There is definitely no shortage of scammers out there, especially in today's day and age. From suspicious junk mail to urgent pop-ups to phone calls from people claiming to represent the IRS, they'll use any platform they can to swindle people out of their financial information and money.
Unfortunately, most of the people who fall victim to these scams, especially the latter, aren't familiar with tax laws or IRS practices. Twitter user @twittysuch, on the other hand, isn't among them. After recently receiving a call from one such scammer, she decided to put her knowledge to practice and have some fun humiliating the would-be thief.
Twitter / twittysuch
"It finally happened," she wrote. "I finally got a call from a scammer claiming to be the IRS and I could finally pull all of the tax law and privacy law I know out of my brain. This is a good day. This is MY day, people."
First, she clarified that she understands telemarketers are just trying to make a living, but pointed out that there's a difference between doing your job and breaking the law:
"Some notes, though: I understand and respect that telemarketers (that's what they are) are just trying to do their jobs. We all have bills to pay. But the IRS phone scam is actually illegal and using threats of police violence or physical violence via the phone is illegal."
Read the entire transcript of her conversation below. You tell 'em, girl!
THREAD "” SUMMARIZED TRANSCRIPT-I receive a phone call from someone with a Maryland phone number, they identify themselves as being from the IRS and that I have "defaulted" on my tax payments for 2017. "” Let's Make a Ha-Deel (@twittysuch) April 3, 2018
Considering that uh...tax day isn't even here yet and I know the IRS will never call you, I decided to put it on speaker phone and fire up Ye Olde Audacity to entertain myself while I wait for my morning tea to steep. "” Let's Make a Ha-Deel (@twittysuch) April 3, 2018
Me: I defaulted on my tax payments? That sounds serious. Why wasn't I ever sent a bill?Person: You can take care of it over the phone with me. We take most major credit cards and prepaid Visa gift cardsMe: I'm gonna stop you right there. I want to know why I wasn't sent a bill. "” Let's Make a Ha-Deel (@twittysuch) April 3, 2018
Person: We send several bills, you ignored them.Me: Did I? I think I would have remembered getting a bill from the IRS.Person: You chose to ignore them.Me: No, I don't think I'd ignore a CP523. It's a pretty distinct looking envelope. "” Let's Make a Ha-Deel (@twittysuch) April 3, 2018
Person: No, we sent you a bill and"“Me: It's called a CP523.Person: What.Me: The IRS doesn't send "bills". They're not Comcast. They send a CP523. I DID throw away a coupon for one of those Casper mattresses. "” Let's Make a Ha-Deel (@twittysuch) April 3, 2018
Person: Ma'am, if you don't take this seriously, we can send the police"“Me: No, you can't.Person: I WILL SEND THE POLICE.Me: Ok, send them. I'll be waiting.Person: -silence-Me: I hear sirens, is that them? (I live next to a fire station) Is that....the police? "” Let's Make a Ha-Deel (@twittysuch) April 3, 2018
(aside: I'm trying my absolute best not to LOSE IT at this point because this is HILARIOUS) "” Let's Make a Ha-Deel (@twittysuch) April 3, 2018
Person: -silence-Me: Do y'all take PayPal?Person: No.Me: What about bitcoin?Person: We can take"“Me: You're committing a federal crime. Did you know that? Did you know you're breaking the law and you're not very good at it?Person: *hangs up* "“END THREAD"“ "” Let's Make a Ha-Deel (@twittysuch) April 3, 2018
I think we all know who won, here. You can stop from becoming the victim of an IRS scam by clicking here, where you'll find information that'll help you identify fraudulent schemes. And remember, the IRS doesn't call you out of the blue. If you owe any money, they'll send you a number of computer-generated letters, instead.
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