Alvin Chang, writing for Vox, on his time trolling, then investigating the folks who call claiming they are with the IRS, trying to collect owed taxes.
I found this both dark and fascinating.
Trolling the IRS scammers
Alvin Chang, writing for Vox, on his time trolling, then investigating the folks who call claiming they are with the IRS, trying to collect owed taxes.
I found this both dark and fascinating.
He put to much time into it. I just explained that I was a Federal Prosecutor and their hung up! I now just use a cell phone now!
I had more fun than that.
A friend of mine had someone call pretending to be from the IRS.
I suggested we call them back.
I typed this up in notes and had Siri read it to the person who answered, over and over and over.
“I got a call from the eye r ess.
Am I in trouble?
How much do I owe?
I have bags of money how much do you want?
The wamn ket saying Yes, you are in trouble and then I would interrupt her with the same message.
She kept replying.
Eventually she passed the call to a “supervisor” who was passing by.
I continued to play the above over and over.
After about 4 times he said, in the background to the first “IRS agent” “this is a recording”. The amazingly he tried talking to Siri again!! I had to hang up. they persisted.
Then we called back and a man with a heavy Indian accent as well answered.
I played him this:
“This is the eye r ess
We are calling you to notify you that you owe 11,700 dollars.
How would you like to pay?
We accept credit cards.”
He remained quiet for a moment and then said (shakily) “yes, we can pay” “We can mail ut a check today.
After a brief pause I heard him gulp and take a breath and then slowly hang up.
I called the US Treasury and it was shut down the next day, well THAT line was anyway.
Fun!
I want to try that second one.