‘Hello. This is the IRS.’ No it’s not!

By RON GOWER

TNEDITOR@TNONLINE.COM

The telephone used to be primarily a device for pleasant communication.

Today, though still used for keeping in touch with relatives and friends, it also has morphed into a source of stress from unwanted telemarketers and a target by scammers; often a combination of the two.

Presently, one of the most prevalent telephone scams occurring is an IRS ploy that sounds official, is threatening and capitalizes on intimidation.

At least a half dozen people have told me about receiving such calls.

One person told me the IRS called him, said his taxes were done improperly for a five-year period and unless he sends a payment immediately he will be arrested by the local police and jailed. He got several such calls, some of them at his place of employment. He thought he was being duped, but was also afraid of the consequences for ignoring such calls. Fortunately, he didn’t send any money.

Victims are told they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly through a credit card, gift card or wire transfer.

I’ve been told the caller becomes hostile and insulting.

They threaten to bring in local or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying, they demand paying without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount you owe and they ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

They even alter the caller ID so it looks like the call is coming from the IRS.

These scammers have left threatening messages on answering machines.

It’s important to know the IRS will never contact you by phone or even by email. If you owe any money, you will receive a letter from the IRS.

The IRS urges that if you receive such a call, don’t answer it. If you do answer, hang up without engaging in conversation.

In addition, you can report the scam to phishing@IRS.gov.

If you’ve experienced monetary losses due to an IRS-related incident, report it to the Treasury Inspector General Administration at www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_scam.shtml.

You should also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftccomplaint.gov.

As further indication of how serious this scam is, a clerk at a local store said several people have come for money orders because “they got a call from the IRS that they owe money.”

It’s not only the IRS scam that is catching people off-guard.

An area television broadcast interviewed a woman who got a call claiming to be its supplier of electricity, and that there has been a change in computing electric bills. If she didn’t send a certain amount of money immediately, her electricity would be cut off.

So as not to be duped, she asked for a telephone number to call back and make payments. Of course, when she called, the operator answered as if it was that electric company but it was the fake caller.

Many of these scams originate in foreign companies and make apprehension of the perpetrators nearly impossible.

Sometimes the calls show local numbers on the caller ID, but this is just a trick to get you to answer the phone. I personally had calls whereby the caller ID showed my own telephone number.

If it’s a “bill collector” seeking money, don’t give information over the phone. Hang up, check your bills, and call the customer service number on that bill.

There are a lot of sophisticated plots with smooth talkers trying to take your money.

As far as computer scams, be careful of attachments that you open. Opening an unfamiliar attachment can subject your computer to a virus that can steal any information on your computer.

Don’t give in when someone calls to tell you they’re a Microsoft representative who wants to update your computer, a security company that wants to make your home safer or even a charity seeking donations.

Never give information over the phone, especially checking account numbers or credit card numbers.

Don’t play games with the phone scammers. They have experience on their side.

Forget phone etiquette, Don’t be polite. Hang up immediately without even saying goodbye.

They’re likely to call more than once, but be persistent in not bowing to their demands. Remember, it is a scam.

If possible, it’s best not to answer.

And if you have a voice message “from the IRS,” ignore it. It’s fake.