# Is the phone call I got yesterday a scam of some kind? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 4, 2015, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-phone-call-i-got-yesterday-a-scam-of-some-kind/711829 "2015-02-04T19:15:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![txtumbleweed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@txtumbleweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txtumbleweed)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-phone-call-i-got-yesterday-a-scam-of-some-kind/711829/21 "2015-02-05T18:21:46Z")
Very likely a complete scam and safe to ignore. If it is legitimate you’ll get a bill in the mail, but even then you need to independently verify it. Scammers have gotten incredibly good at figuring out ways to scare people into sending them money. They are not above mailing you a fake invoice. There are dozens of phone scams like this going on. I saw a commercial sponsored by the IRS warning people of them but I can’t find an online link. The key seems to be receiving a phone call threatening arrest and that they will take your credit card information over the phone to clear the charge immediately. Somehow, they’ve also been able to convince people the only payment they can make is to go buy gift cards and call back with that number instead of personal credit card information. My guess is once you buy the gift card and give it away, there is no way to stop that payment. In addition to claims that the caller is the IRS and looking to collect, here are others I am aware of: You missed jury duty. You have an outstanding warrant. Fake red light camera ticket. The lawsuit you were defending settled and you need to pay the settlement. Fake billing invoices. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-phone-call-i-got-yesterday-a-scam-of-some-kind/711829/22 "2015-02-05T18:34:04Z")
What the scammers around here do is call you, make threatening claims that if you don’t pay these back taxes right now, the IRS is going to arrest you and you’ll lose everything. Then, they tell you to run down to CVS, get a prepaid cash card, and call them back with the number. Somehow, this actually works, more than once. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-phone-call-i-got-yesterday-a-scam-of-some-kind/711829/23 "2015-02-05T18:49:53Z")
> [@txtumbleweed](#): > > There are dozens of phone scams like this going on. I saw a commercial sponsored by the IRS warning people of them but I can’t find an online link. Here’s a [warning from the IRS site](http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Warns-of-Pervasive-Telephone-Scam), and here’s the [Youtube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y5z0kWgBcM). ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-phone-call-i-got-yesterday-a-scam-of-some-kind/711829/24 "2015-02-05T18:51:12Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Tax agencies usually try to work something out with the debtor. Even getting $20-$50 a month satisfies them as an acknowledgment of debt and a plan to pay it off. And the \*never call you \*on the phone. Threatening phone calls about taxes are a signal that it is a scam. This is not true. One of my brother’s clients had moved from CA to NV. He filed a change of address, got a DrLic, etc in Nevada. The CA FTB noticed he had stopped filing taxes in CA (no duh!) and then started sending notices to him- _at his old CA address._ (not bothering to check any other sources). Of course he did not respond. Then they filed taxes for him, as he had a professional license in CA. (He had never been self-employed, however). Thus they made up a bogus tax liability. They then put liens and levies. Then a Collection agency, who was smart enough to check other records (Like Lexis/Nexis) found him at his new address and began calling him. Of course my Bro was able to get all taxes, liens, levy’s etc dismissed, but the credit report and debt took years to get fixed. Yes, the IRS doesnt do this crap, but state agencies do. And they also will dredge up a 10 yo ticket and the first thing you’ll know about it is that your home state says your Drivers License is frozen until you pay it. Who here has 10yo records to prove that it was paid back then? ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-phone-call-i-got-yesterday-a-scam-of-some-kind/711829/25 "2015-02-05T18:57:35Z")
The IRS phone call scam is really sweeping my area. These are just a few of the incidents from our local police dispatch center from yesterday. Note that the reports are coming in one after another at a rapid rate. > [@](#): > > L201503968 2/4/2015 > PR ADVISING HER ELDERLY MOTHER HAS REC’D A SCAM CALL FROM SOMEONE CLAIMING TO BE IRS. > PR IS NOT REQUESTING CONTACT, JUST LOGGED FOR INFO. > > APD FORGERY/FRAUD > 5507 12:24 192 W EXCHANGE ST 192 W EXCHANGE > APD > L201503969 2/4/2015 > PR ADVISING SHE REC’D A PHONE CALL FROM SOMEONE CLAIMING TO BE FROM THE IRS. PR IS NOT > REQUESTING CONTACT, JUST LOGGED FOR INFO. > > APD FORGERY/FRAUD > 5508 12:28 290 MCCLURE AVE 290 MCCLURE AVE > APD > C20150328 2/4/2015 > PR REQ PHONE CONTACT RE SCAM CALL. PR CONTACTED AND CASE TAKEN > CCSO FORGERY/FRAUD > > 5509 12:28 92482 FERNHILL RD 92482 FERNHILL RD > PALMROSE > C20150325 2/4/2015 > REFER TO CALL 5497 > CCSO FOLLOW UP ENTRIES > > 5513 12:33 92159 CLOVER RD 92159 CLOVER RD > PALMROSE > L201503974 2/4/2015 > REQ PHONE CONTACT RE SCAM CALL. DEPUTY LEFT SEVERAL MESSAGES FOR THE PR. > CCSO FORGERY/FRAUD > > 5515 12:37 36392 RIVER POINT RD 36392 RIVER POI > PALMROSE > L201503976 2/4/2015 > PR REQ TO SPEAK TO AN OFFICER REGARDING A SCAM PHONE CALL HE REC’D FROM SOMEONE > CLAIMING TO BE FROM THE IRS. PR CONTACTED AND ADVISED, LOGGED FOR INFO. > APD FORGERY/FRAUD ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-phone-call-i-got-yesterday-a-scam-of-some-kind/711829/26 "2015-02-05T18:57:38Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > Thanks, it’s a combination of big fingers, small phone and almost 50 year old eye sight. I keep meaning to preview, but I always hit the part button. My apologies to those who have to decipher my ramblings. :o Oh, good. The thought having my washes garnished was a little frightening. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-phone-call-i-got-yesterday-a-scam-of-some-kind/711829/27 "2015-02-05T18:59:56Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > This is not true. One of my brother’s clients had moved from CA to NV. He filed a change of address, got a DrLic, etc in Nevada. The CA FTB noticed he had stopped filing taxes in CA (no duh!) and then started sending notices to him- _at his old CA address._ (not bothering to check any other sources). Of course he did not respond. Then they filed taxes for him, as he had a professional license in CA. (He had never been self-employed, however). Thus they made up a bogus tax liability. They then put liens and levies. Then a Collection agency, who was smart enough to check other records (Like Lexis/Nexis) found him at his new address and began calling him. > > Of course my Bro was able to get all taxes, liens, levy’s etc dismissed, but the credit report and debt took years to get fixed. > > Yes, the IRS doesnt do this crap, but state agencies do. And they also will dredge up a 10 yo ticket and the first thing you’ll know about it is that your home state says your Drivers License is frozen until you pay it. Who here has 10yo records to prove that it was paid back then? Rather than tax agencies I should have said the federal IRS. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-phone-call-i-got-yesterday-a-scam-of-some-kind/711829/28 "2015-02-05T19:30:21Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > Another thing: 2004 is a long time ago. I don’t know about the state of Georgia, but there’s a statute of limitations of seven years for most tax issues. I doubt that any state would try to collect unpaid taxes from eleven years ago. The statute of limitations on tax assessments in Georgia is 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-phone-call-i-got-yesterday-a-scam-of-some-kind/711829/29 "2015-02-05T19:37:53Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > This doesn’t work much anymore. Any scammer who knows what they’re doing is spoofing the number. If a search comes back as Ray’s Muffler Shop and Liquor Store in Spearfish, it’s still very telling. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-phone-call-i-got-yesterday-a-scam-of-some-kind/711829/30 "2015-02-05T21:03:45Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > I find it hard to believe that a state would sell its collectibles to a collection agency. I don’t know about the whole state, but I work with the student loan collections office of a state university and they turn accounts over for collections all the time. They have several collection agencies they work with. Also, the accounts aren’t ‘sold’ to the collection agency, they are turned over for collections and can be recalled at any time. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-phone-call-i-got-yesterday-a-scam-of-some-kind/711829/31 "2015-02-05T22:36:59Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > I’ve never had my bank accounts sized but I think they would be disappointed if they did. I doubt you would be disappointed. Sizing your accounts gives them a much crisper and cleaner look (after money laundering and ironing). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-phone-call-i-got-yesterday-a-scam-of-some-kind/711829/32 "2015-02-06T18:24:12Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > … > Also, the accounts aren’t ‘sold’ to the collection agency, they are turned over for collections and can be recalled at any time. Depends on how it’s handled. Accounts _can_ be sold, usually at a discount, at which point the agency gets to keep whatever they can shake out of the debtor. Or they can be sent to a collections agency, who will receive a fee for any recoveries, but will not keep the rest of the proceeds. ---
**Author:** ![txtumbleweed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@txtumbleweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txtumbleweed)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-phone-call-i-got-yesterday-a-scam-of-some-kind/711829/33 "2015-02-06T20:08:40Z")
Thanks, **TroutMan** but that’s not the one I was thinking of. Saw one the other night, had a man and woman in it discussing where to go on vacation, what to spend money on. Then he starts working the phone with the old IRS scam and she is gleefully excited on the couch with her little foo foo dog. Ends warning folks to watch out for the scam. I’ve only seen it the one time and since it not yet out on YouTube, I am thinking it may be a fairly new public service announcement from them. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-phone-call-i-got-yesterday-a-scam-of-some-kind/711829/34 "2015-02-06T22:58:42Z")
God, even in my apology post about typos I made a typo. I’m really not a moron, I promise. My teacher wife hopefully will never see this thread or I’ll be in trouble! ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-phone-call-i-got-yesterday-a-scam-of-some-kind/711829/35 "2015-02-07T02:31:07Z")
I’d say that any unsolicited phone call, fax or email purporting to be from a government agency is fake. Government agencies haven’t yet learned to use phones, fax or email. Think I’m kidding? Hah! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-phone-call-i-got-yesterday-a-scam-of-some-kind/711829.md?page=1)