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Comment by samfisher83 | Hacker News Reader

The article doesn't mention what was the scam they did? Anyone know?

I saw other news stories about it. They would pretend to be an IRS call center and tell the callee they owed back taxes.

The real IRS will send you mail if you owe back taxes, and instruct you to call them.

The real IRS reject further returns and post a message telling you why. I then had to go in person, sit with them and fix the paperwork...

In a nutshell: people trained with American accents made calls to American taxpayers suggesting that they owed backtaxes and would be sued if they didn't pay up.

If you can call those accents "American" (subject of 2+ such scam calls here).

I got one of those calls and it sounded very credible. I called the number back and then I got a little nervous when the guy on the other end of the line seemed very uninterested and unprofessional. I don't how how far I would have gone if he had acted better.

> I called the number back and then I got a little nervous when the guy on the other end of the line seemed very uninterested and unprofessional.

Didn't you think you were calling a government office? They aren't exactly known for their customer service, whereas scammers are known for having a slick feel to their operation. Interesting that that was your tip off.

I have talked to the IRS before and they were always very courteous and well-informed. I wouldn't call them slick but very efficient and clear.

> I don't how how far I would have gone if he had acted better.

You probably would have figured it out as soon as they told you that you could settle your IRS debt with iTunes gift cards.

That probably would have made me a little suspicious :-)

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