topic Re: Scam Phone Calls in Community Chat

Scam Phone Calls

handygal2 — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 11:45:12 GMT

I've gotten my share of scam phone calls recently. The most egregious are those purporting to be from the IRS, threatening arrest and jail for non-payment of a tax debt that is completely bogus. Don't fall for this-- the IRS NEVER will notify you by phone. There are other scams as well. Even sophisticated people have fallen for them out of fear. Here's the link to a brief, informative article:

http://nyp.st/2a6zQEM

Re: Scam Phone Calls

Ptaz — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 11:54:42 GMT

if you challenge some of them they get nasty. I've gotten the one from the treasury department saying they had a $7000 check for me. Then there's the one about Microsoft Support wanting to help me with my computer. Then there's the medical payments group wanting to help me receive payment for my pain.

Most of the callers don't speak English well. You can hear lots of phones in the background. Don't fall for these people.

Re: Scam Phone Calls

Krimpette — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 11:59:24 GMT

I got three IRS calls last week, which sort of amused me. In each case, it was a recorded message saying that IRS had several law suits against me and that I MUST call the number they provided (which appeared on my caller ID). Really..........a RECORDED message????? Anyway, since they were kind enough to provide a phone number, I was kind enough to provide the number to IRS. (Edited to add that the messages were left on my answering machine, since I don't answer calls I don't recognize.)

Re: Scam Phone Calls

GCR18 — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 12:01:18 GMT

In the last six months I've had more unknown numbers call, than in the twelve years I've had this phone number. There are two that the robo leaves a message. First is the IRS and second is from a credit card saying they will lower my rates. If I don't know the number, I don't answer. Then I block the number. The most persistent is the breast cancer society. I assume they are fake. I don't give money over the phone. Don't care who you are or how worthy your cause is.

Re: Scam Phone Calls

Group 5 minus 1 — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 12:28:17 GMT

Actually several years ago -maybe 10-the Irs did call us. I did not believe them and called our accountant. He followed up and found out the IRS was trying something "new". There were so many complaints that this was discontinued.

Re: Scam Phone Calls

gonnab — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 14:06:31 GMT

I got FIVE of those calls in ONE day!!! Since I always check my caller ID before I pick up the phone, all those calls were left on my message recorder. Never answered any of them. Continued to get for a few days and now they are silent. Guess they got the hint!!!

Re: Scam Phone Calls

DoneTryin — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 14:21:27 GMT

If I don't recognize the number on my Caller ID, I just don't answer. If they leave a message & I still don't know who it is, I Google the number to try to find out who it is. I did get one of those scam IRS calls earlier this year where they threatened me with arrest, etc. I just transcribed the message, then reported it to IRS on their website.

I also have NOMOROBO which is really nice, though sometimes I'd like to pick up & when they say whatever they're going to say, tell them "hold on a minute while I go get my Social Security card (or whatever), then hold the phone near the toilet & flush. Of course, I never answer, but it's nice to have that fun little fantasy.

Re: Scam Phone Calls

Winifred — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 14:28:10 GMT

I have had two of those IRS calls threatening either arrest or a lawsuit. Well amazing to me that anyone could fall for any phone call - especially from the IRS. They NEVER call you like that. I too reported it to IRS AND the carrier of our phone system.

Re: Scam Phone Calls

Montana — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 14:50:34 GMT

I only check my landline voice mails about once a week. This has really cut down on the annoyance of these scam calls.

Family and friends have my cell phone number,

Re: Scam Phone Calls

Suziepeach — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 16:47:15 GMT

I've had two calls this morning, didn't answer either one but after looking up the numbers, oops I missed calls from the IRS, LOL .. After 7 rings my fax machine picks up, I hardly ever turn the answering machine on. Plus I love call blocking, what a darn shame something can't be done, finally, to stop all these scam calls. So much for the do not call list!

Re: Scam Phone Calls

StraytoStay — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 16:56:44 GMT

I've noticed that some call back in two hours using another burner phone.I mess with them. If it's not a recording, I hang on the line and listen for them to try to hang up to disconnect--it wastes a couple minutes of their time (&mine) or if I have music on, I put the phone in front of the speaker, or in front on the TV, and waste their time, too.

Re: Scam Phone Calls

StraytoStay — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 17:01:56 GMT

You can search or add bogus numbers at http://800notes.com and see what others have had happen. I don't think the breast cancer number is legit, but a scammer, at least the number I looked up.

Re: Scam Phone Calls

dmod nj — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 17:03:22 GMT

@StraytoStay wrote:
I've noticed that some call back in two hours using another burner phone.I mess with them. If it's not a recording, I hang on the line and listen for them to try to hang up to disconnect--it wastes a couple minutes of their time (&mine) or if I have music on, I put the phone in front of the speaker, or in front on the TV, and waste their time, too.

I mess with them too, some days. I got a call from them telling me they were the IRS. I told them my husband was the sheriff and he could arrest me for them. lol lol

I've also waited until they say hello and blow a whistle in the phone. I was told.........don't know if it is true...........they wear a headset. So, if I blow the whistle, it is a bit harder to escape the sound.

Re: Scam Phone Calls

jackthebear — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 17:14:45 GMT

just don't answer the phone unless you know the caller.

even messing around with a scam caller lets them know there is an actual person there,

let it go to voice mail, anyone that want's to get in touch with you will leave a message

Re: Scam Phone Calls

Cats3000 — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 17:20:27 GMT

Unfortunately, the scams are there by the thousands. We have an answering machine on our land line. We let it pick up the call. If it's someone we know, we can interupt to answer. Have only gotten less than a handful of these calls on our cell phones.

Re: Scam Phone Calls

dooBdoo — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 17:59:29 GMT

@StraytoStay wrote:
I've noticed that some call back in two hours using another burner phone.I mess with them. If it's not a recording, I hang on the line and listen for them to try to hang up to disconnect--it wastes a couple minutes of their time (&mine) or if I have music on, I put the phone in front of the speaker, or in front on the TV, and waste their time, too.

@StraytoStay, They don't use burner phones -- they have software to illegally "spoof" and constantly change the caller ID info.

For anyone who's answering these calls, as others have said it's not a good idea. For the most part, they're using a computer to randomly scroll numerically through potential phone numbers. They don't know which ones are actually in use until someone picks up... then, the number is marked, shared and in some cases sold to other criminals. The result is even more unwanted calls.

Re: Scam Phone Calls

jaxs mom — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 18:02:32 GMT

I've never gotten the IRS one, but I'd never fall for that I know my tax status with the IRS clear. As for others, Unless it's a wrong number or I know you, I hang up.

Re: Scam Phone Calls

jaxs mom — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 18:08:34 GMT

@Ptaz wrote:
if you challenge some of them they get nasty. I've gotten the one from the treasury department saying they had a $7000 check for me. Then there's the one about Microsoft Support wanting to help me with my computer. Then there's the medical payments group wanting to help me receive payment for my pain.

Most of the callers don't speak English well. You can hear lots of phones in the background. Don't fall for these people.

LOL I've had a lot of calls saying they are from Microsoft support. At this point, I just hang up as soon as they say that, I used to tell them the truth, which is that I don't use a computer with windows anyway so obviously they aren't calling me.

I rarely answer the phone without checking the caller id anyway. So I just hit off on the phone so it stops ringing and goes to voicemail.

Re: Scam Phone Calls

wilma — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 18:14:10 GMT

We gets tons of weird calls on our landline. We never pick up unless we know the number and recognize the caller. We give to plenty of charities, but never over the phone. I was told that the IRS never calls you; they always send you info in the mail first if there is an issue. The same thing is true for jury duty. Do not give your info over the phone.

Re: Scam Phone Calls

StraytoStay — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 19:34:10 GMT

If called and it goes to voice mail, is it still marked as an active line? I really don't know, not trying to come across as a beotch.

My husband answers these, when home, but often they hang up so I wonder how they plan to make $$ doing that?

I'd also heard on the news that AARP got hacked by Nigeria scammers and all on the AARP list were being hit by these calls. (Google for more info, I can't count on my memory) My husband is in their database so we get at least a dozen calls per week.