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AIBU?

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Original poster

Anyone else going to jail?

117 replies

NeversmileataCrocodile · 06/10/2022 11:24

Never usually answer a call from an unknown number but I just did: it was a recorded message with lots of terms you never want to hear, HMRC, jail term, prosecution, I did panic a bit and pressed one to hear more, better make sure I suppose. A nice lady from "Her Majesty's Revenue and Custom' asked for my full name so she could check my file, I said she should know it since they called me, the line went dead. I'm not going to jail am I? Anyone else?

OP posts:
PuttingDownRoots · 06/10/2022 11:25

I'll send you a fruit cake with a saw inside 😁

EsmeGythaMagrat · 06/10/2022 11:26

Absolute scam. If HMRC wanted to arrest you they wouldn’t warn you about it and give you a chance to destroy evidence they could use in court.

KimberleyClark · 06/10/2022 11:27

I once got left a recorded message by a man with an American accent purporting to be from “your local Courthouse”.

Clarich007 · 06/10/2022 11:31

Yes!! Me yesterday. There's an international arrest warrant out for me, for tax evasion.
The police are on their way.
It was a recorded message, I just said oh f off and put the phone down. I'm a 71 year old pensioner, but luckily am clued up. It's so unfair they get away with it. Some people could be really frightened by it.
No you're not going to jail either 😁

CrochetIsCool · 06/10/2022 11:33

I have had this scam a couple of times. Usually just ignore/block scam calls but reported this one because it was on my landline, was aggressive and intimidating and I was particularly concerned about the impact it might have on older people who may be living alone. My late mum would have been distressed by a call like this and would probably have followed their directions to pay up.

YewandOak · 06/10/2022 11:40

Yes,me. For about the 5th time!
No matter how many times I report the numbers,they come back with a different one each time.

Isaidnoalready · 06/10/2022 11:40

Yup I gave then the address of the local police station as my "work address" and they are on there way to pick me up

Years ago we had a police outpost type thing on the council estate I lived on you could call it during the day and get the antisocial behaviour reported and sorted immediately it was a fantastic initiative (I digress) the number was an ordinary phone number I had a call saying I was going to be arrested IMMEDIATELY I told them i can't hear you its a bad line call me back on xxx (police number) strangely I was never arrested that time either

Original poster
NeversmileataCrocodile · 06/10/2022 11:42

Thank you all and @PuttingDownRoots I'll be in touch if things turn sour.
@Clarich007 yes! An international arrest warrant and tax evasion, you're as bad as I am then.
@CrochetIsCool how do you report it, just call the POliss and give them the number? I agree it was aggressive and possibly distressing to a lot of people. I certainly didn't enjoy it one bit
She said HER Majesty when answering though, hmm hmm.

OP posts:
PuttingDownRoots · 06/10/2022 11:44

If your are criminals I might need more cakes and a trip to the DIY shop!

londonmummy1966 · 06/10/2022 11:47

Not a scam call but one of those dreadful "you've been in an accident calls" from a well known ambulance chasing firm in the North West. Had a chat with the guy as I was feeling bored and thought it might be fun to waste his time so he didn't bother anyone else. I explained the case was complicated and I really needed to discuss it with a lawyer. He told me that he was a lawyer and could advise me. I asked if he was a solicitor or a barrister. Oh no he was neither but the firm employed them. I pointed out that saying you were a lawyer when you weren't was a criminal offence. He hung up on me. Cue a very firm conversation with the firm's very embarassed Compliance Partner........

CrochetIsCool · 06/10/2022 11:50

I googled 'Reporting spam hmrc calls' and was taken to Gov.com website and reported online.

minou123 · 06/10/2022 11:51

As someone who is a Tax Officer (formerly known as a Tax Inspector), I thoroughly enjoy these calls. 😁

The last call I had I asked a lot of question and quoted legislation.
She told me to fuck off.
I did point out this was against the Civil Service Code and our Professional Standards

I do try to keep them talking to me so it gives them less time to speak to vulnerable people.

Original poster
NeversmileataCrocodile · 06/10/2022 11:55

@EsmeGythaMagrat I like your style.
Anyone who keeps them talking etc. you have balls of steel.
Thanks @CrochetIsCool

OP posts:
SpaceJamtart · 06/10/2022 11:58

I remember getting one when I was 16 about a warrant out for my arrest due to my seven years of recorded tax evasion.
I asked them what taxes I was supposed to have been paying as a nine year old and they hung up on me.

Cakecakecheese · 06/10/2022 11:58

I've had the recorded messages and always find it hilarious that the HMRC is calling from a mobile number, or abroad.

TeaAndCake · 06/10/2022 12:08

I've has several of these. I love them!

The last one informed me that the police were en route to my front door as we spoke. I replied "Ooh lovely, I'll pop the kettle on now they'll be parched by the time they get here".

The chap hung up on me! How rude. I didn't get a chance to ask which biscuits they may prefer.

Newnewername · 06/10/2022 12:14

Common scam. I get it at least once a month.

Police don't always have the resources to come out to 999 calls. They aren't going to rush out to someone who hasn't paid their tax bill.

I'd love to press 1 to wind the scammers up and waste their time but I'm always concerned I'll be charged for it. Be careful when you're agreeing to be put through because they do sometimes charge you. I don't know how.

Plus they'll know your number is live so you may get more calls now.

You did right not giving them your details.

Newnewername · 06/10/2022 12:19

I kept one of those you've had an accident calls going for 30mins (fake name and details). I told them my car had been hit by a big lizard that had escaped from the zoo and had she seen the headlines? I think I pushed it a bit far when I asked if my premiums would go because last month I'd visited Jurrasic Island because my son worked for NASA and had exclusive access but that a dinosaur had trodden on the bonnet and it had only just been repaired. Even then it took her 5 mins to hang up.

RoseyPalm · 06/10/2022 12:29

Spam sales calls my DH used to destroy the person.: Conversation and reasonable voice "Oh Dear! Are you really so poor and so useless at proper jobs you phone people at home and interrupt their evening."

He didn't get much further. They rang off.

Original poster
NeversmileataCrocodile · 06/10/2022 12:35

@Newnewername that's it I'll probably be charged something stupid, silly of me to panic but I did. Horrible to think what they get up to with seriously vulnerable people.

OP posts:
SMabbutt · 06/10/2022 12:36

I have one a few weeks back and started talking schoolgirl French plus some made up phrases. Je ne comprend pas etc. Every time I left a pause they carried on with the script. I guess as long as they have a live call they are getting pause so couldn't care less if they are getting gibberish. It kept them occupied for a bit and my parents were entertained because it was on speaker.

DrunkenKoala · 06/10/2022 12:53

I had loads of these last year, would block the number and they’d call back on a different number. One day I had four, and it went on for about three months. Eventually I asked them when the police were coming to arrest me as I’d been waiting three months - oddly enough they stopped calling after that.

Scout2016 · 06/10/2022 12:56

I find if you tell the accident people it definitely was your fault then that halts things rather.

Eeksteek · 06/10/2022 12:57

If the TV licence people write me any more letters about coming to inspect me, I’ll be able wallpaper a whole room!

(I don’t need a a TV licence. I’ve told them I don’t need a tv license. They want me to tell them annually I don’t need one and I refuse. I’ll buy one if and when I need one. Until then, it’s their responsibility to prove I need one, not mine to prove I STILL don’t. You don’t have the ring up the dvla every year and tell them you still don’t drive a car and thus don’t need a licence again this year, do you?!)

Tealpoppy · 06/10/2022 13:04

ill never forget the day I had a phone call telling me that the police where on their way round as I hadn’t paid enough tax or something

them-the police are coming round to arrest you in 15 minutes!
me-oh no!how much do I owe?
them-£1,500,you can pay it now to stop this action
me-oh no!,how do I pay?
them-you give me details of your credit card-I need numbers
me-I don’t have a credit card
them-I need numbers!police are coming to arrest you
me-oh I’m bored now-you can pull the other one mate-it’s got hairy bollocks growing from it
them-but I need…click I put the phone down

bang on 15 minutes later the door went-a real police type knock
im not joking when I say I felt my arse drop

it was my (lovely) postman with my latest eBay parcel-we had a good laugh about it-once I’d stopped shaking

and the police never did come round