Oh No! I'm a criminal!!

[Joe Guy]

I received a message on my phone today from a man who identified himself as an IRS agent. He had a heavy accent of some kind that I couldn't identify. He said that he had received a report that I had committed a (unclear) against the IRS and they have issued an arrest "on my name".

He said to call him back at 703-259-9070. I checked the internet and the number is listed as being in Vienna, Washington / Fairfax County.

I'm afraid and think I might need to leave the country. Don't tell anybody.

[Gob]

Come to Australia Joe, we'll shelter you!

[Crackpot]

That's wha you get for messing with Quad.

[kristina]

I'm sure your secret will be safe with us...

[Guinevere]

There have been a series of these IRS phone call scams since at least last spring. They were targeting eastern mass for quite some time. I got a very convincing sounding call a couple of times while I was away on vacation last year.

Just for the record, the IRS NEVER contacts taxpayers by phone and I'm pretty sure there is an advisory on the IRS web page where you can report this information.

Or else it's Quaddy, messing with us.

[Lord Jim]

Come to Australia Joe, we'll shelter you!

That's a good offer Joe; I understand Australia will take anybody...

The Tax Commissioner Of Connecticut may have to join you:

IRS Impostor Scam Targets Connecticut's Tax Commissioner

February 23, 2015

IRS impostor scams, ruthlessly non-discriminatory, fear no one. But sometimes they pick on the wrong people.

Criminals posing as agency representatives have coerced almost 3,000 victims by telephone to pay more than $14 million in the phone scam, says the IRS. Last week, they tried to fool Kevin Sullivan of West Hartford, probably unaware he's commissioner of Connecticut's Department of Revenue Services. In language even scammers should understand: He's the state's Tax Man.

"So I get home last night," says Sullivan, "hit the blinking light [on his landline's answering machine] and the message was a stern woman's voice saying, 'We've been trying to reach you for some time.'"

And . . .

"'This is to give you official notice from the IRS, the Internal Revenue Services' — mind it, plural 'Services,'" says Sullivan, which is the first tip right there — that we are going to be commencing a lawsuit unless you call this number and resolve your liability."

If Sullivan had returned the call, he probably would have been told he could resolve his liability by paying either in cash or an untraceable prepaid card.

The real IRS does not call taxpayers. Its first contact is always by U.S. mail.

"This means that no matter what the person on the other line says, they should hang up the phone and not provide any personal or financial information," says Anny Pachner, an IRS spokeswoman.

Do not ask someone to return an IRS-related call, either.

"If you don't call back from that landline," says Sullivan, "you can't get them. The system is programmed to recognize only people they have called. So I can't call from here [DRS] today and I can't have my security people call."

The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration has been contacted about the scam almost 290,000 times since October 2013. If you receive a call from someone claiming to represent the IRS, report it to the TIGTA at 800-366-4484.

The Federal Trade Commission received close to 55,000 complaints last year about IRS impostor scams, a substantial increase from the 2,500 complaints in 2013. (Use the FTC's "Complaint Assistant" at http://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.)

http://www.courant.com/consumer/bottom- ... olumn.html

[Joe Guy]

If you receive a call from someone claiming to represent the IRS, report it to the TIGTA at 800-366-4484.

I remember quad saying that he had access to TIGTA and that's how he knew who I am and where I live.

So, I called the guy back and told him my name is wesw. That be enough of a distraction to allow me enough time to move to Australia.

Gob, get the Marmite ready. I'll buy some extremely watered down lite American beer and I'll be there in a couple days....

[Lord Jim]

we are going to be commencing a lawsuit unless you call this number and resolve your liability."

They're only going to start a lawsuit against the Connecticut Tax Commissioner, but they've already issued an arrest warrant for you...

I suggest you get packing...

Hopefully they don't already have a BOLO out for you...

[Gob]

I agree Jim, though I didn't know the IRS used standover men.

[Lord Jim]

Since he's a federal fugitive, they might send somebody from the US Marshal's office:

[Joe Guy]

This link has a recording of one of those scam calls. It's over 22 minutes long but it's interesting.

Here is the transcript of the call.

[Joe Guy]

Since he's a federal fugitive, they might send somebody from the US Marshal's office:

I did see someone on my street wearing a cowboy hat today. Now I'm worried...

[Gob]

Bolo's aged well...

[wesw]

well joe, Australia or good old Georgia, usa seem to be your best bets. penal colonies seem to be the correct place for you to go....

[Econoline]

Since he's a federal fugitive, they might send somebody from the US Marshal's office:

I did see someone on my street wearing a cowboy hat today. Now I'm worried...

If he was riding a horse, you're probably OK; if he was riding an ATV be vewwy vewwy afwaid....

[Lord Jim]

I did see someone on my street wearing a cowboy hat today. Now I'm worried...

Yeah, well if he knocks on your door, don't try to escape by climbing out a window and making a run for it...

That never works...