"This is a scam:" Dodge Co. sheriff shares audio recording after he called a scammer back
DODGE COUNTY -- Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt has released an audio recording of a scam call he received on Thursday morning, May 12th in which the scammer admits to ripping people off.
According to a release from the Dodge County Sheriff's Office, the telephone call came in from the phone number: 605-291-6542.
The caller stated:
"Hello. This call is officially a final notice from the Internal Revenue Service. The reason of this call is to inform you the IRS is filing lawsuit against you. To get more information about this case file please call immediately on our department number 605-291-6542. Thank you."
Sheriff Schmidt called back -- and a woman answered the phone, saying: "Internal Revenue Service."
Sheriff Schmidt inquired if there was a way to verify that they were the IRS. The response was: "It is not our job to verify who we are” and they hung up.
Sheriff Schmidt called back again. This time, a man answered.
Below is an audio recording and transcript of the conversation between the scammer and Sheriff Schmidt:
Scammer: “Thank you for calling the Internal Revenue Service. How may I help you?”
Sheriff Schmidt: “I am the Sheriff in Dodge County Wisconsin, and I had a complaint about this number and I am trying to confirm that this is in fact the IRS. Is there a way that you can confirm this for me?”
Scammer: “No sir, this is not the IRS. This is a scam."
Sheriff Schmidt: “This is a scam?”
Scammer: “Yes”
Sheriff Schmidt: “OK, can you tell me where you are from? Where you are located?”
Scammer: “In Afghanistan”
Sheriff Schmidt: “In Afghanistan?”
Scammer: “Yes”
Sheriff Schmidt: “Can you tell me your name?”
Scammer: “Malma Dahli"
Sheriff Schmidt: “Why are you scamming our citizens?”
Scammer: “This is our job sir”
Sheriff Schmidt: “You’re stealing money from people”
Scammer: “Yes”
Sheriff Schmidt: “And why are you doing that?"
At this time, the scammer hung up on the sheriff.
According to the Sheriff's Office, a phone number of a personal cell phone was given to Sheriff Schmidt by the scammer which turned out to be a private number to a citizen in Illinois. That portion of the phone call was edited out to protect that person’s identity and phone number.
Sheriff's officials said this in a statement:
Unfortunately these scams are very difficult to investigate as it is difficult to locate the people responsible. The phone numbers used are usually spoofed and untraceable by law enforcement. It also seems to be that many of these calls are placed from outside of the United States and out of the jurisdiction of our law enforcement agencies.
The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office urges you to question phone calls like this. The IRS will not call you demanding money and most reputable businesses and organizations will notify you of delinquent payments or problems with your account via correspondence by mail. If in doubt, please contact your local law enforcement agency for assistance and never give out money over the phone or using a prepaid money card. If you have been victimized, please report it. If you receive these calls, your best course of action is simply to hang up and go on with your day.