Opinion

IRS calls and robocalls take center stage in a new wave of fraud

By ELLIOTT GREENBLOTT
By now, most readers are familiar with the IRS Scam: a caller, usually with a foreign accent, states that he (or she) is an IRS agent and that there is a problem with your tax payment. The intended victim is told that the insufficient payment can be covered using “iTunes” gift cards and failure to pay will result in a visit from the “Sheriff” that night. Sound familiar? Well now there is a new twist. In this version of the scam the initial call is a “robocall” with either a mechanical voice or a voice lacking a foreign accent. When you finally connect with a live “IRS Agent” you are told that there is a problem with your tax return and in order to fully process your paperwork you need to confirm some information including your full name, address, filing status and your Social Security number. Unlike the more familiar scam that seeks to collect money, this one seeks information which can then be used to commit identity theft, open fraudulent accounts, or steal money directly from existing accounts.

As with the more general IRS imposter scam, the calls are basically untraceable. They use spoofed telephone numbers and law enforcement for the most part is unable to provide relief. Even so, it is critical to report these criminals to the Department of the Treasury by phone, 1-800-366-4484, or by going to the web site www.treasury.gov/tigta. Remember, the IRS does not use email or the telephone to make initial contact and does not demand immediate payment or threaten immediate arrest.

 

Robocall Concerns 

No fraud or scam topic seems to have dominated public attention more that the explosion of robocalls. For the past six to eight weeks. most of the emails and questions I have fielded relate to the non-stop barrage of these automated telephone calls. It’s no wonder. According to the Federal Trade Commission, over 84,000,000,000 (yes, that’s billion with a B) calls were placed in 2018. Robocalls, in and of themselves are not illegal. In fact, many of us welcome them when they come as reminders of medical appointments, vehicle-servicing needs, severe weather alerts, or notifications of delayed or canceled school days. The calls become less welcome when they originate as telemarketing efforts or are made to commit fraud. Here are the basics: robocalls are legal when made by polling organizations, on behalf of political campaigns, and as outreach by non-profits and charities. In addition, businesses with which you have “ongoing” relationships may use robocalls to conduct critical contacts. Legal calls to cell phones must be based on a consumer’s written or oral consent and land-line telemarketer calls require express written consent. These business calls are prohibited before 8 a.m. and after 9 p.m. 

Now that you have the basics, here is what you can do. Register or confirm registration for the Do Not Call Registry at www.donotcall.gov or by calling 888-382-1222. While this will not stop criminals, it may provide vital links to shutting them down and legitimate businesses that abuse the system will be subject to penalties on a per call basis. Contact your telephone service providers about call-blocking options. Sadly, many of the available methods cannot block callers who use a wide range of phone numbers. Also, many of the criminals “spoof” phone numbers of local emergency services or institutions making use of number blocking undesirable. If you use a mobile phone, see if its operating system has built-in technology to block calls. Consider the use of call-blocking devices or low-cost apps to block calls.

It all comes down to three basic rules: 1) If you have caller ID and voice mail, don’t answer calls from unknown numbers. If the caller needs to speak to you, he or she will leave a message. 2) If you answer the phone and it is a robocall, hang up. Don’t “press 1” to speak to an operator or press another number to be removed from a calling list. These actions will lead to more calls. 3) Report the call to the FTC at www.ftc.gov/complaint or 888-382-1222.

 

Elliott Greenblott is a retired educator and the Vermont coordinator of the AARP Fraud Watch Network and can be contacted at [email protected].

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