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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
    
| Maybe this is pure coincidence, but it kind of made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
Husband is hiring emoloyee’s so we’re filing for an EIN.
We don’t have internet so I use my phone as a hotspot to do anything on the laptop online. I run Norton’s on the computer and also a Norton VPN on my phone.
This morning I filed online for our EIN, on the laptop using my phone as a hotspot.
Not even 4 hours later I get a scam phone call from a 202 area code about a tax lawsuit that has been filed against me.
All of the information entered for the EIN was my husband’s - so I’m wondering if the internet connection is how my phone number ended up in the scammer call list?
I get phony calls all the time, that’s really nothing new, but I’ve never had the scam tax lawsuit calls and the timing is just really got me paranoid.
I’ll be doing payroll for our employees and handling their sensitive information - which now has me even more paranoid than I was before.
Is there anything else we can or should be doing to protect ourselves? A separate internet connection would be another $60-$100/mo for crappy unreliable service because of where we live.
Really kind of makes me want to go back to living under a rock and wampum as currency. |
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 Star Padded Honey
Posts: 8890
          Location: NW MT | OhMax - 2018-12-20 9:09 AM Maybe this is pure coincidence, but it kind of made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Husband is hiring emoloyee’s so we’re filing for an EIN. We don’t have internet so I use my phone as a hotspot to do anything on the laptop online. I run Norton’s on the computer and also a Norton VPN on my phone. This morning I filed online for our EIN, on the laptop using my phone as a hotspot. Not even 4 hours later I get a scam phone call from a 202 area code about a tax lawsuit that has been filed against me. All of the information entered for the EIN was my husband’s - so I’m wondering if the internet connection is how my phone number ended up in the scammer call list? I get phony calls all the time, that’s really nothing new, but I’ve never had the scam tax lawsuit calls and the timing is just really got me paranoid. I’ll be doing payroll for our employees and handling their sensitive information - which now has me even more paranoid than I was before. Is there anything else we can or should be doing to protect ourselves? A separate internet connection would be another $60-$100/mo for crappy unreliable service because of where we live. Really kind of makes me want to go back to living under a rock and wampum as currency.
I don't think the 2 are connected. We have both gotten those stupid calls too - one threatened my SO that if he didn't cough up the money right then, there would be an arrest warrant out for him. He told him "send them on!!" LOL |
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Veteran
Posts: 225
   Location: Montgomery TX | I'm going to agree with RockyRoad - I don't think the two are connected - I've gotten those calls before, I immediately call our accountant and he always assures me it's spam. He said the IRS will contact you by snail mail first. Them people get downright mean and threatening, however I have still have not been arrested for not giving them money. And I quit answering calls from weird numbers. If its important, they will leave a message and I can call them back.
Edited by bten 2018-12-20 3:15 PM
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
       
| IRS does not contact you by phone. I have gotten three letters from them for 2016 taxes. I have taken all of the to my accountant and he took care of all of it. There have been some tax scams around here and the new report keep saying that the IRS will not contact you by phone. You're good |
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  Fact Checker
Posts: 16572
       Location: Displaced Iowegian | LOL .... I got one of those calls last year (before I got my call blocker phone) and this is what I told him ....."Since you have the information regarding my taxes, I am sure that you will realize that I work in the Fraud Department of the Randolph County Sheriff"s office" ..... then I heard ..... CLICK ! ! ! |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
      Location: Arkansas | I would say coincidence. . . It could be related, but I doubt it. They seem to work certain areas and then move on. I've had up to 5 clients contacted in the same week; when I call and identity myself as their accountant, I get "clicked" on very quickly. |
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  Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4553
     Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | You should can Norton and upgrade to Avast or webroot. Norton is like a leaky gut. A quality vpn other than Norton and you will be a happy camper. You will need to get an app to take Norton and it hidden Norton bugs completly off your computer and phone or the new protection will start www lll with your devices.they cannot live together. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
    
| cow pie - 2018-12-23 3:28 PM
You should can Norton and upgrade to Avast or webroot. Norton is like a leaky gut. A quality vpn other than Norton and you will be a happy camper. You will need to get an app to take Norton and it hidden Norton bugs completly off your computer and phone or the new protection will start www lll with your devices.they cannot live together.
Thanks guys.
Yes - I know the IRS doesn’t contact you by phone and that the call was spam. I also know about that particular scam.
It was the fact that I’d never gotten that scam before and got it right after I accessed the IRS website that was giving me the willies.
I’ll look into those programs over Norton. Wish I hadn’t just subscribed for the year. Ugh. |
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