I’ve often heard about people being scammed out of hundreds or
even thousands of dollars through scam artists who make it their life’s work to
defraud people out of their money. Never ever thought it would happen to me.
Then today I received my very first scam call. Woke up to two missed calls from
a (202) 697-9915. Checked my voicemail only to get a recording of an electronic
male voice repeating a number. I gave it no thought. Then a few hours later I received yet another
missed call from that same number. When I returned the call the number just
rang and rang. So I decided to call back the number from my voicemail (202)
436-9798.
The voice on the other end sounded like a Middle Eastern man
who identified himself as “Chief Inspector Austin Reed” with the IRS. I told him I was returning a call to which he
inquired what number they had contacted me on.
After I gave him my number he asked if he was speaking to “Yaminah Gore”
(he mispronounced my last name - it sounded French or something) to which I
repeated my full government name. He
went on to say that he was with the IRS and that the federal government has
issued a warrant for my arrest and wanted to know if I knew why. I stifled a laugh and he interjected to say
this was “serious”. I told him it was funny to me that he would call me to tell
me there is a warrant for my arrest and then ask me if I knew why. Shouldn’t he
already know why a warrant was issued for my arrest? I went on to tell him it
was impossible that there is a warrant out for my arrest. He inquired why I would
say that and I told him it is because I am a law abiding citizen and have been
so for all my life. Once I realized this was a scam call I told him to remove
my number from their ‘que’ and refrain from calling me again. He kept trying to
tell me “how serious” this situation was. To which I told him to go ahead and
have the federal government execute the warrant on me as I’ve been living at
the same place for the past 17 years so if they want to arrest me they knew
where I lived. I also shared with him
that I would report his call to the local tv station as well as the IRS. His response was to hang up. 
Afterwards I thought about the stories I’ve heard about
people who were scammed out of money due to these type calls and I could see
how that could happen especially if there past was a bit questionable. I immediately did an internet search for where
I could report my encounter. I came across a website for the Treasury Inspector
General for Tax Administration www.treasury.gov/tigta
where I completed and submitted a fraud report form. It was a very simple and
easy process. There was also a toll free number listed (800) 366-4484 but due
to the sheer volume of calls received the mailbox was full. I would love to say
that was the end of my encounter, but not so. Throughout the day I continued to
receive automated calls from the “IRS Fraud line” expressing urgency for me to return
the call and resolve the issues that has prompted the Federal Government to
issue a warrant for my arrest. I chose
to ignore those calls.
The previous case is only a small scale on how widespread
phone scams have become. These predators prey on unsuspecting individuals
including senior citizens who may not be as savvy to identify theses calls as
scams. Don’t fall victim to scam calls. If you ever receive a call from someone
you don’t know or from someone claiming to be collecting a debt, ask them to
send you the request in writing. If they don’t have your address, chances are
it is a scam – hang up. Don’t give out ANY personal information pass your name.
Think about it, everyone you have done business with already has your personal
information. Remember we live in nation that requires “due process” before any
collection action is levied against you. Every demand for debt has to be in
writing and you must be given an opportunity to confirm the debt before you are
required to pay it. Also remember the IRS will never call you asking you to pay
a debt over the phone. They have ways to garnish future earnings and tax
returns so don’t ever fall for the tactics people from other counties may try
to pull over on you because they are ignorant of the law that governs the
citizens of our country. I’ve never heard of the Federal Government issuing an
arrest warrant for failure to pay a debt without due process. I’m just saying –
I got issues. What about you?)i(
Here are some other resources:
Copyright © Todos Escribe. All Right Reserved
The views and opinions shared here are by the Author
and are the property of Todos Escribe.
