IRD Scam phone calls

Byron from Hikurangi Coastal

Last Monday my wife received a phone call from a man claiming to be from IRD.

When she answered the ring, there was a pause and possibly a click, then a man informing her that "she was of interest to the IRD and would be receiving a summons and have to appear in court"  He then gave her a number to ring, should she want to discuss the matter.

She knew it was a hoax or scam, so rang IRD (via the phone book). She navigated the question/answer 'Phone Tree' for a while, until it gave up and produced a real live woman. She explained her problem and was told it's been going on for a couple of weeks.

To the suggestion that IRD should make a statement on TV or 'Social Media', the woman said that's a good idea and she would pass it on.

So, while we wait, this is my attempt. And, of course, as you all know: DON'T RING THE NUMBER GIVEN.

Do you think the purpose of the scam is to give you the run around on a very expensive phone call?
Or do they hope to extract financial details etc, during the run around?
And if it's going well, transfer you to yet another department and introduce you to the real scam?
Then repeat as long as they think reasonable.

After all, it's a good script.
Law abiding senior citizens, will be quite unsettled by the thought of prosecution by the IRD.
And that may be just enough to get them to ring the number.