I don’t normally do big dramatic posts like this but the scariest shit happened to me today, so pay attention friends in America, because IRS Scams are happening.
I was at work today, and get a call from a Washington number, i answered and it was recording telling me to call the number back, this is a final notice from the IRS. Well, naturally, that got my attention.
I call the number, and a woman answers, says her name is Ashley Johnson. She tells me i’m being sued by the IRS for tax fraud and that there is a warrant put for my arrest. That DEFINITELY got my attention.
I ask how is that possible? She tells me from the years of 2008-2012, my taxes were filed incorrectly, which has resulted in my owing the IRS over 6,000 dollars. I ask how this can be a final notice because I never received any correspondence from them. She then reads me my address, asks me to confirm it, and tells me 3 letters had been sent to my place of residence.
I NEED TO POINT OUT HERE, I DID NOT GIVE HER MY ADDRESS. SHE ALREADY HAD IT.
I tell her I’m genuinely confused about how this could possibly be happening, and she starts getting VERY nasty with me. She rambles off the facts she’d already presented to me again, very aggressively. I respond very calmly by saying that I’m being very receptive to what she is saying, I’m not being argumentative at all, and I just want to resolve this issue, that I don’t appreciate the way she is talking to me when I’m cooperating.
She responds by informing me, again, that there is a warrant out for my arrest.
I ask about a payment plan. My friend’s ex boyfriend had owed back taxes, and they set him up with a plan, so I knew it was an option. She says, yes, we can set that up. How much can you pay right now.
I tell her I can’t pay anything right now, that I literally I’ve paycheck to paycheck and the soonest I could have any money at all is in two weeks when I get paid again. She tells me if I don’t pay 1,000 dollars right now she will send a deputy to arrest me.
She asks if I have a credit card, I respond no. She asks how much money is in my savings account, and I respond by telling her I don’t have one, that I’m not trying to be difficult but I literally don’t have anything to give her. She gets very nasty with me again.
At this point I’ve informed my coworker what is going on, and the woman she was ringing up at the register over heard.
Back on the phone, I tell the woman once again I’m really trying to work with her and I don’t appreciate her speaking to me the way she is.
At this point the customer and my coworker walk over. The customer tells me its a scam, don’t tell them anything. My coworker takes the phone from, and proceeds to tell the woman on the other line she’s my mother, and begins in on a conversation with her.
From what I could hear, she’s being very nasty to my coworker as well, who is now demanding that the letters that were sent to my house be faxed to us immediately. My coworker finally says that she thinks this is a scam, that they can’t send anyone to arrest me. The woman on the other line finally hangs up on my coworker, and i promptly burst into tears.
LISTEN TO ME. THE IRS WILL NEVER CALL YOU DEMANDING MONEY OVER THE PHONE. THEY WILL NOT DEMAND MONEY WITHOUT SENDING YOU A BILL FIRST. THEY WILL NOT ASK FOR YOUR CREDIT CARD OR DEBIT CARD INFORMATION OVER THE PHONE.
THEY WILL NOT THREATEN TO ARREST YOU.
This is serious guys. Everyone take warning. Reblog this. Spread the word.
Friends with anxiety and or anyone prone to panic attacks, do not let them get to you. I spent the rest of the day having an anxiety attack, because some seriously terrible human beings were trying to do something truly terrible.
Here’s a link to the IRS page that warns about scamming, and how to be on the lookout:
https://www.irs.gov/uac/IRS-Urges-Public-to-Stay-Alert-for-Scam-Phone-Calls
There’s a link on this site to follow to report a scam if it happens to you.
DO NOT GIVE ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION OUT. DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR CREDIT/DEBIT CARD INFO.
Be safe out there, guys.
This is my cousin, and it absolutely happened to her today, so be safe guys.
They tried this on me. Fortunately I’m savvy and know how the IRS operates.
If you get this phone call, hang up, write down the time, and then go to https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#&panel1-1 and file a complaint. This helps the FTC (who’s responsibility it is) track who is getting these calls and in some cases can actually get them to stop.
If they call again after that, hang up.
If the IRS wants/needs to ask you for money they’ll send you a bill, not call you.
The scam is so prevalent that the IRS has posted guidelines for spotting the calls and another link to report the scam to them here: https://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/Scam-Phone-Calls-Continue%3B-IRS-Identifies-Five-Easy-Ways-to-Spot-Suspicious-Calls
Here are a few more tips:
1. It is illegal for anyone calling you to ask for money by money transfer, electronic check or cash reload card.
2. It is illegal for a telemarketer not to identify themselves and their company when they call. In fact, they are supposed to do this before they say anything else. If they do not identify themselves as the first thing they do, hang up. They are either A. A scammer or B. Poorly trained.
3. If somebody calls claiming to be from a company you do business with and does one of the following:
a. Asks you for extra money.
b. Asks you for personal information, especially information that company should already have.
c. Does not give their name.
d. Refuses to deal with you without your spouse/partner also on the call.
e. Tells you you have a bad transaction on your credit card or bank account.
HANG UP.
Then call the company back. If the issue is legitimate, they will be able to verify it. If it is not, then they will be able to file a complaint.
Also hang up immediately if you have won a cruise, money or anything else, if they claim your computer has a virus (I always laugh at this one, because they tell me my Windows computer has a virus. I use a Mac and have no Windows license on it), or if it’s a recorded message (those things are the plague of modern life).
This is probably related to the IRS breach that happened last month. Around 100,000 tax return PIN codes were leaked. They said they’d notify those affected by mail, but I suggest everyone who’s files in the past few years to change your PIN.
As someone who did go through an IRS audit, and had to pay back taxes, the IRS are actually very easy to talk to. They are wiling to work with you, at your rate, to get the debt paid. They will even accept a ‘I’m sorry, I couldn’t pay the agreed amount this month, I had life’ in case that happens.
Use the information above. Remember, NEVER give your account information over the phone.