This Woman Trolled a Scammer Pretending to Be the IRS and It Was Hilarious
By Mark PygasUpdated Nov. 1 2018, 1:37 p.m. ET
We've all gotten a phone call from one of those scammers claiming to be the IRS. While it's simply an annoyance to most, some people, especially the elderly, unfortunately fall for this scam. However, here are some people who like to have a little fun with their scammer — and turn the tables on the digital con artists.
For example, this guy got solicited by what appeared to be a beautiful woman on the internet — and it wasn't long before she was asking CJ for money in the form of an iTunes gift card. While most people would just block the scammer, CJ took things to the next level by sending her photo after photo of blurry gift card codes, until the scammer got frustrated and gave up. It was impressive.
Or this Twitter user, who is a magnet for internet scammers, and has mastered the art of conning the con. Whatever platform the scammer may use, it is just important to know that chances are you are way smarter than them, and with a little creativity, you can outmaneuver them and have them regretting the day they decided to try to scam you — or anyone for that matter. You will also be doing the community a great service.
This happened to Twitter user Hadeel Al-Massari recently received a call from someone claiming to be the IRS and threatening to call the police on her, she decided to have some fun. Of course, she took to Twitter to see if people would be interested in reading a transcript...
It finally happened. I finally got a call from a scammer claiming to be the IRS and I could finally pull all of the tax law and privacy law I know out of my brain. This is a good day. This is MY day, people.
— Let's Make a Ha-Deel (@twittysuch) April 3, 2018Of course, people said yes.
Would anyone be interested in a summarized transcript because I recorded the call (I won't release the recorded call because I don't have the consent of who called me) but I can release a transcript?
— Let's Make a Ha-Deel (@twittysuch) April 3, 2018Some notes, though: I understand and respect that telemarketers (that's what they are) are just trying to do their jobs. We all have bills to pay. But the IRS phone scam is actually illegal and using threats of police violence or physical violence via the phone is illegal.
— Let's Make a Ha-Deel (@twittysuch) April 3, 2018Let's just say that they got trolled pretty hard...
THREAD -- SUMMARIZED TRANSCRIPT
-I receive a phone call from someone with a Maryland phone number, they identify themselves as being from the IRS and that I have "defaulted" on my tax payments for 2017.
Considering that uh...tax day isn't even here yet and I know the IRS will never call you, I decided to put it on speaker phone and fire up Ye Olde Audacity to entertain myself while I wait for my morning tea to steep.
— Let's Make a Ha-Deel (@twittysuch) April 3, 2018Me: I defaulted on my tax payments? That sounds serious. Why wasn't I ever sent a bill?
Person: You can take care of it over the phone with me. We take most major credit cards and prepaid Visa gift cards
Me: I'm gonna stop you right there. I want to know why I wasn't sent a bill.
Person: We send several bills, you ignored them.
Me: Did I? I think I would have remembered getting a bill from the IRS.
Person: You chose to ignore them.
Me: No, I don't think I'd ignore a CP523. It's a pretty distinct looking envelope.
Person: No, we sent you a bill and--
Me: It's called a CP523.
Person: What.
Me: The IRS doesn't send "bills". They're not Comcast. They send a CP523. I DID throw away a coupon for one of those Casper mattresses.
Person: Ma'am, if you don't take this seriously, we can send the police--
Me: No, you can't.
Person: I WILL SEND THE POLICE.
Me: Ok, send them. I'll be waiting.
Person: -silence-
Me: I hear sirens, is that them? (I live next to a fire station) Is that....the police?
(aside: I'm trying my absolute best not to LOSE IT at this point because this is HILARIOUS)
— Let's Make a Ha-Deel (@twittysuch) April 3, 2018Person: -silence-
Me: Do y'all take PayPal?
Person: No.
Me: What about bitcoin?
Person: We can take--
Me: You're committing a federal crime. Did you know that? Did you know you're breaking the law and you're not very good at it?
Person: *hangs up*
--END THREAD--
— Let's Make a Ha-Deel (@twittysuch) April 3, 2018An Aside: I'm currently trying to figure out how to make the "I WILL SEND THE POLICE" my ringtone.
— Let's Make a Ha-Deel (@twittysuch) April 3, 2018We all wish we could pull this off. And apparently Twitter does too.
this made my day 😂 “How about BitCoin” 😂
— Shrazz_ (@Shrazz2) April 3, 2018“You’re breaking the law
and you’re not very good at it.”
😂😂
— Reminiscences of an American Capitalist (@4Awesometweet) April 4, 2018Not all heroes wear capes! 🤣👍👍👍
— Have a lil Hart (@ScratchKitty) April 3, 2018No joke. I couldnt believe the balls on this dude!
— Jen (@jendrinkswine) April 4, 2018Some people have other methods...
I always pretend that the guy on the other end is some guy I dumped in high school, or who dumped me. "I know it's you, Joe! Why did it take you 30 years call? You owe me an apology!"
— Lea Conner (@leaconner) April 4, 2018This is beautiful. One called me a few years ago. I asked for his 379 IRS taxation identification code number (something I created on the fly). When he made one up I informed him it was 3 numbers short. He then hung up. It wasn’t nearly as glorious as this.
— Lala (@pludulutch) April 4, 2018My dad’s better though. He pretend that it was a helicopter start up sequence instead
— Aaron (@McFazzer) April 4, 2018The hero we need.
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