This is unbelievable. I'm going to write about taxes again! I know I said in my last post that it was the end of posts on tax. The tax topic just keeps giving and giving. This also fits in with a few other posts I've done, like telemarketers.
Yesterday morning a call came and since I have call identification , I decided not to answer. Most telemarketers and scams don't leave a message. This one left a message and it was chilling.
The message went something like this. You are named in a criminal proceeding for paying insufficient income tax and for tax fraud. Call back immediately and we can help you. Well it's a rather upsetting message. Fear and worry set in immediately. And then the voice of reason cuts in and you realize that this is a scam. However , you are shook up by such a call.
Even though I had heard about this scam before, I was stressed. What cold evil hearted person would conduct such a scam. I wouldn't be taken in but how many other people may fall for it. What about seniors.? What about the many people we have who have limited English?
So yes, my post is about tax but more on creepy criminal phone calls.
We called the police to report the call thinking that they may be interested in case there was an ongoing investigation. Well they knew about it, but there was no investigation because unless there's money that actually changes hands there's no offense being committed. They are just a nuisance.
So hopefully this will be the last tax post and that the goons don't phone you.
We have gotten similar calls. It's troubling how many scammers there are out there trying to defraud folks.
ReplyDeleteI guess there are bigger fish in the pond that they would rather go after.
Deletewe have had that scam running here, too with gift cards as a "payment option"
ReplyDeleteEvery shop selling gift cards has warning notices up not to buy them for the phone scams
The gift card scam seems simple and it sounds reasonable.
DeleteOh I've received quite a few of these calls over the past year. Luckily, I screen my phone calls (thank goodness for caller id) so all they leave is messages, which I promptly delete.
ReplyDeleteI screen my calls too but this one left a message. Very few will leave a message.
DeleteI've heard how several people got caught up in this scam because they are immigrants and were very afraid that they could be sent back home for unpaid taxes.
ReplyDeleteYes, for many immigrants, they've not had a good experience in their own country.
DeleteMy wife just recently had the same call. She told me that it did not mention her name so she hung up. Unfortunately there are so many gullible people that are easy pray. Too bad about the police.
ReplyDeleteSome of these pitches are pretty smooth.
DeleteAuthorities around the world should be doing their damnedest to crack down on these parasites. It's as if the authorities don't really care. These days, whenever our phone rings, I immediately think that there's a scammer at the end of the line because I have had to fend off so many calls. Though I have cursed them they keep coming back. Surely with modern phone technology it would be possible to pin them down and bring them to justice. Perhaps a new criminal offence should be instituted - "Being a phone scammer". For them I would bring back the death penalty or at least the rack.
ReplyDeleteMore than half of my calls are telemarketers. I have from time to time said, "The call you are making is illegal and you should be in jail." It's surprising how fast they hang up.
DeleteI've had five or six of these calls. I have call ID, for this purpose. Such idiots trying to scam us.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first income tax call I've had.
DeleteI have received those calls, too. They leave a message that makes it sound like the world coming to an end if you don't call them back. I agree that susceptible people are taken advantage of by these creeps. Good you called and hopefully they will get their deserved punishment some day. :-(
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be an allowed activity until they actually take money from somebody. By that time it's too late.
DeleteUnbelievable. (As you said!) Thank goodness you had the presence of mind to know it's a scam. There really should be a law against that kind of thing. I mean, free speech is one thing, but why isn't that soliciting with intent to defraud?!
ReplyDeleteI had heard about the scam before but it was hard to believe that I was getting the call.
DeleteI had one of these last week, checking my voice mail. It claimed there was a warrant out for my arrest from the Revenue Agency and that I had to call the number immediately. The voice was quite threatening. I knew it had to be a scam, checked the number online. There were several warnings about it being a scam, and that it was a number in Kitchener.
ReplyDeleteThe call I had had a very professional convincing type of voice.
DeleteHi Red, So happy to hear you were not taken in by this scam. There's just a lot of low-life out there. Someday I may do a post on a scam call I've gotten a couple of times ... It starts off "Hi, this is Microsoft. We need to help you with some problems on your computer." Wow, really?? I hung up on them a couple of times, then, the last time, I said, Hey, I don't have a computer. They haven't called back! :-) Have a great day, Red, and take care. John (PS Hope they don't see this comment and put it together with my phone number!)
ReplyDeleteI had the computer scam a few years ago and had some fun with the guy by asking awkward questions.
Deleteone would think they would have something to go on
ReplyDeleteI guess they have bigger fish to fry.
DeleteI disagree: they're more than a nuisance, especially in your case. People are being lied to in order to extort money. I doubt tax officials in Canada make belligerent phone calls instead of sending letters through the mail first.
ReplyDeleteOur tax people write letters. I think there might be calls after letters but since I've never had problems with the tax dept. I don't know.
DeleteSome of the scam calls are quite hard to discern. No threats, just an urgent voice to call Revenue Canada complete with a telephone number repeated twice, and the comment to have your social insurance number ready when you call back. Actually, we still haven't figured out that one was really a scam, but if they want us, they're going to have to mail us something! There is no reason for them to be calling us.
ReplyDeleteI can see now that there are variations with the call. Maybe more than one group is using this scam.
DeleteThat's a nuisance all right. I'm glad you didn't worry for too long.
ReplyDeleteI had heard about this before but it still is chilling to hear.
DeleteLogic dictates that Revenue Canada would never contact anyone this way, but our first reaction is alarm and fear. And sadly, there are people who fall victim to these scams.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't surprise me. Glad you didn't get burnt by it. They are a pain but some people unfortunately fall for the scams.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness you were smarter than they were.
ReplyDelete