IRS Phone Scam just hit my kid

[stovebolts]

And he fell for it...
They told him he owed $10,000 and if he didnt pay it, they were throwing him in jail. If he hung up, they would throw him in jail.
Needless to say, they scared him enough that he "verified his personal information... oyyyy.

He called me in a frenzy thinking somebody stole his identity and freaking out because he didnt want to go to jail. I got him calmed down enough by telling him it was a scam and nobody stole his identity (within the context of owing the IRS money).

Then I asked if he gave them personal information... he did. Then I told him his identity had just been stolen and told him to call his banks and do whatever they recomend.

I also gave him the IRS fraud number, and they have a process for this. He will probably get a new SSN.

Lesson to everyone. Never give out personal information and dont assume your kid knows this, even if you've told them. Keep telling them...

 

[King Dan of Great the 1st]

Its always dodgy when people ring asking for any form of ID. Services usually ask for info when you ring them not when they ring you.

 

[Luminous_Rose]

Oh no =( these are ugly scams. I keep getting them and they sound convincing! I can see why people believe them. Praying this mess gets sorted out!

 

[Michael74]

Doesn't take much nowadays. There is one scam where they pretend to be taking a poll. If you answer yes to any of the questions, they record it, and use your recorded yes as a scam to pretend you agreed to buy an item from them.

 

[Luminous_Rose]

Doesn't take much nowadays. There is one scam where they pretend to be taking a poll. If you answer yes to any of the questions, they record it, and use your recorded yes as a scam to pretend you agreed to buy an item from them.

I have gotten these on the phone. My husband got one of these calls one day..ran the guy around using all sorts of other terms that have a similar meaning to yes like "Affirmative", "I am certain.", "Indubitably", etc. They got so mad after about 20 minutes that they ended up hanging up. While I do not recommend doing this, it is also a crazy scam. They will usually say, "Can you hear me now?" To prompt you to say "yes" without thinking.

 

[stovebolts]

Doesn't take much nowadays. There is one scam where they pretend to be taking a poll. If you answer yes to any of the questions, they record it, and use your recorded yes as a scam to pretend you agreed to buy an item from them.

Thats Horrible!

 

[stovebolts]

I have gotten these on the phone. My husband got one of these calls one day..ran the guy around using all sorts of other terms that have a similar meaning to yes like "Affirmative", "I am certain.", "Indubitably", etc. They got so mad after about 20 minutes that they ended up hanging up. While I do not recommend doing this, it is also a crazy scam. They will usually say, "Can you hear me now?" To prompt you to say "yes" without thinking.

That's crazy! Are you guys on the no call list?

 

[ezra]

I have gotten these on the phone. My husband got one of these calls one day..ran the guy around using all sorts of other terms that have a similar meaning to yes like "Affirmative", "I am certain.", "Indubitably", etc. They got so mad after about 20 minutes that they ended up hanging up. While I do not recommend doing this, it is also a crazy scam. They will usually say, "Can you hear me now?" To prompt you to say "yes" without thinking.

i answer all unknown calls with mo state police fraud division may i help you ...click

 

[ezra]

That's crazy! Are you guys on the no call list?

does no good

 

[stovebolts]

does no good

:-(

 

[stovebolts]

i answer all unknown calls with mo state police fraud division may i help you ...click

My boss said if he doesnt know the number, he let's it drop into voice mail. He tells his kids the same.

 

[Luminous_Rose]

That's crazy! Are you guys on the no call list?

Not that we know of. Not sure how to because they may not remove by asking if their operations are illegal. They will only use a different number. I block the numbers. I remember the IRS scam saying there was a warrang out for my arrest if I did not pay tax money I owed and they were calling about 5+ times a day. I blocked them, got a different number calling, blocked that, too. I generally don't answer if I do not recognize the number, but sometimes I am expecting a call. These people eventually gave up and moved on.

 

[stovebolts]

Not that we know of. Not sure how to because they may not remove by asking if their operations are illegal. They will only use a different number. I block the numbers. I remember the IRS scam saying there was a warrang out for my arrest if I did not pay tax money I owed and they were calling about 5+ times a day. I blocked them, got a different number calling, blocked that, too. I generally don't answer if I do not recognize the number, but sometimes I am expecting a call. These people eventually gave up and moved on.

Wow! I found out that the IRS has a # to call and report this! I cant believe it happened to you as well.

 

[Luminous_Rose]

Wow! I found out that the IRS has a # to call and report this! I cant believe it happened to you as well.

They have a number to call? Where might I find this? I saved the voicemail so I still have the number just in case I could report it and share with loved ones what these scams sound like. Perhaps that was a good call.

The calls are unbelievably annoying of they keep coming in. I am thankful I heard the warnings from online resources before so that I did not believe these calls were legit.

 

[Luminous_Rose]

Just now reported it. It was a few months ago, but they may still want to know about it.

 

[Knotical]

The silliest one I have gotten a call about said they were calling on behalf of microsoft and my windows was expiring. I basically laughed at him and hung up.

 

[Luminous_Rose]

I

The silliest one I have gotten a call about said they were calling on behalf of microsoft and my windows was expiring. I basically laughed at him and hung up.

I remember this one. There was a video that went viral about a sheriff at a police department getting this call. Funniest thing ever. If I remember correctly, he had an Apple with Mac.

Although, it is terrifying for those that follow through with the scam. They tell you to put a specific code into your command prompt. This allows them to access your computer.

 

[JohnDB]

Oh...if the IRS actually was coming after you...they just take it and tell you about it afterwards. Then you get to go prove that they weren't entitled to the money to get it back.
They don't call first.
They never call.

They send a letter telling you about a hearing you can go to so you can try to get your money back.

Scammers and schemers call...like Cousin Joe who needs money again.

Anybody who calls me usually wants something (work, repairs, rides, money)...get used to the concept. Only if I'm in a "generous mood" do I bother with people I actually have in my contacts list... unknowns always get ignored.

Occasionally one will slip through...but not for long.

 

[jasonc]

That's crazy! Are you guys on the no call list?

What no call,they simply call you from another number ,I get calls from local numbers and its some automatic message about insurance, car warranty, credit card interest rate reduction.

 

[WIP]

And he fell for it...
They told him he owed $10,000 and if he didnt pay it, they were throwing him in jail. If he hung up, they would throw him in jail.
Needless to say, they scared him enough that he "verified his personal information... oyyyy.

He called me in a frenzy thinking somebody stole his identity and freaking out because he didnt want to go to jail. I got him calmed down enough by telling him it was a scam and nobody stole his identity (within the context of owing the IRS money).

Then I asked if he gave them personal information... he did. Then I told him his identity had just been stolen and told him to call his banks and do whatever they recomend.

I also gave him the IRS fraud number, and they have a process for this. He will probably get a new SSN.

Lesson to everyone. Never give out personal information and dont assume your kid knows this, even if you've told them. Keep telling them...

I try to impress on my wife and daughters that no matter what kind of message they get, whether in US mail, email, text, or call never, never, never give out any information or confirm any information. Instead, DO NOT call or reply to any links, addresses, or phone numbers that are provided in the message but rather look up the number themselves and call the company on the phone and ask them to confirm the message.

My Cabelas credit card has been hacked at least three times. Whenever the card company suspects fraudulent activity, I will receive a text message but despite that, I NEVER reply to that text but instead I contact the card company myself and verify the information over the phone.