I'm 99% sure this is a scam but...

[sam_gordon]

My wife gets a letter saying she owes $30K in Tax Liens. She should call an 800 (877) number for help "reducing the balance".

The red flags for me...
1) The letter is addressed to her Maiden name (we've been married 19 years this June).
2) The letter (in the fine print) specifically says it's not being sent by the IRS or other state agency.

Like I said, I'm 99% sure this is a scam, but is there anyway (or reason) to check with the IRS or state?

We definitely WON'T be calling the number on the letter.

My only concern is the line that says "The information about your tax debt was obtained through public records."

Thoughts?

 

[It'sWDW4me]

Google the phone number - people who've gotten this same scam will probably have posted something out there in cyberspace.

Check snopes.

Did your wife own property before you got married?

 

[Reddy]

if you owed the IRS that much - they would be knocking on your door
you couldn't get a loan
your credit cards will come up with a way to up your %

 

[Judique]

My wife gets a letter saying she owes $30K in Tax Liens. She should call an 800 (877) number for help "reducing the balance".

The red flags for me...
1) The letter is addressed to her Maiden name (we've been married 19 years this June).
2) The letter (in the fine print) specifically says it's not being sent by the IRS or other state agency.

Like I said, I'm 99% sure this is a scam, but is there anyway (or reason) to check with the IRS or state?

We definitely WON'T be calling the number on the letter.

My only concern is the line that says "The information about your tax debt was obtained through public records."

Thoughts?

Check out on that Spokeo website how many people have the same name as your wife.

I'm assuming you've asked your wife if there is any reason for concern.

Today's marketing tools are extremely annoying.

I've been divorced for almost 20 years.

I get mail for my exhusband who has never lived in this house or had mail delivered here.

I get mail for his (other) exwife, and ex stepkids! Just junk mail, but still, I generate enough of my own.

I don't think you have anything to worry about. The IRS will find you of they need to!

 

[sam_gordon]

Sorry, should have said...

I did google the phone number (expecting what you said). Just a bunch of listings from reverse lookups services (nothing with a company name).

Oh, and there's also no company name on the letter.

Yes, DW had owned property that was inherited. I know we've paid property taxes on it in the past (before selling it a couple years ago). It was just land, no buildings.

I'll check snopes.

 

[sam_gordon]

Snopes has nothing.

Spokeo has multiple people with her name in our state.

 

[happygirl]

I'd call the number and get inf from them. Dont give out any.

 

[dhuba]

If the letter states it is not from the IRS or state agency, then why would you give it a second thought. I think if you owed tax liens the real IRS or state agency would send you a letter, especially for that amount of money, and you stated that it specifically said it was not from those agencies.

 

[NYCDiane]

I can't believe you're even questioning this!! OF COURSE IT'S A SCAM!!! Read the entire letter carefully, including the teeny print on front/back, as well as the envelope it came in.

If you owed the IRS or your state tax authority a dime, they would be sending you correspondence -- not some third party company.


If you're that concerned about it, contact your local office of your state's Attorney General and forward the letter and envelope to them so they can investigate.

 

[North of Mouse]

If the letter states it is not from the IRS or state agency, then why would you give it a second thought. I think if you owed tax liens the real IRS or state agency would send you a letter, especially for that amount of money, and you stated that it specifically said it was not from those agencies.

And whatever, DO NOT call that number. The IRS would not wait that long to contact you and it definitely says not from them - IT'S A SCAM!!!!

 

[disneychrista]

Assuming you wife works if she owed back taxes, they would put a lein/garnishment on her wages.

 

[Sadie22]

Sorry, should have said...

I did google the phone number (expecting what you said). Just a bunch of listings from reverse lookups services (nothing with a company name).

Oh, and there's also no company name on the letter.

Yes, DW had owned property that was inherited. I know we've paid property taxes on it in the past (before selling it a couple years ago). It was just land, no buildings.

I'll check snopes.

DW should contact the government agency in the area where the property is located to make sure that all papers were properly recorded in the land records to document payoff of any mortgages on the property and transfer of ownership to the new owner when she sold the property.

 

[Tgtown]

I would guess it's not a scam, but the letter letter is not for your wife. These companies will search public records to find tax judgments and liens and send the letter out in the area to everybody that closely matches the name on the public record. My wife got a couple of these letters 8-9 years ago, we just threw them away. Didn't find out until when we sold our house that there actually was another lady with the same first/last name that her and her husband owed the IRS 85K. My wife had to sign an affidavit that it wasn't her before we could sell the house. I still tease her that if she was going to have another husband that made that much money they could have at least shared some of it with me.

In all seriousness though like all the other posters have said, if you owed the IRS that much money they would have already come for you.

 

[NYCDiane]

I would guess it's not a scam, but the letter letter is not for your wife. These companies will search public records to find tax judgments and liens and send the letter out in the area to everybody that closely matches the name on the public record. My wife got a couple of these letters 8-9 years ago, we just threw them away. Didn't find out until when we sold our house that there actually was another lady with the same first/last name that her and her husband owed the IRS 85K. My wife had to sign an affidavit that it wasn't her before we could sell the house. I still tease her that if she was going to have another husband that made that much money they could have at least shared some of it with me.

In all seriousness though like all the other posters have said, if you owed the IRS that much money they would have already come for you.

The only problem with your theory is that if she owed the IRS, they would be sending correspondence, not some third party company.

 

[Tgtown]

The only problem with your theory is that if she owed the IRS, they would be sending correspondence, not some third party company.

Not trying to be snarky, but that's what I said. I said the letter is not for his wife and that if they owed the debt the IRS would have already come for them.

 

[DawnM]

You can contact the IRS directly and ask them if you owe the money. Or you can have your CPA do it.

Unless this is some collections agency, I don't think it is legit. And collections usually calls don't they?

Dawn