First scammer of the season--and not a good one

[taxguykarl]

I got my first scammer of the tax season.

Cast of Characters:

AS: Attempted scammer
Me: Yours truly
P: Player who accompanied AS

This lady (AS) came into the office with some gangsta-looking lowlife type (P). I welcomed them both. P sat in the waiting area. AS took a seat at my desk and handed me a generic-looking W2. The kind that you can acquire at any office-supply store. Just one problem, it supposedly came from "Olive Garden, Inc". STRIKE ONE

I copied AS's ID (surreptiously making a second one for the authorities) and struck up a conversation while keying in her info.

Me: My wife and I love Olive Garden. Which one do you work at?
AS: I don't know.
Me:

I copied her ID (surreptiously making a second one for the authorities) and began keying in her info.

Me: I see that your address on your license does not match the one on this W2. Which one is correct?
AS: Neither, its 1313 Mocking Bird Lane, Chicago. [Real one changed for confidentiality]
Me: Zip code?
AS: I don't know.
Me: BS meter on maximum
I entered one from one of my old City addresses.

Me: Your occupation.
AS: Waitress.

A waitress who doesn't know which restaurant she works at?!
STRIKE TWO

Me: Any dependents?
AS: Yes, two. [She hands me a scap of paper with hand written names and social security numbers].
Me: OK, what year was [Child 1] born?
AS: I don't know, he's just turned 5.
I do the math and key in 2004.
Me: Now what year was [Child 2] born?
AS: I don't know.
Me: How old?
AS: 8, I think.
FOUL BALL

Her W2 shows an income of exactly $17,750.00 and a withholding of $5,000.00 (yes with the comma and dollar sign-a big red flag).

STRIKE THREE-YOU'RE OUT!

I key in the info. AS selected the overnight loan (no surprise). I duly printed out the paperwork, AS signed it. I handed her the client copies. AS & P left without another word. I slapped a hold on her return so that this obviously bogus data will not leave our office. Next I sent out a broadcast e-mail to the rest of my CW's--that should serve as a heads up should AS and/or P try to get sucky on us. We have her address and ID on file--the franchise owner is not shy about blowing the whistle on scammers.

[Sheldonrs]

Moral of the story:

"Don't file your taxes if you've been smoking crackses".

[taxguykarl]

Moral of the story:

"Don't file your taxes if you've been smoking crackses".

Or at least, get your story straight. I mean not knowing the kids DOB's or where you work?!

[AmethystSquirrel]

Gee, normally places like Olive Garden are under franchise and they have their own name on the return.
Also Olive Garden is owned by the same company as red lobster. DoRK. She shoulda alteast did a google search.................

[taxguykarl]

Gee, normally places like Olive Garden are under franchise and they have their own name on the return.
Also Olive Garden is owned by the same company as red lobster. DoRK. She shoulda alteast did a google search.................

Exactly my point. It would either have the franchise name or Darden in the employer info--hence her first strike. Moreover, did you ever meet a waitress who didn't know where she worked?!

[PepperElf]

i take it you just prepare the paperwork and she files it herself?

wondering if she'll actually get any $ from her false stuff

[taxguykarl]

i take it you just prepare the paperwork and she files it herself?

wondering if she'll actually get any $ from her false stuff

The paperwork consists of the contract with our firm and a recap--not the actual return. The acutal return is not available until the IRS accepts the electronic transmission. By accept their software verifies that the social security numbers for the taxpayer and dependents, as well as employers' tax ID numbers match their records.

[fireheart]

wondering if she'll actually get any $ from her false stuff

I would highly doubt it. If filing tax returns in the US is anything like in Australia, if you change addresses, you're required to inform the tax department pretty much ASAP for obvious reasons. If the addresses don't match and neither does anything else from previous filings, then you are the weakest link. Goodbye.

[RetailWorkhorse]

DoRK.

...

*Snicker*

I will never look at Olive Garden and Red Lobster the same again.

[tamezin]

Gee, normally places like Olive Garden are under franchise and they have their own name on the return.
Also Olive Garden is owned by the same company as red lobster. DoRK. She shoulda alteast did a google search.................

Not to mention 5k in withholding on 17500 earnings, is exremely excessive, especially with two kids.

[Victoria J]

I mean not knowing the kids DOB's or where you work?!

I'm quite sure the woman above was scamming, but not knowing your children's DOBs may not be quite as strange as you think.

I work with a large Somali community and they don't really keep track of birthdays. It's a mixture of coming from a country where there aren't birth certificates etc, and religious/cultural issues where they don't celebrate birthdays. People generally know their ages, but not the birthdays - and people born abroad often take 31/12 or 01/01 as their birthday for the right year. (Sometimes people have to get doctors letters to try and work out what age they are - very odd and kind of interesting if they're trying to prove their age to get pension etc.)

I had quite an argument with some idiot who wouldn't give me information because one of my client's had "passed the security check too slowly" because she'd had to stop and think for her child's birthday, and because she was a little hesitant due to language issues. Either you pass a security check, or you fail ! (Which a manager confirmed, they were not allowed to personally decide that someone providing all required information a little hesitantly was suspicious). This was a woman with all the paperwork, and one of the children with her - not someone in the least suspicious.

Victoria J

[Cia]

I would highly doubt it. If filing tax returns in the US is anything like in Australia, if you change addresses, you're required to inform the tax department pretty much ASAP for obvious reasons. If the addresses don't match and neither does anything else from previous filings, then you are the weakest link. Goodbye.

Actually no, you aren't required to inform the IRS of a change in address. If the mail forwarding at the USPS has expired when the IRS sends out the tax forms to your last known address then you just jog down to your local Federal Bldg. and pick-up a new 1040EZ, 1040 or what ever form you need to file your taxes.

Now you really should update former and current employers with your new address so you can receive your W-2 promptly.

[JLRodgers]

I never would've thought people would try to pass fraudulent info for taxes.... not file at all (when they should) yeah, but not intentionally lie about the figures.

[taxguykarl]

I never would've thought people would try to pass fraudulent info for taxes.... not file at all (when they should) yeah, but not intentionally lie about the figures.

We see it all the time: From bogus W2's and 1099's to races (literally) among an extended family to claim the same child to pulling numbers out of thin air for deductions.

[Wenchie]

Actually no, you aren't required to inform the IRS of a change in address. If the mail forwarding at the USPS has expired when the IRS sends out the tax forms to your last known address then you just jog down to your local Federal Bldg. and pick-up a new 1040EZ, 1040 or what ever form you need to file your taxes.

Actually, the US Post Office updates the IRS with address changes weekly... so as long as you've changed your address with the Post Office it'll automatically be changed with the IRS.