Just the other day, I received a voicemail that raised my suspicions immediately. It claimed to be from the “National Tax Relief Program,” offering to help clear back taxes. Intrigued and a bit wary, I decided to dig deeper into this, and what I found was a classic scam playing out. Here’s a rundown of the call and why you should be on high alert if you receive a similar one.
The voicemail started off sounding quite official. The caller mentioned a program supposedly approved in August 2022, aimed at helping those struggling with tax debt. It all sounds quite helpful, doesn’t it? But then came the catch. The caller listed specific requirements for eligibility, like not being in any tax debt consolidation program, not being bankrupt, and having a certain income level. Then, they asked to press a number to confirm eligibility. Red flags, anyone?
Here’s the deal: genuine tax authorities don’t operate like this. If there’s an official program, you’d likely hear about it through official channels, not a cold call. Plus, the whole ‘press one for yes, two for no’ bit? It’s a classic tactic used in phone scams to get you to engage.
Why am I so sceptical? Well, tax matters are complex and personal. No legitimate program would offer assistance based on a single, unsolicited phone call. And they certainly wouldn’t require you to press buttons on your phone to confirm personal financial details. This is a textbook case of scammers trying to lure you in by offering help with a common problem – tax debt.
The truth is, scams like this are becoming increasingly common. They prey on people’s fears and uncertainties, especially around taxes. I mean, who wouldn’t want some help with tax debts? But that’s exactly what makes this so dangerous. It’s easy to let your guard down when you think help is on the way.
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So, what should you do if you get a call like this? First off, don’t press any numbers. That’s a direct line to scam city. If you’re unsure about the call’s legitimacy, hang up and contact the relevant tax authorities directly through their official channels. Remember, staying informed and cautious is your best defence against these scams.
All in all, while the idea of a National Tax Relief Program might sound appealing, it’s important to stay vigilant. Scammers are getting crafty, but their tactics remain transparent with a bit of scrutiny. Always question unsolicited calls, especially those asking for personal or financial information. In the world of taxes, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Stay safe and keep those scam artists at bay!
Here’s a full transcript of the voicemail:
National tax relief program. This relevant information is extremely important with helping those that owe back taxes to rapidly clear their debt. So can you tell me if you currently owe any back taxes at this time. Okay let me go ahead and get you this information then one moment please here we go. Okay so this special program has been recently approved as of August 2022. The purpose of the tax dismissal program is to help those struggling with tax debt. However there are certain requirements to be eligible. You cannot currently be in any other tax debt consolidation or settlement program. You cannot currently be in bankruptcy and you must have a household income of under $250,000 a year but you do have to have a monthly income of at least $2000 a month. So I need to ask you do you meet these minimum requirements for eligibility. Press one for yes two for no okay. So this special program has been recently approved as of August 2022. The purpose of the tax dismissal program is to help those struggling with tax debt. However there are certain requirements to be eligible. You cannot currently be in any other tax debt consolidation or settlement program. You cannot currently be in bankruptcy and you must have a household income of under $250,000 a year but you do have to have a monthly income of at least $2000 a month. So I need to ask you do you need these minimum requirements for eligibility. Press one for yes two for no.
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