Among Friends

[CalminHeart]

It's tax time and scammers are taking advantage of it.  People call and say they're with the IRS and they will be deported or jailed if they don't wire money to them (IRS) right away.  

1. The IRS never calls.

2. Never wire money to someone who calls you.   

3.  Call the IRS (or whatever company) if you think they called you.  

4.  Talk to your parents, family about scams.

We process Western Union wires where I work.  There are lots of other scams going on all the time.  Never wire money to those who call.  We have caught a number of scams and saved people money.  Some include calls about;

• orphanages and charities in other countries.  Always go through a trusted US charity.
• property taxes
• telemarketing calls 
• People who send extra money for PayPal purchases and want the difference sent back.  Then the sender contacts PayPal and has the entire original amount returned so the seller is out nearly double.
• your kid is being held hostage, is in jail, etc.  
• Don't wire money if you don't personally know the person

[Group 5 minus 1]

Actually the IRS once did call us. This was years ago. I was most unco-operative and would not talk to them. Called our accounant. He said after making a few calls found out it was a new idea(not a great one). It was discontinued.

[Janey2]

The IRS, under special circumstances, will call a home. 

[Shanus]

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@CalminHeartwrote:

It's tax time and scammers are taking advantage of it.  People call and say they're with the IRS and they will be deported or jailed if they don't wire money to them (IRS) right away.  

1. The IRS never calls.

2. Never wire money to someone who calls you.   

3.  Call the IRS (or whatever company) if you think they called you.  

4.  Talk to your parents, family about scams.

We process Western Union wires where I work.  There are lots of other scams going on all the time.  Never wire money to those who call.  We have caught a number of scams and saved people money.  Some include calls about;

• orphanages and charities in other countries.  Always go through a trusted US charity.
• property taxes
• telemarketing calls 
• People who send extra money for PayPal purchases and want the difference sent back.  Then the sender contacts PayPal and has the entire original amount returned so the seller is out nearly double.
• your kid is being held hostage, is in jail, etc.  
• Don't wire money if you don't personally know the person

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@CalminHeart  Tax Accountant hubby totally agrees. If IRS calls...prank call. They make contact by mail if necessary since you usually need info, forms included in letter. He suggested calling IRS and reporting scam calls...of course this time of year, expect to be on hold for some time. ****He said hang up & do not give any info...not even talk. The scammers are recording conversation and want to record your voice saying Yes or No so they can insert it into other documents to snag you giving permission.

[esmeesmerelda]

Thanks for the excellent & timely reminders @CalminHeart!

[Nataliesgramma]

I am going to remind my elderly relatives about this because many of them are too trusting

[chrystaltree]

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@Shanuswrote:

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@CalminHeartwrote:

It's tax time and scammers are taking advantage of it.  People call and say they're with the IRS and they will be deported or jailed if they don't wire money to them (IRS) right away.  

1. The IRS never calls.

2. Never wire money to someone who calls you.   

3.  Call the IRS (or whatever company) if you think they called you.  

4.  Talk to your parents, family about scams.

We process Western Union wires where I work.  There are lots of other scams going on all the time.  Never wire money to those who call.  We have caught a number of scams and saved people money.  Some include calls about;

• orphanages and charities in other countries.  Always go through a trusted US charity.
• property taxes
• telemarketing calls 
• People who send extra money for PayPal purchases and want the difference sent back.  Then the sender contacts PayPal and has the entire original amount returned so the seller is out nearly double.
• your kid is being held hostage, is in jail, etc.  
• Don't wire money if you don't personally know the person

---

@CalminHeart  Tax Accountant hubby totally agrees. If IRS calls...prank call. They make contact by mail if necessary since you usually need info, forms included in letter. He suggested calling IRS and reporting scam calls...of course this time of year, expect to be on hold for some time. ****He said hang up & do not give any info...not even talk. The scammers are recording conversation and want to record your voice saying Yes or No so they can insert it into other documents to snag you giving permission.

I have a better idea.  If a caller claims to be from the IRS, hang up and block that number.  Don't speak, don't ask any questions.  Just hang up.  You don't have to notify IRS, they know there are scams like this out there and there's nothing they can do about it.  If you do have outstanding business with the IRS, you already KNOW that.  They'll contact you in writing.

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[qualitygal]

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@Nataliesgrammawrote:

I am going to remind my elderly relatives about this because many of them are too trusting

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Absolutely.      Anytime I use to hear about scams, I would tell my folks.  Mom answered the phone back then, and always tried to be so helpful.  I had to warn her quite often.  

[Shanus]

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@chrystaltreewrote:

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@Shanuswrote:

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@CalminHeartwrote:

It's tax time and scammers are taking advantage of it.  People call and say they're with the IRS and they will be deported or jailed if they don't wire money to them (IRS) right away.  

1. The IRS never calls.

2. Never wire money to someone who calls you.   

3.  Call the IRS (or whatever company) if you think they called you.  

4.  Talk to your parents, family about scams.

We process Western Union wires where I work.  There are lots of other scams going on all the time.  Never wire money to those who call.  We have caught a number of scams and saved people money.  Some include calls about;

• orphanages and charities in other countries.  Always go through a trusted US charity.
• property taxes
• telemarketing calls 
• People who send extra money for PayPal purchases and want the difference sent back.  Then the sender contacts PayPal and has the entire original amount returned so the seller is out nearly double.
• your kid is being held hostage, is in jail, etc.  
• Don't wire money if you don't personally know the person

---

@CalminHeart  Tax Accountant hubby totally agrees. If IRS calls...prank call. They make contact by mail if necessary since you usually need info, forms included in letter. He suggested calling IRS and reporting scam calls...of course this time of year, expect to be on hold for some time. ****He said hang up & do not give any info...not even talk. The scammers are recording conversation and want to record your voice saying Yes or No so they can insert it into other documents to snag you giving permission.

I have a better idea.  If a caller claims to be from the IRS, hang up and block that number.  Don't speak, don't ask any questions.  Just hang up.  You don't have to notify IRS, they know there are scams like this out there and there's nothing they can do about it.  If you do have outstanding business with the IRS, you already KNOW that.  They'll contact you in writing.

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@chrystaltree  DH has an IRS number to contact re: scams. They do want to be informed in case new ones are popping up.

[Shanus]

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@Nataliesgrammawrote:

I am going to remind my elderly relatives about this because many of them are too trusting

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@Nataliesgramma  Mom’s (90 yrs. old) tv is on 24/7. I set it up to show who’s calling on top left hand corner of screen. I told her if she doesn’t recognizes the # or the name not to pick up the phone. She was worried about missing important calls, but explained if anyone really needs to speak to her, they’ll leave a message on answering machine & she can return call.