[ale] LT: IRS scams peaking now

Thu Apr 27 14:15:53 EDT 2017

Doesn't look like RoboFence is available for Android, but there's apps 
in the Play Store that achieve the same ends.  These two seem to have 
excellent reviews:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.flexaspect.android.everycallcontrol&hl=en
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mrnumber.blocker&hl=en

That being said, I have noticed lately that my dialer app (normally a 
pleasing blue) will turn a harsh red when a call is suspected to be 
spam.  It bases the judgments on a database that Google maintains, I 
believe.  Once the call is complete (after answering or if you ignore 
it), a nice notification will pop up asking if it was a spam call or 
not.  Beyond the popup, it is easy to mark calls via spam or not through 
the call history, as well.  I don't know if this is *all* Android 
phones, only "pure" Android phones (Nexus/Pixel/Play Store Editions), or 
ONLY for Project Fi subscribers.

I'm all for "there's an app for that", but if it is rolled right into 
the dialer on my phone, I'm much happier to just use that. :P

---
Very respectfully,
Kyle Brieden

On 27-04-2017 13:45, Jerald Sheets wrote:
> I’ve started using a little app on my iOS device called
> “RoboFence”.  If you have one of these come in, you hang up and
> then “share” the phone number with RoboFence.  it blocks that from
> happening again.  People keep updating the RoboFence database, and
> eventually (after a few weeks in my experience), the calls list under
> them “possible robocall” or “possible scam”.  Finally, after a
> bit longer, you no longer see the calls, RoboFence just keeps a list
> of the calls it blocks for you (in the event you need to review the
> list) and keeps your line clear.
> 
> I don’t know if it exists for Android, but it’s been awesome on my
> iPhone.
> 
> —j
> 
>> On Apr 27, 2017, at 9:59 AM, Charles Shapiro
>> <hooterpincher at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Jolly Roger Telephone Company.  ( http://www.jollyrogertelco.com/ ).
>> Could be pretty fun for the price.
>> 
>> -- CHS
>> 
>> On Thu, Apr 27, 2017 at 12:47 PM, Brian Stanaland
>> <brian at stanaland.org> wrote:
>> 
>> I got this call yesterday morning. It was a robocall so I couldn't
>> even mess with them.
>> 
>> --Brian
>> 
>> On Thu, Apr 27, 2017 at 8:25 AM, Lightner, Jeffrey
>> <JLightner at dsservices.com> wrote:
>> Just explain to the caller you're going to forward them an email
>> from a Nigerian Prince who has a lot of money for you and should be
>> happy to send it to them on your behalf.  :-)
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: ale-bounces at ale.org [mailto:ale-bounces at ale.org] On Behalf Of
>> Bob Toxen
>> Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2017 10:07 PM
>> To: ale at ale.org
>> Subject: [ale] LT: IRS scams peaking now
>> 
>> Off topic:
>> 
>> IRS scams peaking now.  Expect phone calls and spam claiming to be
>> from the IRS claiming either threat of arrest or "a suit is being
>> filed", etc.
>> 
>> If you respond, the criminal will demand money from you via credit
>> card, ACH transfer by asking for your bank account number, etc.
>> 
>> Do NOT respond!
>> 
>> The IRS virtually NEVER contacts you by other paper mail and
>> certainly not by email.  That paper mail will include your social
>> security number and very specific details about the issue, usually
>> your tax return, indicating the year type of return (1040, 1040-EZ,
>> etc) and a particular item they are disputing.
>> 
>> With most outfits I'd suggest contacting them directly.
>> Unfortunately, the IRS is so incompetent that they rarely answer
>> their phone and you cannot even meet in person with the local office
>> (Doraville) without an appointment.
>> 
>> If there really is a risk of the IRS taking your money or won't
>> listen to reason (common), contact your U.S. Congressperson or U.S.
>> Senator by phone,  Besides usually solving the problem, as soon as
>> he or she starts investigating, the IRS is prohibited from taking
>> action during the investigation.
>> 
>> Bob Toxen
>> bob at verysecurelinux.com               [Please use for email to me]
>> http://www.verysecurelinux.com [1]        [Network&Linux security
>> consulting]
>> http://www.realworldlinuxsecurity.com [2] [My book:"Real World Linux
>> Security 2/e"]
>> 
>> "One disk to rule them all, One disk to find them. One disk to bring
>> them all and in the darkness grind them. In the Land of Redmond
>> where the shadows lie...and the Eye is everwatching"
>> -- The Silicon Valley Tarot Henrique Holschuh with ... Bob
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>> --
>> "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."
>> -Albert Einstein
>> 
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