(Publisher’s note: This week, I got one of the IRS phone calls threatening to have me arrested because I owed the government money. As the police recommend, I hung-up on the call.)
There are increasingly more and more scam type phone calls that are affecting everyone, but tend to impact elderly and the aging population. Some things to note are listed below, please read and if you have a family member who you feel may be susceptible to these types of scams take a few minutes and discuss it with them and come up with a plan on how to handle the call when they receive a call.
If an elderly family member has a home phone, put a short note by the phone and simply write “Asking for money, won’t send a bill or proof, HANG-UP”.
The most important thing is to not get sucked in to the call. The longer you talk with them, the better chance they will have to worry you and get you to send them money or give vital identification information.
Utility companies do not call people and demand payment immediately especially not payment in form of gift cards or pre-paid credit cards.
With tax season in the works be extra vigilant, the IRS will NEVER call and demand payment and threaten arrest. You will always receive formal written communication with the IRS regarding any money that may be owed.
If your grandson/granddaughter calls you and says he was in a motor vehicle accident or has been arrested in another state or country, chances are this is a scam. Hang-up and call the person directly using their phone number or their closest relative and confirm whether they are OK.
Always proceed with caution when dealing with these types of phone calls. The people calling use emotional triggers: getting your power shut off, IRS coming to arrest you at your work, your grandson being in desperate need of money, etc. to get you to make a decision you normally would not make if you had time to think it over.
Unfortunately, the people committing these crimes are based outside of the country normally which makes it increasingly more difficult to track the suspects down and nearly impossible to recover money once it has been sent.
As always, be safe and remain vigilant and when being forced to make a financial decision quickly stop and think it over and seek the counsel of law enforcement before you make the decision to send the money.
