# Major IRS scam phone call center busted in Mumbai **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 6, 2016, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-irs-scam-phone-call-center-busted-in-mumbai/767798 "2016-10-06T20:33:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-irs-scam-phone-call-center-busted-in-mumbai/767798/61 "2016-10-09T17:30:02Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Um, what? What does the cost of a mechanic in India have to do with the cost of a mechanic in the US? It’s not as if I can outsource my tune up or my oil change to some mechanic in Kolkata. > > I’m not sure what argument you’re attempting to make here, but you’re being nonsensical. I’m arguing with a guy who said it’s not so bad if you buy a lemon from a car dealer who knows its a lemon, because all you have to do is take it to a mechanic, and everything will be fine and dandy and you’ve relieved yourself of the problem of having bought car from a guy who knew it was a piece of junk, and now all you have to do is pay somebody else $100 an hour do to some more work that didn’t even need to be done. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-irs-scam-phone-call-center-busted-in-mumbai/767798/62 "2016-10-09T17:40:48Z")
Are you even aware of what you’re typing here? You’re the one who brought up the used car (“So have people who bought insurance or **used cars from their neighbors who live right down the street and are well known to them** , with no consequences to the sellers who knew they were sellng something worthless.”). **Voyager** suggested that the hypothetical used car buyer take it to a mechanic prior to purchase for an evaluation. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-irs-scam-phone-call-center-busted-in-mumbai/767798/63 "2016-10-09T18:30:23Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > I’ve heard that India doesn’t even allow McDonalds in there What? There are three within 3 km of Parliament, two of which are on Connaught Circus. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-irs-scam-phone-call-center-busted-in-mumbai/767798/64 "2016-10-09T18:41:25Z")
So, lemme get this straight. Some Americans will knowingly sell worthless junk to other Americans with little in the way of consequences. Therefore, Americans don’t mind being cheated by other Americans. So, if Americans object to being fraudulently threatened with arrest as part of an extortion scam from third world denizens, those Americans are only objecting because they are being racists. Is that it? Interesting viewpoint. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-irs-scam-phone-call-center-busted-in-mumbai/767798/65 "2016-10-09T23:09:49Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > What? There are three within 3 km of Parliament, two of which are on Connaught Circus. I only told you what I heard. I thought I made that pretry clear. But if that incorrect statement is enough to dispel my entire premise, then use it for that purpose. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-irs-scam-phone-call-center-busted-in-mumbai/767798/66 "2016-10-09T23:22:19Z")
Let me get this straight. Of all the scams that have been perpetrated on the American people over the past century or so, this one is particularly heinous because jail time was mentioned by the scammers. That makes Indians, Nigerians, Russians, Moldovans, and all the rest worse than those that have been operating for generations out of the USA, in which the American perps were too honest to ever make such a “threat”. And it proves that those are inferior civilizations. Have I got it right so far? If I am missing a point, somebody clarity for me just how it is that the Indians in particular and foreigners in general are less moral/ethical than Americans about engaging in shady or deceptive propositions. After all, Indian police DID arrest illegal scammers. Heard about the American police busting any phone scam opeations? ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-irs-scam-phone-call-center-busted-in-mumbai/767798/67 "2016-10-09T23:22:51Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > …I’ve heard that India doesn’t even allow McDonalds in there, to sell little pieces of potato for $25 a pound. Talk about ungrateful. There’s [McDonalds](http://www.mcdonaldsindia.net/) in India. The Maharaja Mac comes with chicken patties or veggie patties. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-irs-scam-phone-call-center-busted-in-mumbai/767798/68 "2016-10-09T23:33:26Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > After all, Indian police DID arrest illegal scammers. Heard about the American police busting any phone scam opeations? [Here](http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/05/24/five-arrested-irs-impersonation-scam/84874934/) you go; five Cuban nationals arrested in the Miami area for much the same scam. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-irs-scam-phone-call-center-busted-in-mumbai/767798/69 "2016-10-09T23:38:59Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > Has anyone here received a call from these jerkwads? I’ve gotten a couple of them. That scam center employed some 750 people and pulled in $100,000 a day. Man, people can be easily scammed. **usedtobe** , thanks for this: > [@usedtobe](#): > > The WSJ was paywalled for me - so I copied the title, went to google news (my homepage), pasted in the title and “searched news”. > When I clicked on the link to WSJ, the paywall was gone. > (if linked to by google, most places will let you in) ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-irs-scam-phone-call-center-busted-in-mumbai/767798/70 "2016-10-09T23:43:16Z")
I had a conversation with IRS special agent Chester Jones. His indian accent was so heavy, it made me laugh. He wanted to know why I laughed. So I repeated back in a heavy mock indian accent " I am IRS special agent Chester Jones" and suggested he first learn the language before making these calls. He was very offended, and told me “I will have you know my English is certified very proficient!” I tried to get him to send me this certificate, but couldn’t get it to that point. It was funny how genuinly hurt and offended he was that the person he was trying to defraud was mocking him. I enjoyed that, as these people are fucking scum, and deserve even the tiniest bit of aggravation you can give them. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-irs-scam-phone-call-center-busted-in-mumbai/767798/71 "2016-10-10T00:37:52Z")
I bought my first answering machine in the early 1980’s. I still have one. About all I get are robo calls from “this is about your current electricity bill”\* from sleaze balls who can get past “Do Not Call”\*\*. But: for those still getting these: Two favs: 1. Loud whistle directly in microphone 2. Say: “Great! I’ve been looking for something like this! Hold on while I get a pencil!”. Then walk away. This works/worked for land lines; don’t know if you’d be liable for connection charge(s). - - gawd help you if you are behind payments for electricity - you will, of course, think this is _your_ Electric Company calling about your late payment \*\* because they have a business relationship with your power company - they buy huge blocks of power and re-sell it to you. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-irs-scam-phone-call-center-busted-in-mumbai/767798/72 "2016-10-10T03:55:51Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > I’ve heard that India doesn’t even allow McDonalds in there, to sell little pieces of potato for $25 a pound. Talk about ungrateful. Your figures are far from reality! McDonalds medium fries are about 4 ounces, or 1/4th of a pound. They sell (here in Minnesota) for around $1.75. That works out to $7 a pound. Way less than you said. (And the large size, or when bought as part of a meal are even cheaper.) In India, the price is 200 rupees, which is about $1.13; equal to $4.52 per pound – about one-sixth of what you claimed. And they do have McDonalds in India. So you were wrong on that, too. Why should we pay any attention to your rants when so much of your information is untrue? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-irs-scam-phone-call-center-busted-in-mumbai/767798/73 "2016-10-11T00:11:29Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > I only told you what I heard. So you like passing hearsay? Boy, are _you_ on the wrong board! ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-irs-scam-phone-call-center-busted-in-mumbai/767798/74 "2016-10-11T01:23:46Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > After all, Indian police DID arrest illegal scammers. Heard about the American police busting any phone scam opeations? Yes, it happens all the time. Phone scamming and even unsolicited phone calls are firmly against the law in the U.S. and taken seriously if enough people complain. The problem is that is a whack-a-mole game and there are still way too many of them even though the Do Not Call registry helped a great deal. I went from 10+ calls a day in the late 90’s to only one or two a day now. If they get caught, the potential financial penalties and prison sentences are extremely severe for each violation. Here is one recent example of many. > **[Five arrested in IRS impersonation scam](https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/05/24/five-arrested-irs-impersonation-scam/84874934/)** > > TIGTA: 6,400 victims have lost an estimated $36.5 million in similar crime schemes nationwide If you really want to up the game, do it by mail. That takes otherwise minor crimes to the next level and people get prosecuted for it all the time. Are you trying to set some kind of record for the most inaccurate posts in one thread because you are certainly an all-time contender. Almost everything you have posted here is blatantly false but you keep doubling down. For just one small example, you claimed that India doesn’t have McDonalds when there are more than 250 of them and growing. That is easily found with just a 5 second search. > **[How McDonald's conquered India](https://www.bbc.com/news/business-30115555)** > > How McDonald's, a beefburger company, penetrated and grew a business across India. > **[List of countries with McDonald's restaurants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_with_McDonald%27s_restaurants)** > > This is a list of countries with McDonald's restaurants. McDonald's is the largest chain of fast-food restaurants in the world,\[failed verification\] with more than 40,000 outlets worldwide. The majority of McDonald's outlets outside of the United States are franchises.\[citation needed\] > The biggest temporary McDonald's restaurant in the world was opened during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, which was 3,000 square metres (32,000 sq ft) by area. The biggest still standing is the World's Larg... ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-irs-scam-phone-call-center-busted-in-mumbai/767798/75 "2016-10-11T02:53:42Z")
Come on, people! Spouting patently false and then doubling down on iy is how you become President one day. Now, do you want to destroy the charming bit of American Fairy Tales:“In America, any boy\* can grow up and be President!”. I like that line and want it preserved for generations to come! Let the kid practice his insanity! - - yeah, about that. Notice how so many will vote to completely destroy the Country before they’ll vote for a girl! (Ever wonder if the election came down to a cisFemale and a transMale?) Like the homophobic hillbillies who voted for a rabidly anti-gay State Rep who was seen coming out of a Gay Bar\*\* in the wee earlies: “Better to have one of them who’s against them that a straight who for 'em!”. Loved it. \*\* - of course the bar owner took exception to the term “Gay Bar”: “We are not a “gay” bar. We are an Inclusive bar”. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-irs-scam-phone-call-center-busted-in-mumbai/767798/76 "2016-10-11T20:36:03Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > - > - yeah, about that. Notice how so many will vote to completely destroy the Country before they’ll vote for a girl! [Groucho]When they could just as easily accomplish both at once. [\Groucho] ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-irs-scam-phone-call-center-busted-in-mumbai/767798/77 "2016-10-12T14:41:09Z")
Yep. My wife got one and we knew it was a scam. I called back “Hello this is the IRS.” “When you say IRS do you mean your the Internal Revenue Service?” _click_ ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-irs-scam-phone-call-center-busted-in-mumbai/767798/78 "2016-10-12T17:33:03Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Let me get this straight. Of all the scams that have been perpetrated on the American people over the past century or so, this one is particularly heinous because jail time was mentioned by the scammers. That makes Indians, Nigerians, Russians, Moldovans, and all the rest worse than those that have been operating for generations out of the USA, in which the American perps were too honest to ever make such a “threat”. And it proves that those are inferior civilizations. Have I got it right so far? > > If I am missing a point, somebody clarity for me just how it is that the Indians in particular and foreigners in general are less moral/ethical than Americans about engaging in shady or deceptive propositions. After all, Indian police DID arrest illegal scammers. Heard about the American police busting any phone scam opeations? Wow. That is one FINE strawman you’ve built there. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-irs-scam-phone-call-center-busted-in-mumbai/767798/79 "2016-10-12T18:02:35Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > So have people who bought insurance or used cars from their neighbors who live right down the street and are well known to them, with no consequences to the sellers who knew they were sellng something worthless. I just knew there would be someone posting to defend this scum. Can you not get it into your head that it matters not a jot that there are American conmen and gougers; these foreign dirtbags don’t get a free pass because of that to swindle and threaten vulnerable people. An asshole is an asshole whatever the nationality. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-irs-scam-phone-call-center-busted-in-mumbai/767798.md?page=3)