Watch out for the IRS tax scammers! 347-390-0789

I always "screen" calls that I don't know. Meaning if a number comes up on the caller id I'm on the computer searching who it is. Recently I received a phone call on our home phone (Yes, we still have our landline, it's hard to send a fax through a cell phone, the phone is too small I can fit the paper in it!). The name was coming up unknown BUT the number was coming up. So I let the person go to the answering machine as I was searching the number because USUALLY if there isn't a business name, most of the time it's a scammer or spammer trying to sell you something or get money from you. Of course they don't care about the Do not call list which we are on.

After searching the number (347-390-0789) I found out the call was part of the IRS tax scam that is going around. They'll call you telling you some fake common name and then tell you that you owe taxes and that you need to pay now or the sheriff/police are on their way. First off the IRS will send you a letter if you owe on your taxes and usually don't call you especially if you never even received a letter saying you owe. Of course never give any info to anyone over the phone. ONE huge clue I had was that the person that left a message...was asking for someone that hasn't owned this house in over 10 years but some how they linked up our address and phone number (different then what the other person had obviously) with the other persons name. So of course the scammers aren't very bright when it comes to actually looking up the number and name.

If you aren't sure it's a scam or not then hang up with the person on the phone claiming to be from the IRS and call your local IRS office and ask them if you owe and then if not, report the number to the Federal Trade Commission or the Treasury inspector general both found here http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Warns-of-Pervasive-Telephone-Scam along with the warning from the IRS about the calls.

Most of the time when I don't answer the phone and look up the number real quick. I do find it's someone that is scamming or a robot calling to make sure the number is good and someone will answer. SO then they will keep bugging you. Most of the time I think it's a scammer anyone because if it's someone who needs/wants to get a hold of me knows my cell phone number and if they don't they can leave a message.