IRS and credit card scam phone calls

[Apex]

I'm sure you all know this, but in the interests of all here:

Past several days, two calls came in:

1. "Credit card company" robo call saying they could lower my interest rates. No way that could be from any of my card companies, but I went ahead and pressed "9" on this one, and immediately and several times asked the guy that answered if he knew my name. He could not or would not answer that. I then cursed him out, and he responded by cursing me out, another indication that the call was a scam call. I had taken out a Sam Ash card that very day, and pressed "9" in case it was the card company calling. The next day, the real Sam Ash
card company did call, a robo "thank you" call that started out with the card company's name, so I knew that one was legitimate. No one came on the line.

2. "IRS" robo call just now, 8.45EST. I didn't bother to follow this one, I knew right away it was a scam. The IRS does NOT call you or email you, they send out official notices via USPS. I know that for a fact because the IRS says it's so, and because I did tax returns for 7 years a bit back.

I'm sure you all know enough to NEVER give personal info over the phone. Any legit caller will already have that info on file. Be careful. This was the first time for me on this, some scammer out there has my number I guess, so there may be more.

I have been actually answering my calls lately, but I will now go back to letting the voice mail take them. My phone is set for 6 rings before mail picks it up; I have noticed that when I do not pick up, sometimes some calls stop before ring 6 without leaving a message.

I hope this helps you all.

[Steve M]

Robo calls rule no. 1. Only say hello once and wait 1 second- no response.. hang up.
Robo calls rule no. 2 . (more fun than rule 1) Lead them on with completely ridiculous questions and banter until their head explodes.

[OldAirmail]

That's the reason why you should ALWAYS have a list of the names and birthdates of the people who you don't like.



Now if you wait long enough you'll be lucky like me. I've got a Ethiopian lawyer who's going to help me claim part a HUGE inheritance.

[Fozzer]

Maybe I'm lucky...

I never, ever, use a Mobile/Cell Phone.
....only an ordinary, old-fashioned Land-line Telephone with a curly wire attaching the Handset to the Push-button, Dialing machine, hard-wired to the telephone socket on the wall...

...and because everyone nowadays, (except me), uses a Mobile/Cell Phone, no-one, except my immediate Family, knows my Land-line phone number, with its obvious Dial-numbering system, ever bothers to phones me....which is nice!

If I do get a surprise call on my Land-line phone...
(A) All my family know to tell me who they are immediately I lift the receiver, so that I know it is a proper call!
(B) Alternatively, I wait, often for a long time, for a response. If I don't get it, I know its a naff call and I put the phone down without replying....
..I then dial "1471" to obtain the last number called, and in most cases the number is either withheld (suspicious), or it is an unknown Mobile Phone number, and I then know it was a naff call anyway!
My Land-line Phone has no way of indicating who is calling me beforehand, (like it does on a Mobile phone?), so if I pick up the receiver its then too late!

The advantage of an old-fashioned Telephone, is that no-one bothers me with telephone calls...which is Heaven!

The silence is golden!.... ...!

Old-fashioned E-Mail on my tower computer is my only other method of communicating with the outside World, apart from writing a Letter...or shouting very loudly...!

Paul...I hate Mobile Phones!....(and the Folks who use them).... ...!

P.S...I did try it once, many years ago, but after putting the phone to my head to talk/ listen, all I managed to do was to take a photograph my left ear...
..so that was the end of that daft experiment!

[cornelia]

Thanks for the heads up, Apex! It's terrible how prevalent phone scams are, and they're bold. They call any time of the day, any day of the call and just anyone. Thanks to articles like that, people are made aware. Keep the updates coming!

[cornelia]

By the way, I found several phone numbers lodged at Callercenter.com that were reportedly used in IRS and credit card scam calls. Can you check if the number that called you is there, too? Or better yet, add a report and raise a warning. After all, phone scammers should be exposed.

[Apex]

Hello Cornelia, looks like your new here? Welcome aboard.

OK, how absolutely interesting. Number was 716 217 2771, I entered it in Callercenter.com, and yep, Officer Foster gets around a bit, so I see, same stuff, "I'm an IRS agent etc.". Thanks for that site tip, cool.

I get the impression that "I'm an IRS agent" strikes fear into some, and a surprise phone call seemingly out of nowhere could throw someone off guard.

The IRS doesn't hunt people down. Many times the IRS takes quite awhile to go after deliquent taxpayers, I've seen this repeatedly first hand, and, especially if you've got a good tax accountant (CPA's are the best), the IRS can be reasoned with. Not that their gonna let you off if you owe, but they won't clap you in irons either.

But the bigger issue is that I'm wondering how many people know that the IRS doesn't call you, they send out notices via USPS. One example, my plumber was here just today fixing stuff, I told him that, he acted slightly surprised, so I had to reinforce the no-phone-calls point.

As Inspector Cleausou once said, "Suspect everyone, and suspect no one." That was long ago. Nowadays, perhaps we should suspect everyone, period.

[Anthindelahunt]

Three and a half years ago I received a call the day after my
wife died of Motor Neurone disease. A lady with an Indian accent
said she was from Microsoft and that my computer was infected
and my licence was expired. The state I was in with the loss and the
funeral
left me wide open. I fell for it.

I was ripped off of my bank account. Not much but a thousand Bucks
was a crippling blow. They still try to phone me on my landline,so I now
have an answering machine. I never pick up the phone untill the caller
starts to leave a message.

Anthin.

[wdavis]

My home phone has become a telemarketing machine. I'm getting these calls all day long and haven't been answering them. I decided to connect the phone up with my fax machine. I love it when they start talking and they get a dose of modem sound from the fax.
.

[OldAirmail]

My home phone has become a telemarketing machine. I'm getting these calls all day long and haven't been answering them. I decided to connect the phone up with my fax machine. I love it when they start talking and they get a dose of modem sound from the fax.
.

I have no idea what country you live in, but if it's in the US, check out the Federal Trade Commission website - National Do Not Call Registry

And remember - you do have to renew it every so often.

I just renewed it after receiving a call about how I could get a free cruise ....

I hung up and renewed.

[Fozzer]

My dear old Dad and Mum never received an annoying telephone call for the whole of their lives, from 1900, until their demise in1989...

The never owned a telephone...or a motor car... ...!

Nowadays we are all cursed with the Internet!

I only had my telephone installed in 1998, at the age of 64, to enable me to play Multiplayer over the (Dial-up) Internet in FS '98.
Previously, I had no use for a telephone...I used to write, and receive letters!
...The "Olden Days".... ...!
I rarely use a telephone nowadays, and NEVER a Mobile Phone!

Paul....living in peace and quiet.... ...!

[zswobbie1]

When i'm in the mood, I have fun with the guys. I say that the call is being recorded & can I have their name. Whenever they start asking me questions, I answer by asking them questions that have nothing to do with anything, such as... Are you happy with your job, what is the weather like, do you like dogs, are you a vegetarian.etc.

Instead of stressing, have fun!

[Fozzer]

I'll tell you what I have enjoyed doing in the past, when I have received these annoying calls...
I ask them to hold on, whilst I find the person required, and play them some background music in the meantime.....

...with my telephone held tight up against my twin Marshal speakers.... and the volume adjusted to max...>>>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU3mc0yvRNk

Instant, personal satisfaction!.... ...!

Paul.... ... ... ...!

[Apex]

Well, I almost never get any telemktrs calling, so these couple were unusual. For the longest time I let the voice mail answer, but I've had to answer lately due to some important stuff,
soon I'll activate the silent button and let the voice mail take over again.