Scammers are constantly changing how they operate.
Governmental agencies such as the IRS and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as
well as private organizations such as AARP are educating the public on how
scammers work. Scammers must adjust as more of the population learns how they
work.
In a recent podcast, the AARP Fraud Watch Network reveal how
an IRS scam ring that was busted in India in 2016 operated.
·
The operation involved about 1,000 people in two
floors of a building. This is unusual for most boiler room operations.
·
The IRS scam ring robo-dialed 100,000 Americans
a day and received 10,000 to 15,000 call back a day.
·
90% of the victims who fell for the IRS scam
lived alone.
·
After the raid, IRS scam calls dropped by 95%
according to the Better Business Bureau.
The fact that so many victims lived alone highlights how
scammers can succeed. Someone who is isolated do not have the opportunity to check
with a family member or friend if the scammer’s call is even reasonable. This situation
emphasizes the need for everyone to pass this information on, especially to
family or friends who might be isolated.
The raid was very successful in reducing the number IRS scam
calls, Also, the word has gotten around about the scam in the press and social
media. But there are still fraudsters who are trying to use the IRS scam. AARP says
that IRS scammers have changed their technique by sending out letters. The letter
looks just like it came from the IRS. It will have a reference number in the
upper right-hand corner. It will claim that you owe back taxes and that you
need to contact your local IRS office. It will name an agent that you should call
and give you a number where you can contact him/her. If you call the number, when
you are connected to the person named in the letter, they will try to pressure you
by scaring you with arrest and demand immediate payment with a wire transfer or
a gift card.
The letter tries to add legitimacy to the scam. The key to protecting
yourself is to verify the information in the letter independently from anything
stated in the letter. Instead of calling the phone number in the letter, do a
Google search for your local IRS phone number or the national IRS phone number,
then call it and ask if they have an agent on staff named in the letter.
AARP Fraud Watch Network, The Perfect Scam Podcast:
CBS News:
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