Strange Call

[FEDUKE404]

Related vent

I wish someone could come up with how to bleep those folks from "Cardholder Services."

Now that I'm home more, I regularly receive at least two calls per day from them. Then some random "The FBI reports...." and even some "Don't fall in the bathtub....you need such and such" calls to boot.

Charities seem to have free reign to repeated phone calls, emails, junk snail mail, etc.

The only thing that seems to (sometimes) work is I now follow the six-ring rule....phone has to ring at least six times for me to answer. And saying something other than "Hello" also seems to help. . .

FE

[S T]

I know my own personal vents, as I run so many lines with the biz lines into the house.

Now even my husband, looks at the Caller ID - that has been a "godsend" if it is a 800 or 866 # - don't answer, if it is a really weird Area Code - don't answer,

I even now have my clients trained, that I might not answer, if they do not have a
"caller id" and it goes to voice mail.

I also found, that the times I do answer one of those calls, if I speak or answer, in a really "soft low voice" guess what, it does not initiate the trigger for the "canned tele-marketer canned pitch. There is such a pause, that I can wait and then just clik the "end call" button. Warms my heart!

I also just re-registered on the Do Not Call Registry, as the Atty Genl in NC, initiated a new program to assist NC residents, probably about 6-8 months ago. So now I have re-registered --- for whatever that is worth.

Sandy

[FEDUKE404]

Additional rules for NC victims of telemarketing calls

...I also just re-registered on the Do Not Call Registry, as the Atty Genl in NC, initiated a new program to assist NC residents, probably about 6-8 months ago. So now I have re-registered --- for whatever that is worth....

Sandy

I don't really see anything additional from the NC AG web page ( http://www.ncdoj.gov/getdoc/95cfaf8b...-Not-Call.aspx ).

Q: What is the relationship between the national Do Not Call Registry and the North Carolina state Do Not Call law?

A: North Carolina enacted a Do Not Call law that dovetails with the national Registry. Consumers need only to register once with the national Registry, and this will enable them to benefit automatically from the North Carolina law as well. North Carolina will not maintain its own state specific list since the national list can serve that role. Having a single list is simpler for consumers, more efficient for businesses and saves the state money in tough fiscal times.

As for filing a complaint with the NC AG, for most of the calls I get that would be a waste of time. The number shown on caller ID is likely to be fake (and I hear some people are even seeing their OWN telephone numbers on the phone as the "caller" !), and any questions for information from the caller will generally result in a hang-up. . .although they will keep calling.

Am I missing something ? ?

FE

[rkhan71]

This has been ...

going on the last few months (if not more) to me and my clients. I did tell our local region IRS rep but not sure how he will be able to help. The callers are from India, and say that you have such and such issue and need to contact us otherwise you may face jail or some sort of other prosecution due to your IRS / local issue. Something to this effect.

I have gotten about 5-7 calls myself in the last 3-4 months. I actually talked to one individual and told him about my background and he hung up within 2 minutes into the conversation. I just got another call this morning. It was a recorded message saying to call a 202 number about an IRS issue. Some of the CID's actually show a 202 number with an IRS identifier. One of my clients got so nervous that the mother and son went to where father worked and told them of the threatening phone call. The father left work because he could not mentally deal with what the phone call was about. He has an IRS issue that has been resolved and thought this is part of that. But he literally came home because of the fear of the call and the IRS.

Ray

[JenMO]

I have a client that has received 2 phone calls in the last couple of months. the caller threatened my client saying they would come to his house and take him to jail. caller said he hadn't paid his income tax. He had. Client wrote down numbers that came up on caller ID and a return number. the first time I reported to the attorney general, I intend to do again. I don't imagine the AG's office can do anything, but I think they need to know.

[JohnH]

AG involvement is dependent upon what year it is.
If an election year, the Attorney General is usually more interested in helping out citizens if there are headlines to be grabbed.
In off years, they generally just issue press releases.

[S T]

My Senior Client, age 88, just received her "2nd call" from this 202 area code from the supposed "IRS" and threats (we do have knowledge this is a potential scam. She is so upset, rightfully so.

Just tried to advise her to calm down, I resigned her up on the Do Not Call List ( for whatever that is worth" and advised her to contact her phone co provider to put a "block" on area code 202.

Fortunately she is very smart, and screens all of her phone calls, before answering.

Not sure what else I can assist with helping her on to block these phone calls.

Sandy

[DaveinTexas]

I must admit

My Senior Client, age 88, just received her "2nd call" from this 202 area code from the supposed "IRS" and threats (we do have knowledge this is a potential scam. She is so upset, rightfully so.

Just tried to advise her to calm down, I resigned her up on the Do Not Call List ( for whatever that is worth" and advised her to contact her phone co provider to put a "block" on area code 202.

Fortunately she is very smart, and screens all of her phone calls, before answering.

Not sure what else I can assist with helping her on to block these phone calls.

Sandy

I had a client about a month ago receive a phone call from a "Michael Carter with IRS". "Michael" threatened to put my client in jail, the sheriff is coming to levy assets, etc. I took down the phone number and during my lunch break I called this guy probably about 15 times acting as if I was a taxpayer in distress. It passed the time and gave me a bit of humor for the day. We need to call these people for our clients so they will eventually shut down their phone numbers.

Beat them at their own game. Do it during your lunch break, try to act in distress and have some fun

[WhiteOleander]

I had a client about a month ago receive a phone call from a "Michael Carter with IRS". "Michael" threatened to put my client in jail, the sheriff is coming to levy assets, etc. I took down the phone number and during my lunch break I called this guy probably about 15 times acting as if I was a taxpayer in distress. It passed the time and gave me a bit of humor for the day. We need to call these people for our clients so they will eventually shut down their phone numbers.

Beat them at their own game. Do it during your lunch break, try to act in distress and have some fun

This is a great idea!!!!

[DaveinTexas]

I happen to think so too

albeit I do find myself feeling a little guilty but hey, this is a real problem taxpayers are facing. The last thing an unsuspecting client needs (especially the elderly) is a person impersonating the IRS telling them they will "go to jail". This is sick stuff.

Let's blow up their phones and make their jobs a bit harder. Gee, I wonder if impersonating a taxpayer is a punishable offense....

[S T]

Great idea, but do we have "lunch breaks" or even a "coffee break" Seems like I have an issue even finding time for a "potty break"

Sandy

[MDEA]

Strange call

I received two of these calls in May. I kept them on the line as long as I could so they would not have the time to bother some one else. It ended with me telling them to come to my house and arrest me.

[Golden Rocket]

Do Not Call Registry

Sandy, don't be disappointed if the "do not call registry" doesn't work. I am on the list and get as many solicitors as I ever did.

Reason being, there is no enforcement money appropriated to prosecute the offenders. Call the Federal Trade Commission (or your state agency) and you will be lucky to find someone to talk to.