Their script goes roughly like this (I know this from numerous scambaiting calls; although there are different groups with slightly differing approaches, the original idea is the same everywhere):
When you call back they will first ask you for your telephone number. Why not your SSS or TIN? Their robocalls are systematic and based on lists with a small file attached to each number using information freely available over the internet (or sometimes compiled by less than honest call center workers). They will look up your file based on your number.
After they read their phony "affidavit" to you (can take several minutes) and threaten you with arrest within the next 45-60 minutes for tax fraud they will offer you a way out (because you have never been arrested etc.) by paying the IRS a fee that you have to transfer immediately (!) by "government certified bonds" (sometimes they use other lame explanations). These "bonds" turn out to be prepaid debit cards (like green dot money pak) and they will accept no other payment. They will ask you to take all the cash in your house plus whatever you can get out of an ATM, take it to the next CVS, Walgreens etc. that carries these cards (they will helpfully guide you to the nearest one using your address and - likely - google maps) and upload it onto the card. Then they ask you to read the codes from the back of the cards and while you are doing this they transfer it to different prepaid cards they have organized (or a paypal account) and the money is gone. Literally gone, you can't get it back and that's what they are after. All the while they make you stay on the phone so you can't call someone else or check the internet (which is an obvious risk to them as they might lose their grip on you), sometimes threatening you with jail time or other absurd things to keep you on the line. Senior citizens and immigrants are most vulnerable to this technique. Please spread this information as widely as possible to help protect others.
Person called and said they were a representative of the Internal Revevue Service and there had been fraud detected on my tax return. REALLY??? This is one of the oldest scams in the book. They tell you they'll clear the error once you pay 'by giving them your account number or credit card number'. DON'T DO IT!!!
This is a Pakistan or India based IRS scam. Do not fall for it. The IRS does not initiate any legal action via phone.
Read http://www.treasury.gov/tigta/press/press_tigta-2014-03.htm
As general background information, here are a few things you can do:
1) Report it to TIGTA under http://www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_scam.shtml especially if you have become a victim (lost money, gave personal information etc.). You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint (include “IRS Telephone Scam" in your complaint). This way you can also help the government establish specific fraud patterns.
2) Help kill their phone lines but not by calling them back directly (the number may be spoofed and repeat calls by you may - under exceptional circumstances- amount to harassment). The scammers use Voice over IP lines (e.g. magicJack (Ymax corporation)) to make it seem as if they are calling from the US. This is always against these companys' terms of service and can lead to immediate termination of their contract and blocking of their IP addresses for future attempts to register. Do a reverse look up of their telephone number (e.g. www.whitepages.com) to identify the Voice over IP provider and report it to the company and/or law enforcement (local police and/or state attorney general)
3) If you are really annoyed: call or write to your representative in Congress. As these scams happen all over the country maybe this will trigger a reaction and provide US law enforcement agencies with the political backing and the resources they need to work in India and Pakistan together with local authorities (it can happen, read: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/ex-call-cen ... mmission-320427). A US task force has already been set up in Jamaica to nab scammers there (see http://www.ice.gov/doclib/news/library/reports/cornerstone/cornerstone7-1.pdf). You can use the following template for your letter (more powerful!) or email:
Any idea how they get our names and numbers? They called me on my cellphone, which receives zero spam/telemarketing. Must be from a retailer being hacked or something.
Their script goes roughly like this (I know this from numerous scambaiting calls; although there are different groups with slightly differing approaches, the original idea is the same everywhere):
When you call back they will first ask you for your telephone number. Why not your SSS or TIN? Their robocalls are systematic and based on lists with a small file attached to each number using information freely available over the internet (or sometimes compiled by less than honest call center workers). They will look up your file based on your number.
After they read their phony "affidavit" to you (can take several minutes) and threaten you with arrest within the next 45-60 minutes for tax fraud they will offer you a way out (because you have never been arrested etc.) by paying the IRS a fee that you have to transfer immediately (!) by "government certified bonds" (sometimes they use other lame explanations). These "bonds" turn out to be prepaid debit cards (like green dot money pak) and they will accept no other payment. They will ask you to take all the cash in your house plus whatever you can get out of an ATM, take it to the next CVS, Walgreens etc. that carries these cards (they will helpfully guide you to the nearest one using your address and - likely - google maps) and upload it onto the card. Then they ask you to read the codes from the back of the cards and while you are doing this they transfer it to different prepaid cards they have organized (or a paypal account) and the money is gone. Literally gone, you can't get it back and that's what they are after. All the while they make you stay on the phone so you can't call someone else or check the internet (which is an obvious risk to them as they might lose their grip on you), sometimes threatening you with jail time or other absurd things to keep you on the line. Senior citizens and immigrants are most vulnerable to this technique. Please spread this information as widely as possible to help protect others.