It turns out this is a known Pakistan or India based IRS scam. Some info: Web Link [Thanks, Jeff!]
You can report it to the "real" Treasury at: Web Link
'Tis the season!
Original post made by Billie, Mohr Park, on Nov 25, 2014
Comments (10)
OOPS. That should be *real* Treasury, as important and not fake!
Thanks for the heads-up. I recently got a phone call from the "Microsoft Windows" team saying that they had remotely detected a virus on my Windows computer and wanted to help me remove it. Kind of amusing since we all know that no one from the real Microsoft would spend the time and expense of trying to call everyone who has a Windows virus and offer to help remove it. Anyway, I told him that he must be mistaken since I don't have any Windows computers but only Macs. He then politely apologized for the inconvenience - interesting that he still kept up with the act at this point and didn't simply hang up as most scammers would - and then he wished me a good day.
Damon,
Thanks for the info on that one. At least he was polite! lol This one threatened legal action if the call wasn't returned - action like contacting local authorities and having a warrant issued. I think using the IRS is a particularly nasty scam since they're scary enough on their own! lol
@Damon:
Do you use AT&T?
I had that same scam, the call came to my cell phone.
I had purchased new AT&T software for WIFI in my home.
When I had issues, I used my cell phone to communicate the issues.
I was connected to an off shore tech support.
Shortly after that I started to receive calls regarding my Microsoft Windows. They wanted money to fix my problem.
I had a new computer, and could not have the problems the caller described.
I declined the offer, after several more calls, I contacted the Pleasanton Police department and learned this scam has been working in the area for some time. I filed an on line report with the Pleasanton Police department.
I continue to get the calls time to time. I am in my car, at an airport, etc. They state their case and ask if I am in front of my computer. I tell them no. I will be in front of my computer in one hour, to call me at that time and I give them the Pleasanton Police Department phone number.
The scams started coincidently with my purchase of AT&T software and my call to the AT&T tech support to trouble shoot. I also filed a complaint with AT&T. They inform me that their security is looking into it.
I am not holding my breath for response from AT&T.
@Michael Austin
Yes, I have AT&T internet and telephone service but, no, I don't think that that had anything to do with it because the call occurred long after I ordered AT&T service and I had placed no recent orders with AT&T. Also, I have gotten a similar call at my work phone.
Note, too, that scammers sometimes (often?) now call from overseas using computers for their calls. And they simply can generate a random fake "from" telephone number, to prevent their calls being traced.
This means that a scammer could call a number of people, but use a different fake phone number for each call.
The IRS phone scam is the worst! They make it look like (caller ID# 800-829-1040)they're really calling from the IRS, threaten you with prison, and attempt to connect you to "their finance depatment" for immediate payment. That didn't work, so now I'm receiving automated calls, stating legal action has been taken, and I need to call (202)810-9155 right away. I've attempted to report this but, unless you've actually suffered monetary loss, you might as well forget it! I guess you just have to put up with the annoying calls until they give up!
There is a law on the books about the Do Not Call list yet no one ever enforces it. I have written dozens of complaints to the FCC and not one has ever ended up with action taken. Ask Eric Swalwell why he feels that even though there is a law written to stop this it does not deserve any enforcement action. I have asked him and all I ever get is a runaround about how "yeah, we all hate those calls". Well then enforce the law and stop them! Many of these scams would be stopped if the DNC laws were taken seriously.
I got a similar call, that illegal activity had been discovered re my "IRS account." Judging by the accent and style of speaking, and the subject matter, it's a scam. The man said "Have a nice day" at the end. The callback number was 571-210-5552, which is in VA, but I didn't look deeper. Freaked out my children as they heard the recorded message come in.
Thx to the posters above, I grasped more quickly what the deal was. AT&T, but no recent changes.
@Ally: "I got a similar call, that illegal activity had been discovered re my "IRS account." Judging by the accent and style of speaking, and the subject matter, it's a scam. The man said "Have a nice day" at the end. The callback number was 571-210-5552..."
When you get a suspicious call, try googling the number that it came from. There are several websites which track complaints about calls from various phone numbers. When I googled "571-210-5552", I found several websites where posters were complaining about an IRS scam originating from this number including this one from 800notes.com: Web Link The stories of the posters sound similar to your story.
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