I usually try to have some fun with them and waste as much time as I can so they can't move on to the next victim. My small part in helping the world.
They do get paid for this, but it’s not a scam. They are required to do it from Medicare. It’s part of their quality score. You’d be surprised how many people never actually connect with a healthcare provider until they are really sick. The belief is that not engaging with a provider is actually more expensive in the long run.
Here is what is shown in the 2017 instruction booklet for Form 1040 (emphasis mine):
"Daytime Phone Number
Providing your daytime phone number may help speed the processing of your return. We may have questions about items on your return, such as the earned income credit or the credit for child and dependent care expenses. If you answer our questions over the phone, we may be
able to continue processing your return without mailing you a letter. If you are filing a joint return, you can enter either your or your spouse's daytime phone number."
Doesn't this conflict with the text you posted from the linked article?
I did get a call from SSA, but it was an interview call, confirming my application info. I believe the online process indicated there might be a call.
IF that is the case then Medicare should be notifying all participants up front of this program instead of through your doctor.They do get paid for this, but it’s not a scam. They are required to do it from Medicare. It’s part of their quality score. You’d be surprised how many people never actually connect with a healthcare provider until they are really sick. The belief is that not engaging with a provider is actually more expensive in the long run.
Don't do it.If you are talking about the IRS, I was thinking next time of putting a strip club or sex line phone number down on my return.
Gov't workers need some entertainment
One funny one: the Caller ID said "Scam Call". (Why not?)
Phone companies are starting to mark calls as suspected spam callers.Been getting lots of spam or scam calls on land line, and many of them have spam in caller id. Seems funny to me that caller id shows them to be spam.
What’s the point of the scam, are they going to try to get your personal information from you on the call back?