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So I got a call from "the IRS" yesterday asking me to pay my taxes since according to them I had underpaid. It was clearly a call center in India, but I went al

So I got a call from "the IRS" yesterday asking me to pay my taxes since according to them I had underpaid. It was clearly a call center in India, but I went along with it. When it came down to paying, they claimed I could do it in cash by walking to Walmart or Target and buying 5 gift cards for $1k each. I busted out laughing and they just hung up. The thing is, this was the second call I had gotten from the same phone number. First time they called was 4 months ago, so I added them to my address book as "Mr Scam". I told my friend about this, and we decided to call them back again today on speaker... they answered! So I asked them for their bank account so I could transfer them $100k. They said no, go to target and buy a gift card. I quickly asked "ok, so I can only buy $100 gift cards... how many do I need?" The guy struggled and could not answer, so I walked him through the math and taught him a trick to remove zeros - it was hilarious! Then the guy caught on, got upset, and told me to "to stop calling, they are just trying to work there". It was funny and disturbing at the same time. In case you want to prank the scammers, feel free to call them to +1 (208) 501-0873. The phone seems to only work during US business hours - call a few times and you will get these bastards :)

Stratoscope 9y ago
That is hilarious! I got a similar call yesterday. Unfortunately I missed the call, but they left a voicemail. My transcription: > We have just received a notification regarding your tax filings. From the headquarters which will get expired in next 24 working hours. And once it get expired after that you will be taken under custody by the local cops. As there are 4 serious allegations pressed on your name at this moment. We would request you to get back to us. So that we can discuss about this case. Before taking any legal action against you. The number to reach us is 505-300-1053. I repeat 505-300-1053. Thank you.
- rburhum 9y ago
  yep, same script!
whoami_nr 9y ago
There were lot of crackdowns[1] on such call center in India. Didn't know they were still operating at scale [1]http://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-fraud-usa-idUSKBN13O2XZ http://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-fraud-usa-idUSKBN13O...
matheweis 9y ago
Please report it to TIGTA: https://www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_scam.shtml https://www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_scam.shtml
- rburhum 9y ago
  trust me, I did that the second I hung up. I got an automated email from them telling me it is a scam and not to send them money. I replied telling them that they had been using the same phone number for months - they should investigate. No response since yesterday. From the background noises in the call center, this was a full-blown large scale operation (I could overhear at least three parallel phone conversations. Sadly, they have obviously not stopped them yet...
  - matheweis 9y ago
    Interesting... Also report it to the FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0048-government-imposter-scams https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0048-government-impost...
SkyMarshal 9y ago
>In case you want to prank the scammers, feel free to call them to +1 (208) 501-0873. The phone seems to only work during US business hours - call a few times and you will get these bastards :) It occurs to me it might be funny to try to get the scammers to call each other. Give them all each others' numbers somehow.

Stratoscope 9y ago

That is hilarious! I got a similar call yesterday. Unfortunately I missed the call, but they left a voicemail. My transcription: > We have just received a notification regarding your tax filings. From the headquarters which will get expired in next 24 working hours. And once it get expired after that you will be taken under custody by the local cops. As there are 4 serious allegations pressed on your name at this moment. We would request you to get back to us. So that we can discuss about this case. Before taking any legal action against you. The number to reach us is 505-300-1053. I repeat 505-300-1053. Thank you.

rburhum 9y ago
yep, same script!

whoami_nr 9y ago

There were lot of crackdowns[1] on such call center in India. Didn't know they were still operating at scale [1]http://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-fraud-usa-idUSKBN13O2XZ http://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-fraud-usa-idUSKBN13O...

matheweis 9y ago

Please report it to TIGTA: https://www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_scam.shtml https://www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_scam.shtml

rburhum 9y ago
trust me, I did that the second I hung up. I got an automated email from them telling me it is a scam and not to send them money. I replied telling them that they had been using the same phone number for months - they should investigate. No response since yesterday. From the background noises in the call center, this was a full-blown large scale operation (I could overhear at least three parallel phone conversations. Sadly, they have obviously not stopped them yet...
- matheweis 9y ago
  Interesting... Also report it to the FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0048-government-imposter-scams https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0048-government-impost...

SkyMarshal 9y ago

>In case you want to prank the scammers, feel free to call them to +1 (208) 501-0873. The phone seems to only work during US business hours - call a few times and you will get these bastards :) It occurs to me it might be funny to try to get the scammers to call each other. Give them all each others' numbers somehow.