This is a Dangerous Time for Western Colorado Phone Scams
Have you received a phone call from Robo-Voice claiming you have delinquency with the IRS? Scams are never fun, and right now is a dangerous time to be getting them.
Phone scams are a fact of life. Normally, if you're irritated enough, you can contact the Federal Trade Commission or the Federal Communications Commission. That would be under normal circumstances. Unfortunately, with the government shutdown, things are not running per norm.
If you try to contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) via their website, you'll receive the following:
Due to the government shutdown, we are unable to offer this website service at this time. We will resume normal operations when the government is funded.
Or for those who don't speak English:
Debido al cierre del gobierno no podemos ofrecer este servicio de esta página de internet en este momento. Nosotros reanudaremos el funcionamiento normal cuando el gobierno este financiado.
If you try to contact the FCC via their webpage, you'll get this:
Explains impact of a potential lapse in funding on the Commission's operations
The current round of Robocalls sticks out like a sore thumb. Normally, you could either hang up, or hang up and report them. Right now, reporting them is not a viable option.
The screen grab at the top is the actual call that came in this morning. I called the number back. The person answering on the other end spoke a language resembling Klingon, Vulcan, or perhaps it was the secret language of the Oompa-Loompas. I'm not sure. In any event, that conversation was the most catastrophic communication breakdown in human history.
Don't fall for this Roboscam. Unfortunately, whereas in the past the Feds would have your back, it seems you're on your own for the time being.