Strange message from the 'IRS'

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by rwest

I seem to get a couple calls a day, but not home when they call, the caller ID says "Novatel."

Maybe some phones can do this, but I've never heard of it, but wouldn't it be cool if you could just hit a button and that number would never again make the phone ring?

sounds like an opportunity for an app. wish I knew how to write them.

[rwest]

Flatbut, take it one step farther and the app could share the number with other and we all could block that same telemarketer even if they've never called.

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by rwest

I seem to get a couple calls a day, but not home when they call, the caller ID says "Novatel."

Maybe some phones can do this, but I've never heard of it, but wouldn't it be cool if you could just hit a button and that number would never again make the phone ring?

There is a free service that you can sign up with that will intercept calls from numbers you provide and prevent them from ringing on your phone. The only requirement is that your phone service must provide for remote ringing. I tried to sign up but, alas, our land line service does not provide for remote ringing so the service will not work for me. Sorry, I cannot remember the name of the service but Google will probably turn it up.

And we got the exact phone message as the OP, just last week, left on our answer machine. We have a audio caller ID set up and it's gotten to the point where we do not answer any calls from numbers or names we do not know. If the call is legitimate, they will leave a message and we'll call back or pick-up during the message. We must get calls from unknown/mystery sources at least 7-10 to times per day, and none leave a message. The numbers that habitually call, I can block but, unfortunately, my system is limited to 30 blocked numbers.

Robo calls, scammers, solicitors--what a bunch of PITAs!

[A930Rocket]

We used to get random calls from people like the OP. We got a caller ID system to avoid it. Then we just disconnected our phone all together, since we never answered it and went to cell phones. Been 10 years now.

[Por_sha911]

Naw, no way its a scam.

Really? You had to ask? Were you being facetious or just looking for attention? I wouldn't think you are that naive.

On a brighter note, it may be another opportunity for you to take pictures of a woman trying to do her job.

[widgeon13]

Maybe if you are lucky Lois Lerner will come to your house.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Naw, no way its a scam.

Really? You had to ask? Were you being facetious or just looking for attention? I wouldn't think you are that naive.

On a brighter note, it may be another opportunity for you to take pictures of a woman trying to do her job.

Joe,
Just making a note. That's all.

[legion]

Just tell them that your hard drive crashed, you wiped and destroyed your Blackberry, and getting them information from a backup server is too onerous.

[sc_rufctr]

Strange story but these people seem to be everywhere. They must have heaps of motivation so I'm guessing through sheer numbers they're actually making money.

If I got a call like that I would report it to the authorities immediately especially considering you actually have a DC phone number.
Sure they're not actually at the location of the phone line but I would report it anyway.

[sc_rufctr]

FWIW... I don't answer my land line at home any more. I let everything go to the answering machine.
I figure if it's important they'll call my mobile.

[mreid]

On an iPhone, go to recent calls, press the i with the circle around it (to the right of any number). Scroll down and you will see the option to block this number. Press that and no more calls from that number.

[Eric 951]

These (fake IRS agent calls) and the "microsoft-approved computer repairmen" which call me on occassion really love to hear about their parents being involved in explicit sexual acts with various barnyard animals (especially bovines). You would be surprised how quickly they go "off script" and blow their front and start swearing and cussing before they hang up.

[Don Ro]

Seems to be a nationwide deal - just saw a report about this on TV yesterday.

[E Sully]

My 81 year old mother called me last year. She told me that the IRS was on the other line and she was delinquent on her tax payment. They were going to put a lien on her place if she did not make the payment. I told her not to give them any money, it sounded like a scam. Called our accountant right away to check it out.
Turns out it was legit. The accountant found she had received letters earlier in the year, but she had not responded to them.

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by E Sully

My 81 year old mother called me last year. She told me that the IRS was on the other line and she was delinquent on her tax payment. They were going to put a lien on her place if she did not make the payment. I told her not to give them any money, it sounded like a scam. Called our accountant right away to check it out.
Turns out it was legit. The accountant found she had received letters earlier in the year, but she had not responded to them.

This is a great example of being cautious and following through. We all know the IRS does not initially contact people by phone, but often does so after notifications by mail have been sent. In this case, E Sully was very wise to follow up with his mother's accountant to verify the call as many of us might have just blown off the call as a scam on an elderly woman. Perhaps he asked her a few pertinent questions about the call which caused him to get verification with the accountant. Regardless, his heads-up saved his mother further grief with the IRS.

[GH85Carrera]

Since I have been the beneficiary of one of these calls, as I imagine many of you have as well, it is really nice to hear when someone has punked them so well. Careful, our friendly "Microsoft" IT support guy gets a little over the top with the F word during the conversation, but this is just what I would have loved to have done when these yahoos called me. I just blew them off instead. It is 33 minutes, but pretty funny.

Scam Microsoft IT Support call (you have to listen to it!) - CNET Computer help Forums