I grew up understanding that you pay attention to the Internal Revenue Service. The other day they left a voice message for me, or so it first seemed. The message, a recorded female voice a bit wobbly to the ear, said I needed to call them back, and she left a number to call.
The IRS was trying to reach me, and if I didn’t call them back, they would file a lawsuit.
Over the years, I have won lotteries without buying a ticket. More recently, an Irish relative (so I was told) left me millions of dollars — must be the O’Posporos side of the Aposporos family.
I have also had friends stranded in exotic places; their pockets picked or terribly ill, needing money to get safely back home. All messages to my email address.
The IRS doesn’t call or email, but I decided to return “their” call. I first checked the number that had called me. It was not in service. I then called the number to which I was directed. The first time it was busy. The second time a man answered. You could tell English was not his first language, and it was not clear he was with the Internal Revenue Service or, more specifically, any services. He said he needed my telephone number to access my record. (I had called from a different number from the one on which the message was left.)
I asked him who he was so that I could give his name and the telephone number to the authorities. He angrily told me to “just wait and see” and hung up. I had another minute or two free, so I called again. This time, the telephone number was no longer in service.
My personal curiosity was overly heightened. I am not recommending that anyone respond as I did.
Later in the day, meeting with an island public official about something else, I mentioned my recent telephone experience. He said this type of thing is rampant. Technology has enabled it in ways law enforcement has yet to thwart.
I think about island residents that I have known or encountered for the past 18 years. Many were ahead of my age when I first arrived. They certainly have telephones, if not computers as well. Would they take such a call seriously? And what would happen if they did? And how about those emails from longtime friends in a bad spot?
We are entering the season when our generosity heightens. Take a moment for yourselves and your neighbors and research the question, “What to do about prank calls and emails?” Good advice is plentiful. Use it and pass it along when you think it may help.
I am accumulating information and would be happy to share. A helpful source for my own recent experience is http://www.irs.gov/uac/Report-Phishing.
Tom Aposporos writes about the barrier islands. A resident of Anna Maria Island, he is a former city commissioner, was president of the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce, serves on Longboat’s Revitalization Task Force and is a founder of the Longboat Key Foundation. Reach him at tomaposporos@gmail.com.