Community Chat

[Krimpette]

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?

[2blonde]

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

[deepwaterdotter]

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.

[Krimpette]

@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.)

[2blonde]

@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.

[millieshops]

@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.

[Krimpette]

@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!!!

[Noel7]

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

[chrystaltree]

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.  

[Krimpette]

@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".