Anyone Can Fall For A Scam
Yes, even you.
And if you think you're immune, you may be at unusually high risk.
Alan: This morning, a psychiatrist friend came within "inches" of being scammed by "The IRS."
He was saved by an unexpected phone call from his wife who told him of a similar scheme that nearly deceived a relative.
To avoid "forking over" thousands of dollars -- and "in the act of being ripped off" feeling like you've just been awarded "A Get Out Of Hell Free" card -- here's what you need to know.
Professional cons understand -- top-down, inside-out and from sea-to-shining-sea -- the psychology of deceit and the interacting psychology of panic.
These scam-savvy scum buckets are as "clear" as Zen masters: People react suspiciously to any demand for money.
And so, "gifted scammers" DO NOT ASK FOR MONEY because that is exactly what "well-educated people" --- people just like yourself! --- think they'll do.
The Last Thing they ask for is money.
Instead, these gifted grifters impose a reign of terror by instilling self-expanding angst in their victims.
These low lifes are well-practiced and convincing, insinuating that the fear which they implant -- the fear of having done something wrong, albeit unwittingly -- is necessary fear, self-protective fear, fear that exists for your own good.
Tacitly, they let it be known that your new-discovered fear can be used as needed motivation to slay the dragon, to escape the talons of terror, to flee the lurch rather than be left in it.
In a clever twist on Stockholm Syndrome you come to see your oppressor as your only ally.
Stockholm Syndrome
In my friend's case, the perp presented himself as an "IRS case worker," a low-level functionary who would do what he could -- although it "might not be much" -- to alleviate, or at least minimize the very angst he contrived to instill and inflame.
Once stupefied by fear, victims may actually beg -- BEG THE THIEF WHO IS IN THE ACT OF RIPPING YOU OFF -- to give them permission to pay whatever he wants if only The Fear "goes away."
The method is so deft that money only "enters the picture" when YOU suggest payment.
Payment of money is NOT the con's idea.
It's your idea!
***
This is how my friend's scam began. (Keep in mind that the simplified script below was originally embellished on multiple levels -- with complex "institutional," "psychological" and "legal" interactions -- all aimed at luring "you" into The Certain Conviction that the "IRS agent" is "just doing his job," alerting you to a pending legal suit. From the very beginning, the "agent" represents himself as a powerless cog in the IRS wheel, having no authorization to accept any kind of payment or otherwise settle the case which is now "in the hands of The Law.")
The Script
"IRS Agent": Good morning. My name is James Klugian and I work for the IRS. The Internal Revenue Service has a legal obligation to inform you that your federal tax payments are in arrears and, after multiple attempts to contact you, the IRS has no recourse but to hand-deliver a legal process early next week.
Psychiatrist (who is in the habit of discarding junk mail and thus can imagine trashing pertinent communication from the IRS): How much do I owe?
IRS Agent: One moment please while I access that information. (Pregnant pause...) According to the balance posted three days ago, you currently owe the Internal Revenue Service $3964.00.
Psychiatrist: What happens next?
IRS Agent: After the process is served, you will have two weeks for your lawyer to contact us.
Psychiatrist (now realizing it is highly likely he overlooked IRS notification): Is there anything I can do to short circuit the legal process?
IRS Agent: No sir. These procedures are automatically-generated and usually settle within three months.
Psychiatrist: Do you have any idea how much this will cost?
IRS Agent: A typical resolution involves $12,000.00 to $15,000.00 in legal fees, plus payment of back taxes, interest and penalties.
Psychiatrist: Look. I'd really like to settle this out of court. Is there anything I can do -- perhaps if you were to bend the rules a little -- to make immediate payment in full?
IRS Agent: May I put you on hold while I speak with my district manager?
Psychiatrist: Yes, I'll wait.
IRS Agent (returning to the phone two minutes later): The only way to circumvent legal process is to provide me with a credit card number authorizing a charge of $3964.00 plus interest of $87.33 and a 15% penalty for late payment.
Psychiatrist (realizing that federal government agencies do not require immediate "over the phone" payment): Oh, I get it! You're scamming me.
IRS Agent: Phone line goes dead.
***
It is crucial to understand that my friend's desire to pay his "debt" does not arise from any indication that the IRS Agent is interested in monetary payment.
Rather, the agent manipulates his "mark" with highly-adrenalized fear over a labyrinthine, costly legal process -- a process that could even result in arrest and detention pending bail -- so that, blinded by fear (which is the surest way to deprive people of their rational, analytical faculties), "the sucker" starts to beg the agent to "make an exception" so that he, the "non-compliant citizen," can "get off the hook" by paying back taxes and paying them at once.
***
Fail-Safe Method For Outwitting Any Kind Of Telephone Scam
As soon as an unsolicited caller informs you that there is an "irregularity" in one of your "accounts," notify the caller that you will contact the AT&T operator straightaway to get the phone number of the caller's company (or agency) from a trustworthy third party. (When my friend phoned the Durham police this morning, he learned that IRS scams employ "single use" cell phones that are immediately discarded to prevent tracking.)
Once you have notified the caller of your intention to contact AT&T, immediately hang up (to preempt any more seductive chatter) and then locate the company or agency's phone number from a trusted external source. Reference librarians will provide trustworthy phone numbers in a twinkle.
Once you are in possession of a company or agency's authentic phone number, call to make inquiry concerning the purported "irregularity."
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