My Wife is Going to Prison

@lokisdad (4226)
United States
January 21, 2016 4:20pm CST
My wife is going to prison is what they told her today. When the IRS Agent called her to inform her that they will freeze all of her accounts and assets. She owes the IRS $912 which has accrued over the course of 5yrs according to the agent. She will be arrested, serve time they are going to take the kids and put them in to the child service. She told them this is the first time I am hearing that I owe taxes. He said they sent her letters through the mail. She said I have never gotten any letters from you guys. Where did you send them? The agent got angry and said yes you did if you didn't that isn't my problem we sent it to you in Fayetteville,NC. My wife said really what was the address? Stop trying to be smart! She said You claim to have notified me yet you can't tell me where only the city and state which I never have lived in. Izzy was surprisingly very calm and nice. She said I need your name and Rep ID#? Don't try to get out of this nobody will help you only talking to me as I am the worker assigned to your case. Ok so give me the information and I will call you back so we can talk about my options. She reported him to the IRS for impersonation. She was informed that its very common practice for the scammer to try to scare you. They target elderly people and Immigrants the most. The IRS confirmed that all the taxes are up to date and she owes nothing. They told her that real agents give your their number during the call. They don't yell and they don't make threats. They certainly wouldn't be making such a huge deal to arrest and ruin someones life over $912. She had been advised to officially report the person with any and all info she had and she has done just that. The fake agent was upset that he wasn't able to scare her and that she had questions. LOL How dare you have questions when someone is telling you that you are going to prison! It took a couple of hours to get to the bottom of this and sort it all out but now its done and over with. I came home early from a job for that moron.
33 people like this
35 responses
@Mike197602 (15489)
• United Kingdom
21 Jan 16
Must admit I thought something was off when the amount was mentioned. Don't know about the US but in the UK that amount is only slightly more than it'd cost the government to keep someone in prison for a week
4 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
22 Jan 16
A judge can decide to send you to jail for any amount, but you cannot go to jail without a judge and a sentence. An IRS agent cannot send somebody to jail.
2 people like this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
23 Jan 16
yes that was one thing that made the whole call kind of iffy that and that he was yelling making threats and wouldn't answer any questions.
2 people like this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
23 Jan 16
@topffer true but a judge won't really do it because it would just seem as they are being small minded. Doing that is the equivalent of a cop giving everyone who went one mile over the speed limit a ticket its a waste of the courts time and paperwork
2 people like this
• United States
22 Jan 16
This has happened before also and I told the scammer agent to mail me a letter. The agent told me, it's too late and if you don't pay now, you will be served - go to court, jailed, etc. I told them, mail me so I can pay you (as a bait). They said okay, can you please provide me your address. I said, exactly my point - you don't even know my address. Have a good day and never heard back from the caller.
3 people like this
• United States
23 Jan 16
@lokisdad Exactly. They're just liars. All they have is your name and telephone number. But some people do get lured into this kind of stuff though about being arrested if you don't pay. And it's usually shady like go get a Money gram and transfer the funds.
1 person likes this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
23 Jan 16
lol you are so right because if they were really working for the government they would have your information with your address is all there.
1 person likes this
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
22 Jan 16
Good one!
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
22 Jan 16
These scammers will stop at nothing and this is the time when the IRS scams start. I hope the authorities find and arrest this person.
2 people like this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
24 Jan 16
@lokisdad Hopefully it wasn't a hacked number that they used to call your wife.
1 person likes this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
23 Jan 16
Me too what killed me was that the moron didn't block their number. the government agencies don't need much to find someone with a number and all the technology they have now.
2 people like this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
25 Jan 16
@Marcyaz that is possible lets hope they aren't that smart.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
22 Jan 16
It's a good thing your wife is so determined to stand for her right - to know if he really is an agent . Very clever of her !
2 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
25 Jan 16
@lokisdad It's a good thing that we see the news on TV about this kind of modus of those scammers . At least , we know when we meet one .
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
24 Jan 16
Whats also funny is because we never really think people will go so far but they do. Its just so tv shows like. lol she always says if you see it on tv it means someone already has thought of it imagined how it could be possible. People think nobody is that dumb to do it just like in tv then tada dumb scammer calling.
1 person likes this
@Teep11 (7673)
• United States
22 Jan 16
That's ashame. There's lots of scams out there and a lot of them use the scare tactic. Your wife did the right thing.
2 people like this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
23 Jan 16
It is but we joke my wife and kids are such pains that anyone who took them would pay me to take them back
@MALUSE (69388)
• Germany
22 Jan 16
Your wife has good nerves! The sum the man mentioned is ridiculous. Nobody goes to jail for such little money.
2 people like this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
23 Jan 16
I was surprised because normally something like that would send her over the edge fast. She even was surprised with herself that she didn't get angry like she normally would.
1 person likes this
@dodo19 (47188)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
22 Jan 16
I have no clue why some people do this. They clearly have nothing better to do with their lives than to scam and scare people.
1 person likes this
@dodo19 (47188)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
22 Jan 16
@paigea clearly some people are gullible and pay. It's a shame that some do believe this. Thankfully, your wife didn't.
1 person likes this
@akalinus (40951)
• United States
22 Jan 16
They are human parasites who live off of other people.
2 people like this
@paigea (35974)
• Canada
22 Jan 16
It keeps happening so obviously some people are falling for it and giving them money. So they keep doing it.
1 person likes this
@cherriefic (10400)
• Philippines
21 Jan 16
Your wife handled it well. If it happens to me I don't know if I will be able to stay calm like that.
2 people like this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
23 Jan 16
I think because the irs is who supposedly called she remained calm partly out of curiosity. One time she got a call about owing money on a house after a little bit of talking with whoever had called they both came to the conclusion that it wasn't the same individual although they had the same name and date of birth. The rest of the information wasn't a match.
@meltean59 (182)
• Temple, Texas
22 Jan 16
Way to go! There are so many scams going on.
1 person likes this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
24 Jan 16
I think after several people trying over the years you become a bit more suspicious of people.
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
22 Jan 16
I once got a call that my car was out of warranty (which considering it was 16 years old at the time, it certainly was) and how I can't drive like that, and how I needed to renew it and such. I kept them talking and asked where they were calling from, while calmly looking up their number online and finding out where they were. Then I asked them where they were calling from, and they stated a completely different area and I asked why it said their number was from California? Then I started requesting their information, manager, and all sorts of things and of course they hung up. People like that need to be squished.
1 person likes this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
24 Jan 16
like a bug! lol I agree sometimes the best thing to do is the same thing they are doing to you bomb them with questions and counter all of your responses with a little tell me what you got and i will verify if you have the right person.Tell me a little more about you lets verify your credentials i'm sure it rattles them because its unexpected from us.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
24 Jan 16
@lokisdad If only we could squish them like bugs! They use fear as their tools, but when it's turned on them they cower. It means they are no longer in control. And that's when the fear tactic crumbles apart, because they are in the wrong. I was called by the fraternal order of police a week ago and at the time we were going to the vet to put the dog down. I told the guy I was on an emotional journey right now and he didn't have a place in it. I didn't even wait for a response and hung up. Probably not a response he's used to.
@akalinus (40951)
• United States
22 Jan 16
The IRS does not call you on the phone. This is an out and out scam. If they threaten you, call the police.
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
24 Jan 16
you're right these agencies don't make threats like they were making
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
22 Jan 16
Seriously, the idea of sending somebody to prison for owing less than a thousand dollars is absolutely ridiculous.
1 person likes this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
24 Jan 16
@boiboing yes they are and because things are so bad financially everywhere now you can't tell if they were lazy scum bags before the crap hit the fan or if its just some poor bass turd who has hit such hard times and desperate that they will do something like this because if you think about it you are robbing people without violence and not being seeing in person.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
23 Jan 16
@lokisdad These people are scumbags.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
22 Jan 16
Well, I was mislead by the title, but I am glad your wife did not really go to prison. Scammers and impersonators are out there just to destroy lives and many have fallen victim to it. But with quick wit and common sense, like your wife had, they stand no chance. Presence of mind is what's needed in these situations. Kudos~!
2 people like this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
23 Jan 16
lol I thought it would be funny because that is what he would say every few sentences kind of makes you wonder who they are trying to convince of that themselves or you. People just need to be more vigilant and not be afraid to ask questions because they are afraid of what they are telling you. If you are going to go to jail make sure you know why you are going that they are not falsely accusing you. What proof do they have? Ask make sure that everything is explained in detail. Trust me if they are handling your case they should be able to answer your questions like what address do you have on file/system?
• United States
23 Jan 16
I've heard of these scammers making these phone calls. I haven't gotten one. It sounds like your wife handled it well. :-)
1 person likes this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
24 Jan 16
Telemarketers call and she hands the phone to the kids. lol we don't get many of those calls.
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Jan 16
@lokisdad Hahaha!
• Philippines
22 Jan 16
what a creep, that surely will ruin your day. people are so desperate for some money that even the elderly isn't exempt from such terrible scams.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
21 Jan 16
I knew straight away as soon as you mentioned the IRS that it was a scam. I've heard about this before.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23392)
• United Kingdom
22 Jan 16
These scum are horrible and I hope that they get caught and slung in prison! Good job your wife was persistent with her questioning. I am sure that many elderly people are scammed by this sort of thing though.
1 person likes this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
23 Jan 16
yes they sadly are because of they're old they aren't always aware of all the scams that are going on
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
22 Jan 16
There are so many scams today @lokisdad that it's hard to keep up.
1 person likes this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
23 Jan 16
yes there are and its sad to see that this is what the world is coming to worrying about every person who you talk to which might be trying to scam you out of something.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (328094)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan 16
Some of these con men have a lot of cheek. I'm glad your wife stayed calm and didn't get upset.
1 person likes this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
23 Jan 16
I think her asking so many questions that were important is what made her realize that the whole thing was made up if you work for a specific place you should be able to answer some questions.
1 person likes this
• Dayton, Ohio
22 Jan 16
This is a big scam going on right now. Even the IRS says that if an IRS agent calls you, then you should hang up and call the IRS back at 1.800.829.1040. I am glad you spotted this scam for what it was.
1 person likes this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
23 Jan 16
my wife called a similar number i remember the 1040 part.
1 person likes this