Way, Way, OT- Latest money scam
 

OK, most of you know I don't like to gossip about such things, but I was part of a govt. audit this week for one of my clients.

Don't worry, we passed. It was just a scheduled routine audit, not a spot audit :D

While chatting they mentioned the tax season scams that are poping up this year are better than past ones.

You receive a tax refund check in the mail that is around $3000. You think, Hmmm, this is more that I thought, but what the hey.

You cash it, wait nervously for a few days without spending it, then you get the letter.

Dear taxpayer, there was a mixup in the check distribution and we sent you the wrong check. We made a check in your name meant for someone else. We apologize for the mistake and are offering to let you keep 10% of the money in exchange for returning the rest. Please send a check for $2700 to the State Error Control Agency (or some other real sounding name), PO Box (in your state capital).

You mail the check, they cash it and in about 3 months when the state finally audits the processed checks and finds the forgery, you are now out $2700 for cashing a fraudulant check.

Watch Out!

Doug

Wait wait wait, You mean

"State government"
care of: Billy-bob's Mom

Isn't a real address?

Damnit.

thank god i do not have to file for taxes this year. But this is so wrong. Can you call the cops on these people?
Lwin

<<thank god i do not have to file for taxes this year. But this is so wrong. Can you call the cops on these people?>>

Well, call all you want, but they will be long gone by the time anyone finds out. The FBI can probably find them, they have those skills.

Its never an empty trail, they have to rent the PO box, set up a checking account, deposit and withdraw the money. They can be found, it simply depends if the investigaters have the people available or the interest in pursuing the case.

Doug

Thanks for the heads up
 

Doug

Thanks for posting the info.

Yeah. that's what i thought. The only thing i think we can not trace as of yet is Osama's whereabouts but probably the FBI even knows when I take a dump.

I have no problem with making easy money but this is wrong on multiple levels.

Lwin

<<but probably the FBI even knows when I take a dump.>>

They do:

http://www.fbi.gov/suspects/lwin/defecationhabits.html

:) :) :)

Doug

I was hoping that link really works. Damn! :D :D :D

Lwin

<<I was hoping that link really works. Damn!>>

You are a sick, sick man.

Doug

I agree.

Thanks guys :D
Lwin

That's the best laugh I've had in a few days - thanx Doug!

Beav

You have to watch that Doug - he's a sly one! :D

The most interesting scheme I've heard of was an inside person at the post office (or someone who had access to a lot of mail) collecting stacks of tax returns not marked "refund". They went through the stack and selected only the checks made out to "IRS" not Internal Revenue Service (I think those just went in the trash). They then carefully changed the "IRS" to "MRS" and put a last name after it, and cashed a bunch of them.

You have to give them credit for being clever, at least.