Now that tax refunds are starting to roll in, scammers are out looking to get people to make a hasty call back to get their refunds without trouble. I got a voicemail that, to someone less knowledgeable of scam techniques, would seem pretty legitimate and professional, so I wanted to lay out what techniques I caught for anyone who needs it.
1. They let the call ring once and then go to voicemail. They're hoping you'll call back right away and reach the scam center, but if you don't, then there's the voicemail.
2. The call comes from an 833 area code. This is a legitimate area code used by businesses, like 888 or 800, but it's not difficult to access for scammers.
3. The voice is formal, ambiguously American, and not obviously a robocall, using a recognizable 'customer service tone' which can raise a false green flag.
4. They offer a name, a department ('Tax Relief Resolution and Abatement Office' in this case, which does not exist) and a direct line that starts with a 773 area code. This is a spoofed number - they're using a Washington D.C. area code to make you believe they do work for the government.
5. They tell you it's nothing big but if it's left too long it could catch you off guard. They are giving you an unspecified timeline to bait you into acting impulsively and calling them back when you can't find an official number for an agency that doesn't exist.
6. 'Many people don't understand the options available to them for higher refunds or tax relief until this process is completed' - they are trying to prey on the fact that many people find taxes confusing and fear missing something in the process.
7. 'The call will be brief and focused... it's simply the most direct way to get clear and straightforward answers' - as before, they're just preying on people who struggle to understand how tax reporting works.
Stay safe out there.