This happened to me yesterday, and I posted a warning on Facebook. I am reproducing it here to try to alert more people. If anyone has better luck reporting such fraud to the US government than I did, I’d like to hear how they managed it. As tax season is upon is, I think we can expert more of the same. These people have just enough information to scare the unsuspecting. Be careful out there.
POSTED ON MY FACEBOOK TIMELINE YESTERDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014
The IRS advises the following:
If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, here’s what you should do:
•If you know you owe taxes or you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS at 1.800.829.1040. The IRS employees at that line can help you with a payment issue – if there really is such an issue.
•If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to think that you owe any taxes (for example, you’ve never received a bill or the caller made some bogus threats as described above), then call and report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1.800.366.4484.
•If you’ve been targeted by this scam, you should also contact the Federal Trade Commission and use their “FTC Complaint Assistant” at FTC.gov. Please add “IRS Telephone Scam” to the comments of your complaint.
IMPORTANT NOTE: I called the 800 number above and heard the most ridiculously long voice menu ever about various tax-related problems (alert the press). None of the options pertained to phone scams. It was a legitimate number, though–only the US government could create a voice recording almost as long as the tax code. I’ll try to find another way to report the fraud, but I’m not optimistic. Just be careful.
The Patient's Path 
There’s never a dull moment in your life!
Batten down the hatches – another foot of white stuff is predicted for Sunday/Monday. I’m catching up on a bunch of long-ignored chores. They don’t improve with age but progress is good.
Bill seems to be back to his old self. They never gave it a name but “it” seems to have run its course.
The driveway is still a sheet of ice. No wonder all my friends head South.
Susan
_____
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Actually, I have lots of dull moments. I’ve often referred to my life as “punctuated disequilibrium.” And yesterday was actually punctured by that phone call!
So annoyed to hear about more “weather” coming. But I know soon enough we’ll be complaining about the heat and humidity, even if March is coming in like a lion–or a snow leopard. Only 1 inch out there today, they say, but I have problems with my driveway because of the wind and fear being trapped.
So glad to hear that Bill is over “it.”
Enjoying “The Paris Wife.” It reads so much like a memoir, it’s hard to believe it’s a novel. Interesting style, fascinating lives.
Hope to see you on a clear day soon!
Pam
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Thanks for letting everyone know. Very interesting and disturbing at the same time. Good job on your part!!! Love, Mom
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Thanks, Mom.
Just beware of any phone or email scams–they may sound real at first.
Love…
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