New Scam Alert by the BBB
Sep 22, 2015 12:00 AM
2015-09-22T00:00:00
IRS Scams Continue and Other Alerts
FIRST: The bogus robocalls from the "IRS" continue to deceive consumers and trick some into sending their money. We have done many alerts on this fraud, but BBB gets an average of 30 consumers calls every day asking if we "know anything" about them. We explain that the IRS does NOT PHONE consumers; it notifies them of any problems by mail.
The calls come from many locations, especially Los Angeles and the West Coast. Caller ID gives many numbers but those are often "spoofed" and fake. The recorded message is professional: "This is the IRS calling. You owe back taxes and this is your last warning. Call us immediately at (number)." We have talked to some consumers who called the numbers and were terrified by the threats of arrest and prosecution they received; one told us that she had sent $ 8,000 by Western Union to avoid being arrested. Please remind your family and employees to be aware of these robocalls and just hang up!
NEXT: Phony job offers. Consumers are receiving fake job offers by email or even Facebook. Example:
Dear Applicant,
Your resume has been examined on www.snagajobs.com by our HR Department and we believe you are capable of handling the position of a Data Entry, Front Office, Office clerk, Administrative Assistant candidate based on your resume. Your details has been forwarded to Mr Timothy Perry, (HR Manager) he would be conducting an online interview with you to discuss the Job Details, Pay Scale,Benefits and company etc.
You are to set up a screen name with yahoo instant messenger and add up the company's Hiring Manager's ID to your buddy list, yahoo screen name (---) and instant message him for an online interview/briefing exercise. The schedule time for the interview/briefing's exercise is 8:20am on Monday 09-14-2015 You are to be available on yahoo messenger or Google Hangout for the interview, Your swift and timely response matters to these position a lot as the job interview . I wish you all the very best of luck in the interview.
Best regard, HR Department, (XXX) Company
Consumers who receive these fake job offers are sometimes seriously cheated. For example, the "employer" sends the victim a fraudulent check to cover setting up work at home office expenses. The victims purchase moneygrams with their own money to purchase supplies from fraudulent vendors recommended by scammer. Naturally the fraudulent check never clears, the office supplies never arrive and the scammers get the moneygrams, often thousands of dollars! As a bonus to the scammers, victims supply personal information to "their new employer" such as their SSN (for their payment W-2) and their checking account number (so they can be paid electronically) which can be used for identity theft.
NEXT: You receive a letter in the mail informing you that you've won the Publisher's Clearing House (PCH) Sweepstakes. It says that PCH has even included a check to cover the taxes on your winnings. All you have to do is deposit the check in your account, then withdraw the money and wire or use a prepaid debit card to send the "taxes" to a third party. Then it claims Publishers Clearing House can release your winnings. We are getting many calls from consumers who fall for this swindle. After they send the money, the check bounces and they must repay the bank. The real Publishers Clearing House has nothing to do with this scam, of course.
Every day BBB explains to consumers that they should never send money in advance to claim a prize. Legitimate contests withhold taxes from prizes before they are awarded. But many consumers refuse to believe us because they are so excited that they have "won". Very sad.
FINALLY: We can still take nominations for the BBB Torch Award for Ethics! If your company is passionate about ethical treatment of customers and employees, you can nominate yourself for a Torch! Use the nomination form in the BBB News or go to our web site, http://www.bbb.org/toledo/ and scroll down to the Torch Award icon. Questions call Mollie at (419) 578-6000 or800-542-5539.
But time is very short! Send in your nomination TODAY!
Dick Eppstein, BBB
FIRST: The bogus robocalls from the "IRS" continue to deceive consumers and trick some into sending their money. We have done many alerts on this fraud, but BBB gets an average of 30 consumers calls every day asking if we "know anything" about them. We explain that the IRS does NOT PHONE consumers; it notifies them of any problems by mail.
The calls come from many locations, especially Los Angeles and the West Coast. Caller ID gives many numbers but those are often "spoofed" and fake. The recorded message is professional: "This is the IRS calling. You owe back taxes and this is your last warning. Call us immediately at (number)." We have talked to some consumers who called the numbers and were terrified by the threats of arrest and prosecution they received; one told us that she had sent $ 8,000 by Western Union to avoid being arrested. Please remind your family and employees to be aware of these robocalls and just hang up!
NEXT: Phony job offers. Consumers are receiving fake job offers by email or even Facebook. Example:
Dear Applicant,
Your resume has been examined on www.snagajobs.com by our HR Department and we believe you are capable of handling the position of a Data Entry, Front Office, Office clerk, Administrative Assistant candidate based on your resume. Your details has been forwarded to Mr Timothy Perry, (HR Manager) he would be conducting an online interview with you to discuss the Job Details, Pay Scale,Benefits and company etc.
You are to set up a screen name with yahoo instant messenger and add up the company's Hiring Manager's ID to your buddy list, yahoo screen name (---) and instant message him for an online interview/briefing exercise. The schedule time for the interview/briefing's exercise is 8:20am on Monday 09-14-2015 You are to be available on yahoo messenger or Google Hangout for the interview, Your swift and timely response matters to these position a lot as the job interview . I wish you all the very best of luck in the interview.
Best regard, HR Department, (XXX) Company
Consumers who receive these fake job offers are sometimes seriously cheated. For example, the "employer" sends the victim a fraudulent check to cover setting up work at home office expenses. The victims purchase moneygrams with their own money to purchase supplies from fraudulent vendors recommended by scammer. Naturally the fraudulent check never clears, the office supplies never arrive and the scammers get the moneygrams, often thousands of dollars! As a bonus to the scammers, victims supply personal information to "their new employer" such as their SSN (for their payment W-2) and their checking account number (so they can be paid electronically) which can be used for identity theft.
NEXT: You receive a letter in the mail informing you that you've won the Publisher's Clearing House (PCH) Sweepstakes. It says that PCH has even included a check to cover the taxes on your winnings. All you have to do is deposit the check in your account, then withdraw the money and wire or use a prepaid debit card to send the "taxes" to a third party. Then it claims Publishers Clearing House can release your winnings. We are getting many calls from consumers who fall for this swindle. After they send the money, the check bounces and they must repay the bank. The real Publishers Clearing House has nothing to do with this scam, of course.
Every day BBB explains to consumers that they should never send money in advance to claim a prize. Legitimate contests withhold taxes from prizes before they are awarded. But many consumers refuse to believe us because they are so excited that they have "won". Very sad.
FINALLY: We can still take nominations for the BBB Torch Award for Ethics! If your company is passionate about ethical treatment of customers and employees, you can nominate yourself for a Torch! Use the nomination form in the BBB News or go to our web site, http://www.bbb.org/toledo/ and scroll down to the Torch Award icon. Questions call Mollie at (419) 578-6000 or800-542-5539.
But time is very short! Send in your nomination TODAY!
Dick Eppstein, BBB