topic Re: Spam call question in Community Chat

Spam call question

Krimpette — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 17:47:05 GMT

Just received yet another spam call. Caller ID display read "Spam_Unavailable". The number showing is 1-800-829-1040. That number is actually IRS! So my question....how does one actually call IRS these days, should the need arise? Anyone else get such a weird spam call?

Re: Spam call question

2blonde — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 17:49:41 GMT

Why would you need to call the IRS anyway? (You know they can put just about anything on the caller ID now.)

Re: Spam call question

deepwaterdotter — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 17:53:45 GMT

I've noticed an uptick in the number of spam calls my phone is blocking. If i needed to contact the IRS, I would first consult the accountant who prepares my taxes.

Re: Spam call question

Krimpette — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 17:56:03 GMT

@2blonde. I know that they can usually put anything on caller ID these days, but I've never had a call were the name showing was "spam.unavailable", nor have I ever received one where the phone number displayed is actually the IRS number. Weird (at least to me) that the identifier name was shown as "spam"!!!! Anyway, kind of strange. (But there can be many reasons why a person might need to call IRS.)

Re: Spam call question

2blonde — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 18:01:33 GMT

@Krimpette I agree of course that it's weird, but remember the thieves are getting more creative all the time. IMO, the only time you might need to call the IRS is when you're preparing your tax return and have a question (they do provide a number for that). I know that if they ever have a problem with you, they will contact you by mail, not by phone.

Re: Spam call question

millieshops — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 18:09:15 GMT

@KrimpetteThe most important thing I know is that up until now, IRS has always said they will never call us. And - if your phone company is identifying the call as spam, I'd assume they know it's just that and the thieves have found a way to divert any return calls to themselves.

Re: Spam call question

Krimpette — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 18:39:59 GMT

@millieshops That's what I was kind of hoping. I wonder if the "perps" know that their call is being identified as "spam"!!!!! Never saw that one before!!!

Re: Spam call question

Noel7 — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 18:47:57 GMT

Did it say IRS on your phone or did you personally look up the IRS number?

Re: Spam call question

chrystaltree — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 18:51:17 GMT

How do you know it was spam if it's a real IRS number? It's the IRS customer service number so if you didn't call IRS and were not expecting a return phone call, there would be no reason for anyone from that number to call you.

Re: Spam call question

Krimpette — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 19:13:37 GMT

@Noel7 @chrystaltree. The number was displayed on my caller ID. When I googled the number, it's clearly the IRS phone number. And on the line where the caller name usually appears, it showed "SPAM_UNAVAILABLE".

Re: Spam call question

riley1 — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 19:41:39 GMT

If the IRS wants you, they will send you a letter. I had a call once from "someone" at the IRS and told them I would need it in writing - never heard from them again!

Re: Spam call question

Carmie — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 19:45:59 GMT

These spammers are using real numbers that belong people or buninesses. Have you ever received a call from your own phone number? I have.

the the past several months, I have received calls from people who I know are deceased. The spammers are using my local first three digit codes hoping I will answer. If I don’t recognize the number, I don’t answer and they never leave a message.

The spammers can use the IRS’s phone number the same as everyone else’s. They change phone numbers often.

Re: Spam call question

Krimpette — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 19:52:53 GMT

I have no issue with IRS, and I know they don't call you. What I thought was so weird (in addition to the spoofed phone number) was seeing the word "spam" in the caller ID. I'm hoping maybe there's a way that the phone companies are finding to do this with more spam callers. After all, when QVC was selling that call blocker gadget, I believe they said it came with something like 5,000 already blocked numbers. If the manufacturer can do that, I wonder why the phone companies can't do more.

Re: Spam call question

patbz — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 00:01:45 GMT

I get many spam calls and block them using True Caller app.

Re: Spam call question

Cakers3 — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 23:27:30 GMT

@Carmie wrote:
These spammers are using real numbers that belong people or buninesses. Have you ever received a call from your own phone number? I have.

the the past several months, I have received calls from people who I know are deceased. The spammers are using my local first three digit codes hoping I will answer. If I don’t recognize the number, I don’t answer and they never leave a message.

The spammers can use the IRS’s phone number the same as everyone else’s. They change phone numbers often.

@Carmie This is true about the real numbers being used by spammers/hackers.

The latest is hacking into cell phones and calling somebody from a contact list so that a real contact name/face/number is displayed but it is a hacker.

So for example I could get a call from grandson-his name, face, and number would be displayed as it is in my contacts but it wouldn't be him.

Just saw this on the news a few nights ago.

Re: Spam call question

JustJazzmom — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 01:36:59 GMT

@Krimpette wrote:
The number was displayed on my caller ID. When I googled the number, it's clearly the IRS phone number. And on the line where the caller name usually appears, it showed "SPAM_UNAVAILABLE".

Someone somewhere spoofed the IRS number.

Re: Spam call question

shoekitty — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 02:49:03 GMT

I got a call a couple weeks ago that said Kaiser Hospital. Since my grandkids and kids have Kaiser, like a fool I answered. This lady went off on me selling medical alerts. that was a spoof call. Then after the calls goes through the caller ID does not display.

Re: Spam call question

Snoopp — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 02:56:13 GMT

The IRS will communicate through mail; you can call them, of course. I had to deal with them and all communication from them was by mail only.

Re: Spam call question

sissel — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 05:46:18 GMT

I can't even tell you what I said with that . Very nasty cussing & loved it. then blocked them. Yep I pay my taxes & this ****** phone calls then blocked them but fun expressing myself. Told them every cuss word I know but knew they are trying to scare me. bunch of ******.Have fun then block

Re: Spam call question

shoekitty — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 07:31:19 GMT

They put fake numbers on the caller ID. My guess is thy really wouldnt want us calling them back.

as i said, I actually had a telemarketer put Kaiser Permanente on caller ID, the number was a local Kaiser in town. But I answered that call, thinking it was my grand daughter and the telemarketer went off blabbing non stop about medical alert....til I khung up