Tennesseer
Member Emeritus
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:42 GMT -5
Posts: 64,571
|
Post by Tennesseer on May 12, 2016 16:09:58 GMT -5
If you ever wondered what a conversation between a recipient of the IRS scam call and the scammers sounds like, give this Facebook video a watch. The scammers called a person who happens to be an investigative reporter for a local TV channel. He filmed and audio taped the conversation. You must have a Facebook account to watch the video. Greg Coy, Fox 13, Memphis, IRS Scam
|
|
sesfw
Junior Associate
Today is the first day of the rest of my life
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 15:45:17 GMT -5
Posts: 6,268
|
Post by sesfw on May 13, 2016 22:13:22 GMT -5
WOW ......... I've gotten calls from 'Microsoft' about things that are wrong with my computer. They will try anything to separate us from our funds.
Thanks for the warning .......... think I'll tell them I'll put on the coffee pot for the authorities that are coming to arrest me.
I tell 'Microsoft' I don't have a computer and eventually they hang up.
|
|
Jaguar
Administrator
Fear does not stop death. It stops life.
Joined: Dec 20, 2011 6:07:45 GMT -5
Posts: 50,108
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"https://cdn.nickpic.host/images/IZlZ65.jpg","color":""}
Mini-Profile Text Color: 290066
|
Post by Jaguar on May 14, 2016 0:12:43 GMT -5
I kept getting a scammer calling saying they were from The Canadian Revenue Agency this year and leaving messages that I owed thousands to the CRA.
But I never actually talked to the scammer cause all my calls go to an answering machine, and I guess they gave up, lol
|
|
andi9899
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Dec 6, 2011 10:22:29 GMT -5
Posts: 31,335
|
Post by andi9899 on May 14, 2016 2:09:18 GMT -5
We were just talking about this today. Someone was saying that her friend got scammed. She is from another country and didn't speak the greatest English. She was on a visa and was afraid of having problems with the law and gave them $6,000. It's just wrong. I've been warning the girls since they've had phones that no one will ever call and ask for personal information that should already have it and that if they are suspicious, they should call the IRS or state or whoever directly to ask about it. But people like the elderly and those who are from other countries or mentally or cognitively impared may not be so quick to judge these things.
|
|
dannylion
Junior Associate
Gravity is a harsh mistress
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 12:17:52 GMT -5
Posts: 5,213
Location: Miles over the madness horizon and accelerating
|
Post by dannylion on May 14, 2016 12:14:37 GMT -5
I got a couple of IRS scam calls last year, but they went to voicemail, so I didn't get to take advantage of the entertainment value.
If I get any more and actually answer one, I think I will conduct the conversation entirely in French. Or possibly Chinese. (It would be very bad Chinese, but they probably wouldn't know that). I'd try Russian, but there is a possibility that the scammers are Russian, so that could backfire. Anyway, I'd try to find a way to have some fun with it. I'm a retired person, and one day is very much like the next, so anything that provides a little entertainment is always welcome.
|
|
Tennesseer
Member Emeritus
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:42 GMT -5
Posts: 64,571
|
Post by Tennesseer on May 14, 2016 16:46:53 GMT -5
I got a couple of IRS scam calls last year, but they went to voicemail, so I didn't get to take advantage of the entertainment value.
If I get any more and actually answer one, I think I will conduct the conversation entirely in French. Or possibly Chinese. (It would be very bad Chinese, but they probably wouldn't know that). I'd try Russian, but there is a possibility that the scammers are Russian, so that could backfire. Anyway, I'd try to find a way to have some fun with it. I'm a retired person, and one day is very much like the next, so anything that provides a little entertainment is always welcome. Use a wobbly, innocent voice, play along as long as you like, then use your real voice and tell them you just wasted their time, time they could have been using to try and scam someone else. Everyone should do that. Take up their time and have some fun with them.
|
|
buystoys
Junior Associate
Joined: Mar 30, 2012 4:58:12 GMT -5
Posts: 5,650
|
Post by buystoys on May 15, 2016 8:51:33 GMT -5
I never get the IRS scammers on the phone. It's always a robocall...... I did get one of those Windows guys a couple of weeks ago, though! I learned that the interwebz is on a server in California and that my computer is sending them messages without me knowing it! *gasp!* Apparently, they have some kind of program running on my computer so it will tell them I have a problem and they can call me to fix it. Unfortunately I couldn't understand the instructions very well as the guy's accent was so heavy and I somehow hung up on him. There are times I enjoy playing with these folks.
|
|
sesfw
Junior Associate
Today is the first day of the rest of my life
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 15:45:17 GMT -5
Posts: 6,268
|
Post by sesfw on May 15, 2016 17:55:53 GMT -5
The one I got like that the callers were in Calcutta. I asked them where they were and they told me the company was in the US and Europe. So I asked where they were physically and they said Calcutta.
Very good English without a heavy accent.
|
|
Tennesseer
Member Emeritus
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:42 GMT -5
Posts: 64,571
|
Post by Tennesseer on May 15, 2016 21:20:04 GMT -5
The one I got like that the callers were in Calcutta. I asked them where they were and they told me the company was in the US and Europe. So I asked where they were physically and they said Calcutta. Very good English without a heavy accent. No heavy accents is surprising. Many of these scammers use (Asian) Indians to make these calls while their controllers/handlers are most likely here in the States. I had one Indian caller (based upon the sound of his voice and not his accent) call me with multiple different scams. I used to call him by the name he gave me during his first scam call. "Hey, Rahul-how you doing today. What scam are you trying today?"
|
|
muttleynfelix
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 15:32:52 GMT -5
Posts: 9,406
|
IRS Scam
May 16, 2016 15:20:11 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by muttleynfelix on May 16, 2016 15:20:11 GMT -5
We had scammers call last week and leave a message that they were the IRS and we were being sued. DH was a little more skeptical that they were real than me. I knew as soon as he told me the message that it was a scam. He called the number back and no one answered. Then he was convinced it was a scam. Not that he would have given them money over the phone, but that would be a scary message to get for someone who didn't know how the IRS operates.
|
|
teen persuasion
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:49 GMT -5
Posts: 4,165
|
Post by teen persuasion on May 17, 2016 14:34:58 GMT -5
The one I got like that the callers were in Calcutta. I asked them where they were and they told me the company was in the US and Europe. So I asked where they were physically and they said Calcutta. Very good English without a heavy accent. No heavy accents is surprising. Many of these scammers use (Asian) Indians to make these calls while their controllers/handlers are most likely here in the States. I had one Indian caller (based upon the sound of his voice and not his accent) call me with multiple different scams. I used to call him by the name he gave me during his first scam call. "Hey, Rahul-how you doing today. What scam are you trying today?" I got 2 calls on the same day, and both times the speaker had a heavy Indian accent. I loved how they ended the call by wishing me a "Blessed Day".
|
|
toomuchreality
Senior Associate
Joined: Sept 3, 2011 10:28:25 GMT -5
Posts: 16,921
Favorite Drink: Sometimes I drink water... just to surprise my liver!
Member is Online
|
Post by toomuchreality on May 19, 2016 5:48:09 GMT -5
|
|
Tennesseer
Member Emeritus
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:42 GMT -5
Posts: 64,571
|
Post by Tennesseer on May 19, 2016 8:39:29 GMT -5
I'm going to try this. I have also thought of answering the phone with "United States Postal Service - fraud division."
|
|
Sam_2.0
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 15:42:45 GMT -5
Posts: 12,350
|
Post by Sam_2.0 on May 19, 2016 8:41:29 GMT -5
We had scammers mimic the IVR of our company. And got people to make payments, using the "automated" system because it sounded semi-legit. It's pretty easy to set up your caller ID number to look like it's something real. I always tell people to hang up, then call the number we print on their bills.
|
|
toomuchreality
Senior Associate
Joined: Sept 3, 2011 10:28:25 GMT -5
Posts: 16,921
Favorite Drink: Sometimes I drink water... just to surprise my liver!
Member is Online
|
Post by toomuchreality on May 20, 2016 20:28:36 GMT -5
I got a call from the "IRS" today. Said they've been trying to contact me. Threatened to throw me in jail. I tried to call the number they left 3-4 times. Each time I got an automated answer, saying they weren't taking calls at this time. What a bunch of CRAP!
|
|
dannylion
Junior Associate
Gravity is a harsh mistress
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 12:17:52 GMT -5
Posts: 5,213
Location: Miles over the madness horizon and accelerating
|
Post by dannylion on May 20, 2016 20:34:41 GMT -5
I'm going to try this. I have also thought of answering the phone with "United States Postal Service - fraud division." Or "United Nations, Oslo" or some other random place. Just to mess with them.
|
|
Tennesseer
Member Emeritus
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:42 GMT -5
Posts: 64,571
|
Post by Tennesseer on May 20, 2016 20:35:43 GMT -5
I got a call from the "IRS" today. Said they've been trying to contact me. Threatened to throw me in jail. I tried to call the number they left 3-4 times. Each time I got an automated answer, saying they weren't taking calls at this time. What a bunch of CRAP! Of course it is. If you want to toy with them like a cat toys with its caught prey, you have to play with them when they call.
|
|
Tennesseer
Member Emeritus
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:42 GMT -5
Posts: 64,571
|
Post by Tennesseer on May 20, 2016 20:37:58 GMT -5
One time I got an unsolicted call for burial insurance. I told the caller I was already dead, she had reached me in Hell, and I and others were waiting for her.
|
|
toomuchreality
Senior Associate
Joined: Sept 3, 2011 10:28:25 GMT -5
Posts: 16,921
Favorite Drink: Sometimes I drink water... just to surprise my liver!
Member is Online
|
Post by toomuchreality on May 20, 2016 20:55:11 GMT -5
I got a call from the "IRS" today. Said they've been trying to contact me. Threatened to throw me in jail. I tried to call the number they left 3-4 times. Each time I got an automated answer, saying they weren't taking calls at this time. What a bunch of CRAP! Of course it is. If you want to toy with them like a cat toys with its caught prey, you have to play with them when they call. I don't get in this kind of mood very often, but I was so ready to play with them today. That's why I kept calling back. Sadly, the mood has passed, so I blocked their number. (they'll just get a different one next time. )
|
|
dannylion
Junior Associate
Gravity is a harsh mistress
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 12:17:52 GMT -5
Posts: 5,213
Location: Miles over the madness horizon and accelerating
|
Post by dannylion on May 20, 2016 21:01:03 GMT -5
Sometimes they're sneaky and spoof the actual IRS number.
|
|
GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
Senior Associate
"How you win matters." Ender, Ender's Game
Joined: Jan 2, 2011 13:33:09 GMT -5
Posts: 11,291
|
Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on May 21, 2016 13:06:55 GMT -5
We got our "IRS" phone call yesterday morning. DH and the kids were still home and were convinced I'd finally lost it because I kept saying I was "at the door watching for them, were they almost here, arrest me! arrest me! I want to get arrested by the IRS!!!" Sadly, it was just a recording with a phone number to call back. I was out for several hours yesterday, but still no signs of the IRS police. And I packed a bag of cute jailbird outfits and everything. ETA: the caller had a Hispanic accent and IIRC his name was Brian. The portion of the message with the callback phone number was a female with a straightforward American accent.
|
|
toomuchreality
Senior Associate
Joined: Sept 3, 2011 10:28:25 GMT -5
Posts: 16,921
Favorite Drink: Sometimes I drink water... just to surprise my liver!
Member is Online
|
Post by toomuchreality on May 24, 2016 1:40:12 GMT -5
They called me again today. Automated with a call back number. As if.
|
|
Tennesseer
Member Emeritus
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:42 GMT -5
Posts: 64,571
|
Post by Tennesseer on May 25, 2016 6:43:19 GMT -5
|
|
GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
Senior Associate
"How you win matters." Ender, Ender's Game
Joined: Jan 2, 2011 13:33:09 GMT -5
Posts: 11,291
|
Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on May 25, 2016 6:47:20 GMT -5
I'm thinking it would be a lot of fun to get a bunch of people together, buy burner phones, and start calling these aholes back and messing with them. We could meet at a bar or a coffee shop and spend hours on the phone with them playing dumb or insane or whatever and waste the scammers' time.
|
|
toomuchreality
Senior Associate
Joined: Sept 3, 2011 10:28:25 GMT -5
Posts: 16,921
Favorite Drink: Sometimes I drink water... just to surprise my liver!
Member is Online
|
Post by toomuchreality on May 26, 2016 3:03:19 GMT -5
Indeed. Keep investigating at least until you get the jerks that keep bugging me! heh But some is better than none. woo-hoo! I'm thinking it would be a lot of fun to get a bunch of people together, buy burner phones, and start calling these aholes back and messing with them. We could meet at a bar or a coffee shop and spend hours on the phone with them playing dumb or insane or whatever and waste the scammers' time. This could be a ton of fun, even if we were just being silly! (as long as we don't get caught! ) See you next Saturday night, on the corner of 9th and 9th. We'll put together a plan then.
|
|
sesfw
Junior Associate
Today is the first day of the rest of my life
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 15:45:17 GMT -5
Posts: 6,268
|
Post by sesfw on May 27, 2016 21:47:26 GMT -5
DH got his IRS call yesterday on his cell phone. It was a robo call threatening jail if he didn't return the call. He used to work for H&R so he used this as an excuse to call his old boss and find out how she is doing.
If I ever get a call, I'll tell them the coffee pot is on for whoever is coming.
Wonder if I'll be able to think fast enough to play with them for a bit. Keep them off someone else back.
|
|
seriousthistime
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 22, 2010 20:27:07 GMT -5
Posts: 5,010
|
Post by seriousthistime on May 28, 2016 6:48:01 GMT -5
I work for the fed. gov't. I got about six robocalls from the "IRS" within three days telling me that if I didn't call them back right away, I would be sued. I didn't call them back. But I SO wanted to take my cell phone upstairs to the U.S. Attorney's office, call back, and say, "I'm in the U.S. Attorney's office. You're on speaker phone. The assistant U.S. attorney is on the call, and so is an FBI agent and an IRS special agent. Now what's this about a lawsuit?" However, the law enforcement types don't like their time wasted with silliness. They say just to ignore the calls.
But during the time frame I was getting those calls, I got a phone call on my work phone from a legit IRS agent. Totally work related, nothing to do with me except I was the person who could answer his questions. Being distrustful of anyone claiming to be the IRS, I refused to help him unless he showed up at my office and showed me his badge. And half an hour later, I got a call from security saying an IRS agent was here to see me. They escorted him back to my office. I told him why I was distrustful and he asked for the phone numbers that the scammers were calling from. I gave them to him. Maybe something will come of it. Wouldn't that be nice?
|
|
zibazinski
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 24, 2010 16:12:50 GMT -5
Posts: 47,912
|
IRS Scam
May 28, 2016 7:40:40 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by zibazinski on May 28, 2016 7:40:40 GMT -5
Yes, it would. I got the Microsoft one from someone with a California phone number and an Indian accent. Hung up and blocked number. DD got a letter, very official looking, offering to settle her debt to the IRS for about 3k. Sigh. These scammers are good.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 14, 2024 1:17:28 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 28, 2016 7:51:29 GMT -5
I got the IRS call yesterday. It was a robocall.
|
|
Tennesseer
Member Emeritus
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:42 GMT -5
Posts: 64,571
|
Post by Tennesseer on May 28, 2016 8:57:40 GMT -5
seriousthistime - some of these jerk scammers have software that somehow hijacks real people/real businesses' phone numbers which show up on my phone's caller ID. I have had some scammer who wishes to make it seem the calls to me are coming from within Tennessee. The calls have been coming in for the past 12 months or so. He/she/it first started using my area code and then phone numbers that were similar to mine with my area code and then the first five numbers of my phone number the same and then the last two all within a range of 0-10 closest to my number. For example (not my real phone number): 901-123-4567 901-123-4568 901-123-4569 Etc. After I put all those phone numbers on block, the caller moved to a different area code in Tennessee and did the same thing with the same phones as he did in my area code. And when those numbers got blocked, he moved onto still another area code in Tennessee. And those numbers got blocked too. I don't know if anyone else was getting these calls from the phone numbers I was receiving.. Maybe they were designed specifically for me as I checked 800Notes and no one else was reporting these phone numbers. But the numbers and names showing up on my phone caller ID were real people and real business's phone numbers. I would check the internet to see if the phone numbers were real and internernet search results showed me the phone number which called me matched the name on my caller ID. A number of times my own name and phone number showed up on my caller ID as calling me. Especially if it was a business's phone number, I would call the business and give them a heads up some scammer was using their name and phone to get people to answer the phone just in case others were getting calls with the same name and number showing up on their caller ID. Give the business a chance to defend themselves from angry recipients of these bogus calls.
|
|