Joyce Bubenheim, a longtime News 6 viewer, said she has been the target of bogus IRS calls most of the year, but last week she said she had enough.
She said she received 15 messages in one day, so she decided to call their bluff and return the call.
The 610 area code is for parts of Pennsylvania including areas to the west of Philadelphia, yet a check by News 6 found no known address for an IRS headquarters in that area.
News 6 listened to a recorded conversation between Bubenheim and a man who claimed to be “John Miller” from the IRS.
The man, who had a high-pitched west Indian accent, seemed to be reading from a script.
He made sure to present his “badge number” 80019 and went on to explain that a review of tax records found a “miscalculation” in Bubenheim’s taxes dating back to 2011.
“Can you confirm you have been contacted by the local IRS or local sheriff’s department?” Miller asked.
Bubenheim said no.
For the record, she had not been contacted by law enforcement or the IRS, Miller claimed warrants had been issued for Bubenheim’s arrest.
While the conversation continued, her cellphone security app went off at least half a dozen times, indicating the number she had contacted was a “scammer.”
The audio alert said: “The system has determined the current caller or called destination is a scammer ... if you are sure to continue with the call press 1 or press the (muffled) and disconnect the call.”
After the final scam alert played, the call was disconnected. The impostors have not called back again.
The IRS is not calling Florida residents from Pennsylvania.
The IRS website makes it clear the agency will never:
• Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. Generally, the IRS will first mail you a bill if you owe any taxes.
• Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
• Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
• Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
For more information on scams and where to report a bogus federal call, go to www.irs.gov.