Tax Season is Scam Season

How many times do you receive a phone call from the “IRS” or the “Social Security Administration”? I get an average of 3 scam calls per day, I would get more scam calls if I hadn’t used my phone’s Robo-Call blocking features.
Every year for the past decade or so, the number of scam calls threatening you from garnishing your paycheck to arrest warrants has been increasing and there’s no end in sight.

“The Internal Revenue Service’ Criminal Investigation Division’s annual report PDF, highlighting the agency’s successes and criminal enforcement actions taken in Fiscal Year 2020, the majority of which occurred during COVID-19. A key achievement was the identification of over $10 billion in tax fraud and other financial crimes.”

“Even in the face of a global pandemic, the CI workforce initiated nearly 1,600 investigations and identified $2.3 billion in tax fraud schemes.” IR-2020-255, November 16, 2020.

What the IRS does not do.

• The IRS will not call without mailing a letter or bill to a taxpayer first.
• The IRS does not call and harass or threaten taxpayers.
• The IRS does not scream and yell at taxpayers over the phone.
• The IRS does not demand payment without giving taxpayers a chance to ask questions or appeal.
• The IRS does not ask for credit card information over the phone.
• The IRS does not use email, texts, or social media to discuss tax matters.

Do you want to stop those scam phone calls and have peace of mind that the next call you answer is legitimate? If so, you should take advantage of your phone’s features, and your phone carrier’s tools and services.

The major wireless providers offer various tools and solutions that you can engage or may be built into your device to block or flag calls.

• AT&T Call Protect
• Verizon Call Filter
• T-Mobile Scam ID, Scam Block, Name ID
• U.S. Cellular Call Guardian

Download and activate robocall blocking apps: Third parties offer additional apps to help you identify and block unwanted robocalls. Media outlets regularly recommend and review apps.
check out the lists of apps for Android, and iOS (Apple)

Use your device’s features: Use features built into your phone to block unwanted calls. To learn more, check out guides for iOS and Android or visit your device manufacturer’s website.

Take extra precautions with unknown callers: Don’t engage with robo-callers. Don’t give out personally identifiable information or send money to a third party without verifying the authenticity of the caller. You can double check the authenticity of caller by looking up their phone number on their website, or in a phone book and calling them directly.

Add your number to the Do-Not-Call Registry: Add your wireless devices and/or landline numbers to the National Do Not Call Registry, which prohibits telemarketers from calling your registered numbers.

• Tip: Before giving your phone number to any business, read their privacy policy ahead of time. Some policies may imply that by giving your phone number or agreeing to a business’s terms and conditions, you gave them permission to contact you and possibly to share your contact information with others.

Report robocalls and spam text messages: 

• File a complaint online with the FTC or FCC. Alternatively, call the FTC at 1-877-FTC-HELP or the FCC at 1-888-CALL-FCC.
• Forward SPAM text messages to 7726 (or SPAM). This free text exchange with your wireless provider will report the SPAM number, and you will receive a response thanking you for reporting it.
• How to block unwanted calls

I’ve done all of the above, and I still get a few spam calls on any given day, but the number is much lower and manageable. I hope for a time when we could get to zero spam calls, but the reality is that as long as people keep falling for these types of scams, the criminals will continue to use (and tweak) those techniques to their advantage.