advising against calling them back just to toy with them. The article pointed out that these are criminals, after all, and if they have your phone number they probably also have a lot of other information about you, such as your name and address. Not a good idea to provoke them...

Of course, I read that AFTER I called the scammers back and told them I was an FBI agent...

I've never called them back... only answered their call. Chances are they are not even in the U.S. However, if they want to stop by, they can meet my friends, Smith & Wesson.

 

[crazyphil]

They call me at least once every week. Last week they called twice in
one day. They seem to move around a bit. If the caller ID means
anything, I have had calls from Texas and California recently.

 

[the ringo kid]

I got yet another phone call from the IRS this morning. Of course, my caller ID didn't say "IRS"...just some number from out-of-state. When I listened to the voicemail (I don't answer the phone if I don't recognize the caller) it was the "IRS" telling me that in order to avoid a criminal indictment, I'd better call them back right away.

When this first happened, I actually did call back one time, and got a guy with a foreign accent who I could barely understand. I told him I was an FBI agent, and I asked for his badge number. Of course, he hung up.

I'm sure everyone here is Internet-savvy, but just in case you have any friends or relatives who aren't, or who might be vulnerable to this sort of scam, remind that the IRS isn't going to call you at home.

You know, I never cease to be amazed at the sheer number of low-lifes who spend their time devising schemes to defraud people...

Next time they call? just tell them you cant pay anything until the irs commish is impeached or not?-which is actually going on right now.

 

[Beemerguy53]

I've never called them back... only answered their call. Chances are they are not even in the U.S. However, if they want to stop by, they can meet my friends, Smith & Wesson.

I read that one of the things they do for payback, if you try to mess with them, is called "SWAT-ting"...they call your local police department and report that there is a hostage or barricade situation at your address.

 

[Ron M.]

Got a similar call this week, ended up on my voice mail....At least they didn't ask to speak to Hugh Jazz...

 

[k22fan]

I received a lot of these in the month before April 15 then they stopped. I never did answer one. Their robo-caller was very clear that my answering machine was bound for the answering machine cell on Alcatraz unless it called back and gave enough personal information for them to verify the criminal case might be based on bad information. I knew the first one had to be phony but to reassure myself I compared the area code that showed on caller ID to the list in the phone book. Caller ID showed the phone # and Fresno CA. The area code was for Algeria.

I suspect they are after elderly people who have developed Alzheimer's or other wise do not think as clearly as they used to.

By the way, the day of week and time of day that a live body will answer your phone is saleable information. That is why so many robo calls end with to be taken off our calling list press a number. If you press any number they make money off the call and you can count on getting future junk calls around that time.

 

[SC_Mike]

I only get calls from Rachel at Card Holder Services, or was it Peggy?

 

[vytoland]

i got that "IRS" call the other day and ignored it........looks like i'll be forfeiting all my possessions and locked up for a long time....sure hope they got fried baloney sandwiches for lunch...i like em with onions.....