Phone call from "IRS"

HImom
Tue, 19 Apr 2016 22:44:27 +0000

I think it can be anyone who isn’t on the alert when they are propositioned or called–electronically or on the phone. There are SO MANY scammers out there. My folks have been very trusting and tend to pay whatever bills present themselves. Today, they called me very upset that they got a charge for over $7000, for a merchant that they didn’t expect such a high bill. I told them I had nothing to do with it and suggested they call the merchant. They did and got an apology and was told it was a mistake and immediately re-credited, but it did get their attention.

They donate to a ton of folks that send them solicitations in the mail, though I really wish they wouldn’t. I have nearly clicked on links a few times but caught myself just in time. We have gotten the “windows” phone call a few times and H has strung them along in curiosity, but ultimately don’t know whether H or the caller hung up.

We used to get a lot of religious calls–claiming that H was a member (he isn’t) and they have money they want to give back to him. We ultimately started asking to speak to a supervisor and for them to spell their names and addresses, so that they could be served with a complaint for violating our privacy. Once we started having caller ID, we just stopped answering those phone calls.

We have repeatedly requested my folks NOT answer the phone if they don’t know the caller, but they still do. Oh well!