topic Re: Is This A Scam in Electronics

Is This A Scam

Jordan2 — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 18:48:28 GMT

My elderly mother tells me about a call she got today. It's a recorded message saying it's the IRS and she is being sued. It gives you a number you need to call. This sounds fishy to me. Wouldn't the IRS contact you by mail? Who knows where this number will lead. Also my mother pays her taxes yearly and on time. So this has got to be a scam, right?

Re: Is This A Scam

brii — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 18:49:29 GMT

Yes, it's a scam.

Many people have gotten those calls. The IRS doesn't call you.

Re: Is This A Scam

judy0330 — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 18:49:55 GMT

Yes Yes Yes! It is a scam!! I have gotten the same calls.

Re: Is This A Scam

Love my grandkids — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 18:50:47 GMT

YES YES YES!!! This is going around and has been for months. Tell your mom to ignore any calls like this and if she gets another one, HANG UP!!

Seems they are targeting older people for some reason. Tell mom not to worry!

Re: Is This A Scam

fthunt — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 18:55:31 GMT

IRS will NEVER call or email anybody. Another scam is a call from an older sounding man who says - ""Seniors - you qualify blah blah for a medical emergency alert system"" hang up immediately cuz they only want your personal info - ss number or bank/credit card data.

No this call is not from Life Line or other legit alert systems.

Re: Is This A Scam

Nuttmeg — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 19:14:27 GMT

The IRS sends out letters. IRS SCAM http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regional-berks/irs-repeats-warning-to-taxpayers-about-largest-ever-telephone-scam/30022272

Re: Is This A Scam

millieshops — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 19:17:09 GMT

Scam!

Whether it's the IRS, the Soci Sec. Admin., the SEC with a brokerage issue, and on and on. Any phone call is a scam.

Hoping mom told OP before calling the number!

Re: Is This A Scam

lennox25 — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 19:18:11 GMT

Definitely a scam. Please tell her not to worry and ignore it, and hang up if they call again !!!!!

Re: Is This A Scam

ChynnaBlue — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 19:20:01 GMT

Yes. I also recently got a recorded call saying that my Visa card had been compromised and that I needed to enter my 16-digit card number to get help. Nope, not how that works. It never mentioned the name of my bank and no bank calls to ask you for your card number.

I entered 16 1s in a row and waited to see what would happen. The voice said I entered an invalid number, so I entered the same number again. Repeated that twice and it just said "good bye" and hung up when I never entered a valid number - it never transferred me to a real person.

Re: Is This A Scam

goodstuff — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 19:25:37 GMT

I've never seen so many phone scams and come-ons aimed at seniors. Since DH and i started collecting Social Security, we've been inundated with sales calls, some of them highly questionable. It's scary to think how many vulnerable elderly people could have their finances endangered if they fall prey to these vultures. Your Mom (and all of us) need to be careful and alert for scams.

Re: Is This A Scam

chickenbutt — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 19:27:10 GMT

I'm glad she asked you before she proceeded. Unfortunately, a lot of these scams are targeted at older people who might be more vulnerable and less technologically adept.

I'd probably tell her that she needs to be super cautious and, just by a rule of thumb, not believe ANYTHING OR ANYONE that she doesn't not already know, for 100%, is trustworthy.

Re: Is This A Scam

circles — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 19:28:29 GMT

yes, its a scam...I received them in the past...sometimes the voice gets really nasty and threatening....I just listed to them and laugh...knowing full well I don't owe them...

Re: Is This A Scam

rudy — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 19:30:46 GMT

SCAM

Re: Is This A Scam

corita — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 19:43:32 GMT

Better yet, tell your mom not to answer phone call unless she knows who is calling! I have a phone that verbally tells me the calling number/name and also shows it on the screen. I never answer any phone call unless I know who is calling. If they want to get ahold of me then they can leave a message. I don't call back if name/number is unknown. I find that these scam calls never leave a message! Another hint I learned at a security session....never have your name on your phone message. Not a good idea for the caller to know your name --too many ways they can find your address and other info. I just have a message that says "Can't get to the phone right now, leave a message".

Re: Is This A Scam

dooBdoo — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 20:39:33 GMT

Some of the scams are sophisticated, so question everything.

1--Don't answer if you don't recognize the caller ID or if it looks questionable (example: your own number calling you, businesses/agencies that don't make cold calls like Microsoft, Apple, the IRS, etc.).

2--If the caller leaves a message, contact the business/agency directly to find out if they generated the call. Do not use the contact info the message directs you to use.

3--Try Nomorobo, a free, safe service which will block most of these harmful, unwanted phone calls. (link goes to: https://www.nomorobo.com/)

Re: Is This A Scam

dobiesrule — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 20:49:34 GMT

I received a call on Sunday night, not usually the time when scammers call so I answered it. It was an automated call supposedly from my credit card company alerting me to possible fraud on my account. I was suspicious especially when it wanted me to enter personal information. I just waited on the line and did nothing and finally it gave me an 800 number to call along with a reference number. I did not call that number, but I did call the number on the back of the card. I was connected to the fraud department and yes there was suspicious activity on my card. They closed my account and sent me a new card, but the whole thing was very unsettling.

Re: Is This A Scam

Nuttmeg — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 23:59:33 GMT

On 12/5/2014 dobiesrule said: I received a call on Sunday night, not usually the time when scammers call so I answered it. It was an automated call supposedly from my credit card company alerting me to possible fraud on my account. I was suspicious especially when it wanted me to enter personal information. I just waited on the line and did nothing and finally it gave me an 800 number to call along with a reference number. I did not call that number, but I did call the number on the back of the card. I was connected to the fraud department and yes there was suspicious activity on my card. They closed my account and sent me a new card, but the whole thing was very unsettling.

This kind of thing always is. Sometimes you wonder how, where did these people get my information from.

Re: Is This A Scam

Jordan2 — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 01:37:14 GMT

On 12/5/2014 fthunt said:
IRS will NEVER call or email anybody. Another scam is a call from an older sounding man who says - "Seniors - you qualify blah blah for a medical emergency alert system" hang up immediately cuz they only want your personal info - ss number or bank/credit card data.

No this call is not from Life Line or other legit alert systems.

Funny you should mention this because my mother was getting calls for a medical alert bracelet and pain medication everyday, several times a day for a couple of weeks. On the recording it states her doctor has given the okay. I asked her doctor about this at her last appointment, he had no clue what I was talking about! My mother knows enough not to give out info, but I feel sorry for the seniors who aren't savvy enough.

Re: Is This A Scam

GCR18 — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 01:43:39 GMT

As others have said, IRS does business via mail.

Re: Is This A Scam

this is my nic — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 01:50:37 GMT

S C A M!!! These miserable people prey on the elderly because they think they're not that savvy about ""legal"" issues. I'm sure lots of folks got taken by this particular scam.