IRS Scam

[llworking]

As many of you may be aware, there is a serious telephone scam going on where people are being called by alleged IRS agents threatening them with fraud charges and jail if they do not immediately give debit card information to pay tax that they owe.

I am particularly concerned about elderly taxpayers who may not be using the internet and who may actually get scared enough to pay these con artists. So far over 1100 people have paid them to the tune of about 5 million dollars.

I am asking that everyone on here talk to the elderly people in their lives, warn them about this scam, and tell them to either not return the phone messages or to hang up on these people. Make them understand that it is a real scam and if they get one of these calls, they have nothing to be afraid of and should not give them any information at all.

[lizzieley]

As many of you may be aware, there is a serious telephone scam going on where people are being called by alleged IRS agents threatening them with fraud charges and jail if they do not immediately give debit card information to pay tax that they owe.

I am particularly concerned about elderly taxpayers who may not be using the internet and who may actually get scared enough to pay these con artists. So far over 1100 people have paid them to the tune of about 5 million dollars.

I am asking that everyone on here talk to the elderly people in their lives, warn them about this scam, and tell them to either not return the phone messages or to hang up on these people. Make them understand that it is a real scam and if they get one of these calls, they have nothing to be afraid of and should not give them any information at all.

Thanks for the heads up! I certainly agree with you, it's important that we are proactive in educating our elders about these phone scams so they don't fall victim. It's very easy for these scammers to call our numbers and perpetrate their schemes and we are left on our own to look out for red flags and protect ourselves and our loved ones, especially seniors.

[LawResearcherMissy]

I got one of these calls last week, the conversation was pretty hilarious.

This is John Sanders with the IRS.

No, it isn't.

Yes, I am with the IRS

No, you aren't.

I'm calling about your back taxes.

Give me your extension at the office, and I'll call you back on the official number.

F* you! ...and he hung up.

Our local news stations have been covering this pretty intensively, as one local woman did actually hand over her info, to the tune of $8K.