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irs withholds refund until telephone callback to prove identity?
e | 6-10-2017 | me

Posted on 06/10/2017 7:45:56 PM PDT by SteveH

something or someone claiming to be an austin, texas branch of the irs recently (~3 weeks ago) sent me a letter.

i should receive a refund from the irs due to overpayment by several thousand dollars.

however, according to the irs, it is suspicious that i am really me. so it wants me to call them up on an 800 number, with two past 1040s and 22s in hand, so i can prove to them that i am me before they will believe the 1040 and send me my refund.

they will allow a lawyer to be present ir i wish.

does this sound legit? or smelly, as in someone is attempting to steal my identity and/or irs refund? i have never been contacted in this manner before.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: identitytheft; irs; irsscam; taxrefund
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To: SteveH

If you received a letter from them and you have a refund you are waiting for, it is legitimate. This is a new system that turns around identity theft suspected returns quicker.austin Texas is the office for handling Identity theft.


21 posted on 06/10/2017 8:01:44 PM PDT by Raycpa
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To: SteveH

Scam. IRS NEVER calls, they ALWAYS use snail mail.


22 posted on 06/10/2017 8:04:13 PM PDT by reaganaut (Bible scholar/historian/apologist)
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To: SteveH

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-5071c-letter


23 posted on 06/10/2017 8:05:09 PM PDT by Raycpa
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To: madison10

Scammers are now sending letters that look like the real IRS!
Wow...what to believe, huh?

http://clark.com/scams-rip-offs/warning-new-irs-scam-email-paper-mail/


24 posted on 06/10/2017 8:06:27 PM PDT by toldyou (Even if the voices aren't real, they have some pretty good ideas.)
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To: madison10

Scammers are now sending letters that look like the real IRS!
Wow...what to believe, huh?

http://clark.com/scams-rip-offs/warning-new-irs-scam-email-paper-mail/


25 posted on 06/10/2017 8:06:46 PM PDT by toldyou (Even if the voices aren't real, they have some pretty good ideas.)
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To: SteveH
I'll bet the title to my 64 it's a SCAM. I bet the "agent" who called called had an American sounding name with an obviously Indian or Pakistani accent. For a good laugh check these out
26 posted on 06/10/2017 8:06:51 PM PDT by Impala64ssa (Islamophobic? NO! IslamABHORic)
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To: SteveH

Don’t give them you drivers license or credit card numbers.


27 posted on 06/10/2017 8:07:34 PM PDT by umgud
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To: SteveH

Pretty sure that’s a scam.


28 posted on 06/10/2017 8:09:42 PM PDT by Rusty0604
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To: SteveH

Right from the IRS website at

https://www.irs.gov/help-resources/telephone-assistance

IRS phone numbers
Customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, unless otherwise noted. Residents of Alaska and Hawaii follow Pacific time. Puerto Rico phone lines are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time.
Individuals:
800-829-1040


29 posted on 06/10/2017 8:13:19 PM PDT by Innovative ("Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." -- Vince Lombardi)
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To: SteveH; Raycpa

Better check out Ray’s link.


30 posted on 06/10/2017 8:13:53 PM PDT by mrsmith (Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat/RINO Party!)
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To: Impala64ssa

It was not a telephone call. It was a letter.


31 posted on 06/10/2017 8:15:02 PM PDT by SteveH
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To: SteveH

Sounds like some scam.

I just posted to you their webaddress for their phone number, as well as their number posted there.

You can go to their legitimate website to confirm.


32 posted on 06/10/2017 8:16:38 PM PDT by Innovative ("Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." -- Vince Lombardi)
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To: SteveH

*67 and call them.

F with them the same way they are with you.

Send me the 800 number and I will.
Post it and we all will.


33 posted on 06/10/2017 8:26:38 PM PDT by CGASMIA68
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To: SteveH

Scam. I saw something on the news about this recently.


34 posted on 06/10/2017 8:32:31 PM PDT by rdl6989
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To: SteveH

Go to irs.gov, get their 1-800 phone number and call them. Unlike what some here are saying, they may call you, but generally only if you sent mail or they sent you mail first.

If you have a refund you generally need to claim it within 3 years of the due date of the return or 2 years of the date you paid the tax. If you made estimated payments but did not claim them on your return that might also be a reason for the call.


35 posted on 06/10/2017 8:43:37 PM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission
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To: MtnClimber
I had a life-changing moment when I was directed to a great scam baiting website, www.411eater.com. "So what is scambaiting? Well, put simply, you enter into a dialogue with scammers, simply to waste their time and resources. Whilst you are doing this, you will be helping to keep the scammers away from real potential victims and screwing around with the minds of deserving thieves."

A few years ago I got a voicemail from a heavily-accented "agent of the IRS" saying they were about to sue me unless I called them back. So I did...

Scammer: "Hello, IRS."

DoodleBob: "Hello, this is Graham Chapman, esquire, attorney at law, representing Mr. DoodleBob who you called earlier."

Scammer: ".....are you a lawyer.....?"

DoodleChapman: "Maybe...what's this all about?"

The guy hung up and disconnected the number.

I now look forward to these calls.

36 posted on 06/10/2017 8:44:13 PM PDT by DoodleBob
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To: SteveH

No it is not legit at all.


37 posted on 06/10/2017 8:50:52 PM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: SteveH

Scam. See if they can meet you in a secluded area with your own hidden backup. Give them the 2.5 day in the woods tied to a tree test.


38 posted on 06/10/2017 8:53:46 PM PDT by soycd
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To: SteveH

Do not call the number. The IRS does no refund business over the phone.


39 posted on 06/10/2017 9:00:50 PM PDT by txrefugee
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To: SteveH

If you have questions call the real IRS number

They never ask for previous 1040s


40 posted on 06/10/2017 9:10:34 PM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the cloudsl)
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