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Happiegrrrl2
Trad climber
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Dec 18, 2015 - 03:58pm PT
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Worse that this(so long as one doesn't actually fall for it) is the massive surge in data breeches that has allowed scammers enough information on people that they are able to file fake tax returns. The real people don't find out until they file their legitimate return and the system bounces it out because "they have already filed."
Just one out of several articles from Krebs on Security blog: http://krebsonsecurity.com/2015/03/tax-fraud-advice-straight-from-the-scammers/
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 18, 2015 - 04:07pm PT
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I'm not sure why I felt so violent but I did.
Me too. I've got enuf crap going down in my life; I did not need this.
I blame myself for falling for it. If I could hunt this guy down...
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jstan
climber
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Dec 18, 2015 - 04:09pm PT
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A while ago during a cut back in IRS staffing I got a snail mail from the IRS saying my property was going to be attached. I called the IRS, got an agent, and as I had calculated, they had not looked at my 2210. The agent said "Oops! Don't worry. I will take care of it." And he did.
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mucci
Trad climber
The pitch of Bagalaar above you
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Dec 18, 2015 - 05:08pm PT
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SDGE in San Diego had a scam involving some third world bufoons.
They would threaten to shut off the power at your home or shop etc.. if payment was not made immediately.
I caught on right away and played that F***tard for 15 min.
Then, I said "OK can I pay with a credit card"?
I proceeded to start rambling off numbers, for like a solid minute. At least 50 maybe more.
Long pause, I asked "are you still there?"
He said the number didn't work and was declined.
Then I called him a chickenf*#ker.
Fun only if you have the time.
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Winemaker
Sport climber
Yakima, WA
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Dec 18, 2015 - 05:33pm PT
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@ eKat. I had the same 'Microsoft' call, I knew what it was, so as per my usual response I proceeded to lead the as#@&%e on - the speaker phone was on the whole time so my wife could hear.
He proceeded to give me the whole song and dance, including the amazing fact Microsoft was actually calling ME!!! How could I get so lucky? I told him I had Apple machines, but that was no problem, as the issue somehow affected Microsoft AND Apple computers. What to do??? Start by getting confused and answering questions they don't ask, or totally misunderstand the question and give some totally bullshit answer, or act senile and and and and and have them repeat the questions again and again and again, give contradictory answers, etc, etc. Basically, just go with the flow. Misunderstand a word, then misunderstand it again and again and again.
It's really fun. If you get one of these calls, don't get mad, get even. Waste their time until they hang up; it sometimes takes an amazingly long time. Become some weird persona that you have hidden all these years, the mad uncle, the drunk, the constipated school bus driver who hates kids. Cheat the cheaters, lie to the liars, confuse the confusers, but most of all, waste their time - maybe they won't get that 80 year old lady on the phone and you have saved someone. The more times you do it the easier it is, and if you can get them off script it gets pretty amusing. Good hunting.;
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 18, 2015 - 05:38pm PT
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Waste their time until they hang up;
I kind of did that. The guy kept asking me questions and I did not respond how he wanted and finally hung up.
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fear
Ice climber
hartford, ct
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Dec 18, 2015 - 06:01pm PT
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I LOVE these calls... I have so much fun with these a-holes.
My record is 2 hours and 10 minutes for those thieving aholes that pretend to be from "Microsoft" concerned about my security.
Every minute costs them more $$$$$ and is a minute they're not robbing some old lady blind.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Colorado, Nepal & Okinawa
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Dec 18, 2015 - 06:14pm PT
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These guys are small potatoes compared to what the Chinese have done. Their security breach was even mentioned in the last Republican presidential debate. Anyone who has ever had to get a security clearance can tell you what a big deal they make of it. You have to show up at a computer lab between this hour and that hour, type codes into the machine, swear your life away etc. Then our cybersecurity somehow let the Chinese steal 17 million personnel records of government employees, contractors, and subcontractors, including photos of our fingerprints.
To try to make up for it Congress has allocated 133 million dollars for 17 million people to be registered for three years for free credit checks and 1 million dollars of identity theft insurance. I'm pretty sure they could have put up a lot more passwords and firewalls cheaper than that. And of course the big question is what happens in the 4th year?
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Dec 18, 2015 - 06:29pm PT
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In the 4th year the North Koreans will do it, without Sony to provoke them.
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Dec 18, 2015 - 06:35pm PT
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From the IRS link:
The IRS will not:
Call you to demand immediate payment. The IRS will not call you if you owe taxes without first sending you a bill in the mail.
Demand that you pay taxes and not allow you to question or appeal the amount you owe.
Require that you pay your taxes a certain way. For instance, require that you pay with a prepaid debit card.
Ask for your credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
Threaten to bring in police or other agencies to arrest you for not paying.
If you don’t owe taxes, or have no reason to think that you do:
Do not give out any information. Hang up immediately.
Contact TIGTA to report the call. Use their “IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting” web page. You can also call 800-366-4484.
Report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Use the “FTC Complaint Assistant” on FTC.gov. Please add "IRS Telephone Scam" in the notes.
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 19, 2015 - 11:57am PT
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Just a bump for the weekend crowd. I thought I was smart enough to pick up on this sh!t but partially fell for it.
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feralfae
Boulder climber
in the midst of a metaphysical mystery
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Dec 19, 2015 - 12:16pm PT
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Oh, wow, I got one of those calls, someone with an different accent. He said I owed some astronomical sum to the IRS because I had not filed or paid. I told him I knew I was not only up to date, but had a credit, and asked if he was trying to send a check to me?.
He hung up.
Then another one called about my ISP address, but had the wrong address. He wanted to help me to fix my Windows program. When I told him that we have an orchard here, he did not get it.
But the first call unnerved me for a few minutes, for sure.
There is also a place online to post scam calls, and read about other calls from that number that are being reported.
ff
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Dec 19, 2015 - 12:33pm PT
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There is also a place online to post scam calls
A total waste of time. If the gubmint can't keep from being hacked
how they gonna save us? Reporting this stuff to them is just window
dressing. (get it?)
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feralfae
Boulder climber
in the midst of a metaphysical mystery
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Dec 19, 2015 - 01:05pm PT
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A total waste of time. If the gubmint can't keep from being hacked
how they gonna save us? Reporting this stuff to them is just window
dressing. (get it?)
Yes, Reilly,
I do get that the government is useless but at least on those sites we can let each other know the facts and in doing so we can reinforce ideas on how we, whom they would like to victimize, can deal with con artists. But let this not become just another political thread.
I found the posts on conning the con men entertaining. And I did not know those facts about the IRS.
I wonder how many unsuspecting people are getting caught in these cons, and what is being done about it.
ff
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Dec 19, 2015 - 01:14pm PT
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I wonder how many unsuspecting people are getting caught in these cons, and what is being done about it.
If people read anything other than Facebook and Twitter they would find
plenty of info. It has been well publicized in the LA Times, Reuters, and
I have to assume, plenty of other reputable news outlets. I hear it on the
radio all the time although I probably don't listen to what most do.
As for the gubmint doing anything, as much as I like to take them to task
for their ineptitude, I have to admit the crooks are a slippery bunch and
it would take a huge amount of resources to pursue them more diligently.
In this case though I think the gubmint should reinstate vigilantism.
My old friends Vinny and Louie in Chicago never have a problem with these
types of sleaze balls you know.
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 19, 2015 - 02:33pm PT
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Yeah, like I wrote the alarms were going off.
But but when someone tells you the OC sheriff dept. is coming after you it kind of rattles you.
I finally smelled the crap but still had to spend time with my various accounts to make sure my cash was secured.
Do I feel sutpid? Sure. Just caught me early in the morning in a weak moment.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Dec 19, 2015 - 02:55pm PT
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John, you didn't fall for it, you just got freaked a bit.
In climbing that's thinking you're going to fall but hangin' in there.
OK, so you grabbed a piece. ;-)
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feralfae
Boulder climber
in the midst of a metaphysical mystery
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Dec 19, 2015 - 07:09pm PT
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If people read anything . . .
Yes, the WSJ ran an article a few months ago about this. But I think you may be right that most people may be missing the information. I am not sure it would take vigilantism, other than perhaps that very peaceful sort known as shunning. And even that takes discernment. I consider myself fairly well-read and intelligent—and I also think we are culturally conditioned to have heart palpitations when we hear the term, "I.R.S." The palpitations come complete with visions of homelessness and perhaps prison if we think we are in trouble. :) It is a big stick to swing, after all. A bit of a step up from the parking ticket scams. I give them that they have chutzpah.
With all the media flood, it seems interesting that such scams are profitable enough to keep anyone employed, but there are a lot of people without jobs all over Earth.
ff
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zBrown
Ice climber
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Dec 19, 2015 - 07:17pm PT
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Well the IRS does not even answer the phone when you call them most of the time. Verrrrrrry unlikely they would ever call you.
I did get through on several occasions however, maybe 2 hours of wait time total.
Verified my address with them at least three times. I found out eventually they were still sending all their correspondence with me to the wrong address (off by one digit). My neighbor kept returning the mail to the IRS.
It took literally three years to get it straightened out.
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Dec 19, 2015 - 07:59pm PT
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If you've ever been in arrears on your taxes and dealt with the IRS, you know very well that the first contacts come by mail...oftentimes certified...and it has to escalate through several levels before anyone comes knockin'.
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