It's Scam Season...I Mean, Tax Season
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (86890)
United States
January 23, 2016 12:32pm CST
I haven't received my first W2 for doing my 2015 taxes yet, but I have received my first "IRS Scam" phone call.
This morning a message was left on my voice mail, completely with grammatically incorrect verbiage ("This is to inform you that IRS is filing lawsuit against you") and a non-Washington DC area code to call.
I guess these scams are perpetuated simply because they will work on someone.
I will repeat what the IRS says every year this time:
1. They never, never, EVER call people. If they have to communicate with you, it's by mail.
2. They never, never, EVER ask you for your personal information. They're the freaking IRS, they already have it!!! And if they're calling you then they know who they're calling....but they never, never, EVER call people.
3. They never, never, EVER "file lawsuits" against you. If they contact you about back taxes you're always given ample opportunity to pay.
4. They never, never, EVER contact you if you've never failed to pay your taxes.
5. They never, never, EVER use atrocious grammar. 
I reported the phone call, complete with the Albuquerque area code phone number left for me to call, to both the IRS and the US Treasury Department.
If you live in the US and get one of these calls, PLEASE remember that THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE DOES NOT CONDUCT BUSINESS BY TELEPHONE.. They will send you a letter, usually certified to prove that you received it, if they have issues with your taxes.
And, if you get one of these phone calls, go to the IRS's web site and report it. The best thing you can do for yourself and others is to help get these thieves off the street.
I reported the phone call, complete with the Albuquerque area code phone number left for me to call, to both the IRS and the US Treasury Department.
If you live in the US and get one of these calls, PLEASE remember that THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE DOES NOT CONDUCT BUSINESS BY TELEPHONE.. They will send you a letter, usually certified to prove that you received it, if they have issues with your taxes.
And, if you get one of these phone calls, go to the IRS's web site and report it. The best thing you can do for yourself and others is to help get these thieves off the street.5 people like this
7 responses
@FourWalls (86890)
• United States
23 Jan 16
I totally agree, it's like trying to get all the rats out of the barn....there's never just one rat. (Good analogy in this case. ) No doubt the phone number I was given this morning has been disconnected and replaced with another phone number. (Cell phone companies could help reduce the number of spam calls by refusing to allow people to sign up for 24 minutes instead of 24 months. 
)
) No doubt the phone number I was given this morning has been disconnected and replaced with another phone number. (Cell phone companies could help reduce the number of spam calls by refusing to allow people to sign up for 24 minutes instead of 24 months. )2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
23 Jan 16
I would venture to guess many of us got that same call or similar. There will also be scams we just have to be smarter than them.
2 people like this
@topffer (42155)
• France
23 Jan 16
These scammers should obtain better results in my country as the IRS asks for a phone number to be able to call us if needed. But they would never start a lawsuit without a mail
. One thing that I cannot understand is how they can expect to receive a payment without being caught
?
. One thing that I cannot understand is how they can expect to receive a payment without being caught?1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86890)
• United States
23 Jan 16
The way they expect to be paid should send 40-alarm fire warning bells off in people's minds. According to news reports they tell you to go get a prepaid Visa card, then call them with the numbers. Others take the direct approach and bank/credit card info.
2 people like this
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
24 Jan 16
@FourWalls they asked my husband to meet him at a grocery store with a cheque or money order. Now who could fall for it once they heard that?
2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
23 Jan 16
So many scams now a days everyone definitely needs to be careful!
1 person likes this
@HanVanMeegerin (1161)
• United States
23 Jan 16
@FourWalls sadly people fall for these scams.
1 person likes this
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
23 Jan 16
We also get such scams around here and too bad some people end up falling for it
1 person likes this
