This is a scam that is popular this time of year and more popular this year than others, so we will take a break from our programming to discuss it.
For my foreign readers: April 15 is generally a day Americans hate with a passion since this is when our Income Taxes are due.
Well, April 15 is almost here and we have a version of the "shock and awe" scam going on that I discussed in an earlier post. In this scam, a person calls and claims to be a representative of the IRS. The so-called "IRS representative" then proceeds to yell at the target over the phone and claim that they are waaayy behind in their taxes. The only way to avoid an arrest is to pay IMMEDIATELY by credit card or sending a cashier's check. If they do not comply, the "representative" warns that the target will be arrested.
The target, who is usually filled with dread at the IRS already, is now placed in a state of fear and, unless they begin to think about it, complies. A fraudster now has the target's credit card information or a check is on the way.
First, I can tell you as an attorney who deals with the IRS all the time, getting an IRS agent on the phone is next to impossible. Good luck. The idea that the IRS will call YOU unsolicited is absurd to begin with.
Second, taxpayers do have rights. An IRS agent will not threaten a person over the phone with criminal prosecution. Tax prosecutions generally take time to develop and there is a great deal of time between when a person is first audited for alleged tax fraud to when criminal prosecution begins. Such matters certainly do not happen overnight.
Third, IRS agents are not in the habit of taking down credit card information. They are not Avon representatives.
This is another version of the "shock and awe" scam where the person is thrown off balance by the threats and is in such terror he is not thinking. This is what the fraudster intends.
Please be careful and NEVER give out your credit card information to unsolicited callers.
For my foreign readers: April 15 is generally a day Americans hate with a passion since this is when our Income Taxes are due.
Well, April 15 is almost here and we have a version of the "shock and awe" scam going on that I discussed in an earlier post. In this scam, a person calls and claims to be a representative of the IRS. The so-called "IRS representative" then proceeds to yell at the target over the phone and claim that they are waaayy behind in their taxes. The only way to avoid an arrest is to pay IMMEDIATELY by credit card or sending a cashier's check. If they do not comply, the "representative" warns that the target will be arrested.
The target, who is usually filled with dread at the IRS already, is now placed in a state of fear and, unless they begin to think about it, complies. A fraudster now has the target's credit card information or a check is on the way.
First, I can tell you as an attorney who deals with the IRS all the time, getting an IRS agent on the phone is next to impossible. Good luck. The idea that the IRS will call YOU unsolicited is absurd to begin with.
Second, taxpayers do have rights. An IRS agent will not threaten a person over the phone with criminal prosecution. Tax prosecutions generally take time to develop and there is a great deal of time between when a person is first audited for alleged tax fraud to when criminal prosecution begins. Such matters certainly do not happen overnight.
Third, IRS agents are not in the habit of taking down credit card information. They are not Avon representatives.
This is another version of the "shock and awe" scam where the person is thrown off balance by the threats and is in such terror he is not thinking. This is what the fraudster intends.
Please be careful and NEVER give out your credit card information to unsolicited callers.
NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR
IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE. IF
THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.
NOTE: ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NOT PLED GUILTY TO A CRIME OR
WHO HAS NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY BY A JUDGE OR JURY IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY
AS PER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene
tausk
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