[TrudyM]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

I don't think the notice says "the IRS will never initiate contact with you over the phone"

THEY WILL!!!
Yes there are scams out there, but the IRS can and does contact you initially by phone.
Over the last ten years, I have been contacted by the IRS initially by phone. It's no big deal, they give you their ID number and you verify it with the IRS office, and they send you a follow up letter. Both times the initial call was very pleasant and they just needed to clarify some information.

Please stop saying they will never.
Thanks

At which point I tell them that due to the large number of scams I will only talk in person to an IRS agent and to send me an appointment for my local office.

I have also when in a mood given the scam callers a fright also. We use to work defense dept projects and calls were monitored so I tell them they still are and they will be contacted by the NSA or I ask them for their social security number and pretend I work for the IRS, boy do they hang up fast.

[Hancle704]

It's a scam and should be ignored. The IRS does not have enough people to handle incoming calls. More reason to start considering the Flat Tax and elimination of the IRS.

[Bogie Shooter]

Don't worry about IRS calling any more. There are hardly enough people to open the mail.................congress just keeps reducing their budget!

[DonH57]

In my lifetime I have never ever been first contacted by the IRS via a phone call. It's been first by regular mail and then by certified letter. Not saying it never happens but with so many scammers running amok these days plus the IRS are just as short handed as other government agencies I really believe phone calls are not a very efficient means of contact.

[kcrazorbackfan]

As has been stated, the IRS will never call you, they will send you a letter.

Villagers - DO NOT ANSWER CALLS IF YOU DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE NUMBER!! If they need to talk to you, they will leave a voice mail - if you know them, then you can call them back. And, DO NOT RETURN CALLS TO UNKNOWN NUMBERS. There are a lot of SCAM calls going on; please do not become a victim.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by kcrazorbackfan

As has been stated, the IRS will never call you, they will send you a letter.

Villagers - DO NOT ANSWER CALLS IF YOU DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE NUMBER!! If they need to talk to you, they will leave a voice mail - if you know them, then you can call them back. And, DO NOT RETURN CALLS TO UNKNOWN NUMBERS. There are a lot of SCAM calls going on; please do not become a victim.

For the third or fourth time, the statement "the IRS will never call you"...............is wrong. Period.

Your other advice is valid.

[Sandtrap328]

It is too bad that there are such lowlifes out there anxious to separate the unknowing from their money.

I read recently in The Daily Sun how some Villager was withdrawing $4,000 in cash from Citizens First Bank. The teller asked why he needed so much cash and he said the IRS had told him to use Western Union to wire them back taxes and penalties. The teller had the Villager talk with the manager who contacted the police. Long story short is that the good people at Citizens First saved the Villager lots of money! They are a great bank.

You would think, however, that all people now would have heard of that IRS scam, the grandparent scam, or the friend in a foreign jail scam by this time and would not fall for them.

Do those people who fall for the scams be made to have their money and securities in some sort of a controlled account that could be accessed by them and an appointed conservator?

[Walt.]

If they call again just tell them you'll send their money as soon as the check from the Canadian Lottery arrives...

[tcxr750]

If you have caller ID and don't recognize the phone number don't answer the call. Answering the call confirms they are calling an active phone number. If anyone calling has anything important to say they will leave a message. Scammers usually don't leave a message because when you answer the phone it costs them more money to complete the call.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by tcxr750

If you have caller ID and don't recognize the phone number don't answer the call. Answering the call confirms they are calling an active phone number. If anyone calling has anything important to say they will leave a message. Scammers usually don't leave a message because when you answer the phone it costs them more money to complete the call.

Thanks, I don't have caller ID but I seldom answer the phone. I only answer if I'm expecting a call from someone. If I do answer, and it's someone selling something, I just quietly hang up while they're talking.

[CFrance]

Well, you answered the phone up there in Post #1! Musta been waiting for a call.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Well, you answered the phone up there in Post #1! Musta been waiting for a call.

That's possible.

[hulahips]

We get those calls too. Ignore them. They should outlaw all these annoying calls

[Bogie Shooter]

If you can wait about 10 days I will be receiving a check for 11 million dollars from a Mrs Molly Carson in Nigeria. Seems her husband has passed and she needs some help in getting some money out of a bank here in the states. She offered 20 million but I said I would do it for 11.

[tcxr750]

It's been over 30 days and I still haven't received the check for $30,000,000 from the Bank of England. Does this mean I won't have the $$$ to complete the purchase of my new Rolls Royce? After I was contacted by phone by the B of E, I went over to the dealership and gave them a $50 deposit to order a 2015 RR in the color of money.