Community Chat

[Financialgrl]

Listening to a financial planner the other day who said the IRS now actually may call you.  So just googled and it took me to the IRS site.  Up came info posted that never said they don't call - instead they gave 5 things to avoid phishing such as never answer any emails - and their email address is dot.gov, not dot.com, and that scammers have been known to send letters to people using letterhead appearing it comes from the IRS,, etc. 

Went on to say that no matter how the IRS may contact you, they will never ask for personal information, PIN #s, etc. and to NEVER dial any number on any such correspondence - call the general IRS number and they will tell you if it's real or not. 

[pugvette74]

I received three IRS SCAM messages on my landline phone this morning. I called back three time and said you are a SCAM never call my number again.

I called the number back after awhile and the call couldn't go through. If this happens to any of you, please tell them you are a SCAMMER and you will be off calling list.

Hope this helps...

[ladyroxanne]

we've had two irs calls in the last 3 weeks.  he left messages on the machine and he was quite threatening.  i would love to get him live.  it would be so much fun to tell him what i thought of him and his whole schtick!

[dooBdoo]

This is going to muddy up the situation if it comes to pass.  @Financialgrl, this is probably what the financial planner was referencing:

The IRS could soon call you about debt collection, and it's not a scam

12/12/15:  "When the IRS and law enforcement officials issue warnings about phone scams involving tax collection, they always say the same thing: The IRS will never call you out of the blue to demand payment.

That could change, according to legislators concerned about a little surprise tucked into a recently signed federal bill.

A provision in the emergency budget plan...  allows federal agencies to make robocalls demanding payment of back taxes, as well as student loans and mortgage debts.

That provision, says U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, will lead to confusion and increased opportunities for scammers.

Menendez is co-sponsoring a bill dubbed the Help Americans Never Get Unwanted Phone calls (HANGUP) Act, which would repeal Section 301 of the Budget Act of 2015. Section 301 eliminates the current federal requirement that a caller must first get a party's consent before sending autodial or prerecorded calls or texts to cellphones for collection of debts owed to or guaranteed by the federal government.

"People must be protected from over-the-phone predators trying to steal your money," Menendez said in a statement released by his office. "Not only does this budget provision open the flood gates to more nuisance phone calls interrupting dinner and family time, but it blurs the line between what is legit and what is a complete and utter fraud.

The IRS is working to ensure taxpayers aren't confused when the calls begin.

"The IRS is currently reviewing the legislation," agency spokesman Anthony Burke said in a statement. "We are taking steps to begin implementation of the program as soon as feasible and will do our best to implement the new requirements as effectively as possible. To that end, we will do everything we can do to help taxpayers avoid confusion and ensure they understand their rights and tax responsibilities, particularly in light of continuing scams where callers impersonate IRS agents and request immediate payment...

complete article:

http://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/index.ssf/2015/12/ok_so_maybe_the_irs_will_call_you_looking_for_...

[ladyroxanne]

@dooBdoo

i haven't read all the responses, but the real irs is not going to call you and be nasty and threatening and say there is a warrant out for your arrest unless you call this number, etc.  big differencem, i think.

btw, i don't want the real irs calling me either.  LOL

[CelticCrafter]

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@ladyroxanne wrote:

@dooBdoo

i haven't read all the responses, but the real irs is not going to call you and be nasty and threatening and say there is a warrant out for your arrest unless you call this number, etc.  big differencem, i think.

btw, i don't want the real irs calling me either.  LOL

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And I think if the real IRS called you it would show up on the caller ID as IRS or Fed Gov not unavailable or unknown!

[Jordan2]

My mother got one of these IRS scam calls yesterday. She is elderly and is aware they are scams and doesn't pick up the phone. A message was left by a woman with an accent, I couldn't understand everything she said. The gist was they knew she filed her income tax and she owes money. She has 24 hours to respond before the police come to her door to arrest her!  They left a number to call. How do these people sleep at night knowing they are bilking money out of poor trusting people?

[Suziepeach]

Don't know if they've tried calling us or not, I don't answer the phone..  then I do a search on the number and block it.  But I did have Microsoft call, I said, "Hey I work for Microsoft too, he said (heavy Indian accent), you do, yes and I am across the room from you."  He stuttered and hung up..  LOL  and now it seems it's not only the scam IRS calls, it's like on some days the phone call flood gate is opened..  so much for the DNCL..  even our cellphones..  grrrrrrrrrrrrrr ... 

[dooBdoo]

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CelticCrafter wrote:

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ladyroxanne wrote:

@dooBdoo

i haven't read all the responses, but the real irs is not going to call you and be nasty and threatening and say there is a warrant out for your arrest unless you call this number, etc.  big differencem, i think.

btw, i don't want the real irs calling me either.  LOL

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And I think if the real IRS called you it would show up on the caller ID as IRS or Fed Gov not unavailable or unknown!

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         True, @ladyroxanne and @CelticCrafter!   Well, at least I hope the real IRS wouldn't be nasty or threatening.   Regarding the called ID, that can be "spoofed" by criminals so it's not always possible to use that as a sign that a call is or isn't valid.   Also, if the actual IRS calls your cell phone and you don't have the incoming phone number in your contacts, it probably will show up as something like "unknown."

         My point in posting this was in reference to @Financialgrl's post in which the advisor stated the IRS itself might start calling.    This means the statement "the IRS never calls" will suddenly become untrue...  and it will be even harder for people to discern the difference.    It could be especially confusing for people unaware of phone scams, etc.