Fake IRS Phone Scam

[Aikmaniac]

My father just received a call from an individual claiming to be an officer with the IRS "Crime Investigation" department. He told my father that he is guilty of tax evasion and that the police were on their way to arrest him if he doesn't pay off his debt to the IRS immediately. They said the amount was $1,400. He called me in a panic.

The "officer's" name was Brian McAllister.

I called my sheriff's office contact and was told this was a nation wide scam. I did some research and found all kinds of entries for this same officer. It's a huge scam, one of the biggest per the treasury office.

Be on your guard, folks. The IRS will notify you only by mail if you owe additional funds. Make sure to report it to your local IRS office.

 

[Idgit]

Thanks for the heads-up. Crazy to me to think that this sort of thing works. I thought you were going to describe a phishing scam to get TIDs, and then use the TIDs to file phony returns to collect that way.

 

[iceberg]

Thanks for the heads-up. Crazy to me to think that this sort of thing works. I thought you were going to describe a phishing scam to get TIDs, and then use the TIDs to file phony returns to collect that way.

not sure how true this is, but back when you could put just about any ad n a comic book, mag or the like, some guy posted an ad that said:

LAST CHANCE TO SEND IN YOUR $50

or something close to that but basically saying time was running out to send in your money. he had the address and for some reason, people sent him a LOT of money never knowing what for. turns out, nothing.

go figure.

 

[Idgit]

not sure how true this is, but back when you could put just about any ad n a comic book, mag or the like, some guy posted an ad that said:

LAST CHANCE TO SEND IN YOUR $50

or something close to that but basically saying time was running out to send in your money. he had the address and for some reason, people sent him a LOT of money.

go figure.

There was a scam for a long time where young adults would call random old people and say 'Grandma?" and then wait for her to say "Timmy?" and then "Yes! I"m in trouble. I'm stranded at ______ and need $1,500 to pay for ____!" And then Grandma would wire them what they were looking for. Crazy old lady.

 

[Bigdog]

I got a call today from an automotive machine saying this was the IRS an legal action was going to be taken due to me not paying some fees. They said that a lien will put on my assets and a bill collector will be coming to my house in 24 hrs. Freaked my wife out. It was a bogus phone number and just so everyone knows the IRS will inform you by mail in writing if you owe back taxes.

 

[Illini88228]

Just to add to the already good advice about the IRS communicating by mail, keep in mind that the IRS is typically super slow. You're not going to hear from them for the first time and then have them take some important action 12 hours later. It's more of a send this in and wait 3 months kind of an organization.

 

[WV Cowboy]

My father just received a call from an individual claiming to be an officer with the IRS "Crime Investigation" department. He told my father that he is guilty of tax evasion and that the police were on their way to arrest him if he doesn't pay off his debt to the IRS immediately. They said the amount was $1,400. He called me in a panic.

The "officer's" name was Brian McAllister.

I called my sheriff's office contact and was told this was a nation wide scam. I did some research and found all kinds of entries for this same officer. It's a huge scam, one of the biggest per the treasury office.

Be on your guard, folks. The IRS will notify you only by mail if you owe additional funds. Make sure to report it to your local IRS office.

The guy that works in the office beside mine had the exact same thing happen to him a couple of months ago.

It scared him at first too.

 

[WV Cowboy]

There was a scam for a long time where young adults would call random old people and say 'Grandma?" and then wait for her to say "Timmy?" and then "Yes! I"m in trouble. I'm stranded at ______ and need $1,500 to pay for ____!" And then Grandma would wire them what they were looking for. Crazy old lady.

My Dad & Mom have received that phone call a couple of times.

 

[Idgit]

My Dad & Mom have received that phone call a couple of times.

Really? Crazy.

 

[Eric_Boyer]

just so everyone knows the IRS will inform you by mail in writing if you owe back taxes.

correct, and you will have means to challenge their findings in a hearing.

 

[Aikmaniac]

There was a scam for a long time where young adults would call random old people and say 'Grandma?" and then wait for her to say "Timmy?" and then "Yes! I"m in trouble. I'm stranded at ______ and need $1,500 to pay for ____!" And then Grandma would wire them what they were looking for. Crazy old lady.

This happened to my coworker. Ironic thing is we talked about it following my dad's phone call. My coworker's grandma had $2,000 ready to wire but smartly she called him again to find out which hospital he is located. He said he was fine and was never in any accident.

These people are scum.

 

[JD_KaPow]

I frequently get called by a guy named "Mike" or "John" with a thick Indian accent, who "works for Microsoft" and tells me they've received a report that my computer is infected with a virus. I feel like I should just keep them on the line as long as possible to keep other people from getting the call, but I never have the patience so I just laugh at them and hang up.

 

[Hoov]

I got a call today from an automotive machine saying this was the IRS an legal action was going to be taken due to me not paying some fees. They said that a lien will put on my assets and a bill collector will be coming to my house in 24 hrs. Freaked my wife out. It was a bogus phone number and just so everyone knows the IRS will inform you by mail in writing if you owe back taxes.

Yes. And not only that, but there would be several attempts by the IRS to resolve the situation prior to taking legal action and sending someone in person to your home.

 

[Hoov]

I frequently get called by a guy named "Mike" or "John" with a thick Indian accent, who "works for Microsoft" and tells me they've received a report that my computer is infected with a virus. I feel like I should just keep them on the line as long as possible to keep other people from getting the call, but I never have the patience so I just laugh at them and hang up.

next time he calls tell him, "you know what, i think theres a virus on my phone too"

 

[iceberg]

next time he calls tell him, "you know what, i think theres a virus on my phone too"

I'm split on how to handle these. I got voipo.com service so I could block #'s but by the time we get that technology, they can spoof it to say / be whatever they want. so, here's what I do in no particular order:

1) let it ring through or answer / hang up immediately.
2) answer the phone and say nothing
3) answer the phone and say nothing but start breathing heavily into the phone. add moaning when they start talking
4) tell them you're busy but if you can have their home, you will call them until they answer
5) answer the phone and go along with it for a bit and then go "wait, this is about xyz??? oh, you need to talk to (someone else in the room). hand them the phone and let them drag it on for a bit. then they go "oh, this is about xyz? you need to talk to (either someone else, or back to 1st) and see how log you can make it go on before they hang up. our record is 11 passes of the phone
6) if you have it handy, no kids around, and can get away with it, have some very loud porn ready to go. (doesn't everyone?) when they call, answer the phone and put it next to your speaker and leave it alone.
7) cry. just cry a lot
8) scream as loud as you can until they hang up
9) ask them if it's ok if you take the call in the nude. outside. in your neighbors hottub, with stuffed animals...keep it going until they hang up.
10) make up your own, this list is gold man, gold!

 

[TheCowboy]

I'm split on how to handle these. I got voipo.com service so I could block #'s but by the time we get that technology, they can spoof it to say / be whatever they want. so, here's what I do in no particular order:

1) let it ring through or answer / hang up immediately.
2) answer the phone and say nothing
3) answer the phone and say nothing but start breathing heavily into the phone. add moaning when they start talking
4) tell them you're busy but if you can have their home, you will call them until they answer
5) answer the phone and go along with it for a bit and then go "wait, this is about xyz??? oh, you need to talk to (someone else in the room). hand them the phone and let them drag it on for a bit. then they go "oh, this is about xyz? you need to talk to (either someone else, or back to 1st) and see how log you can make it go on before they hang up. our record is 11 passes of the phone
6) if you have it handy, no kids around, and can get away with it, have some very loud porn ready to go. (doesn't everyone?) when they call, answer the phone and put it next to your speaker and leave it alone.
7) cry. just cry a lot
8) scream as loud as you can until they hang up
9) ask them if it's ok if you take the call in the nude. outside. in your neighbors hottub, with stuffed animals...keep it going until they hang up.
10) make up your own, this list is gold man, gold!

I just died laughing