The craziest thing happened to me today…

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I felt this deserved a spur of the moment post because stuff like this just doesn’t happen?

Today there was a message left on my answering machine stating it was the IRS and they had an open case filed on us, something about past taxes. It seemed suspicious to me, but because we had recently been the victims of identity theft, including a letter that had been sent to us legitimately from the IRS stating someone had accessed our tax information, I figured I would call back. (Yes – I now know that the IRS will NEVER call you, they will ALWAYS send a letter, FYI.)

When I called the number back the person who answered the phone gave me his name and told me he was “an officer of the IRS Tax and Crime Investigation Unit” along with his badge number (no, I have no idea if this is an actual unit of the IRS or not). He then proceeded to tell me that I was a primary suspect in a legal case from our Federal taxes in 2013. He began to ask me who filed my taxes, which I did not tell him, and then proceeded to warn me that within the next 45 minutes there would be a local law enforcement officer at my door because there was a warrant for my arrest.

At this point, I pretty much had decided that this was a scam. I said, “Sir, I am sorry, but I don’t believe that this is true and I think that you are trying to scam me.” Now – here is the CRAZY part…

He said, “I am so sorry. I am so, so sorry. You sound like such a nice woman, I don’t mean to harm you.” I could barely believe what I just heard. It took a second for my brain to process it.

I said, “Wait. What?  Did you just agree with me that you are indeed trying to scam me?” I have had people try to scam me on the phone in the past, but always the person on the other end just hangs up when I politely tell them I believe it is a scam. I have never actually had someone admit to me on the phone that it was a scam and APOLOGIZE?! I wasn’t sure what to respond to him. He just kept apologizing.

Since I had his ear, and he hadn’t hung up on me yet, I figured I would encourage him to stop what he was doing and find a better job. I shared with him that we were good people and that although I recognized this scam, there are a lot of other good people out there who would easily be taken advantage of with this sort of thing. And that was a shame. I ended with telling him I truly hoped he would go home tonight and think about the consequences of his actions and find a better job that would actually benefit society instead of harm it. He agreed that he needed to do that and would. WOW!

Honestly, he sounded very sincere with his apologies. I truly hope that he did go home and rethink what he was doing with his life and turn it around for good instead of evil. But here is my point…IF I had been rude to him on the phone, IF I had just hung up on him on the phone, we never would have had that conversation. He never would have apologized and rethought in that moment about the damage he is possibly inflicting on families and individuals.

Our words have power. They can tear down or build up. They can instruct or cause harm. It is up to us. I pray today that we can all (including me!) try to do a better job about using our words to positively build up those around us, whether they be the people we are closest to, the cashier at the store, or the scammer on the phone. You never know how you may influence someone positively or negatively simply with the words you choose.

So choose kindness. Always.

put on a heart of kindness

46 thoughts on “The craziest thing happened to me today…”

  2. Did you share the gospel with him so that he could direct his remorse to the solution of his problem, the saving of his soul? 😃

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    1. I told him that God loved him and wanted him to spend his time working for the good of people, not to tear them down. I also told him I would be praying for him, which I have been. 😉 Thanks for stopping by, Lee!

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      2. Good mornin, I’ll tell ya somethin I do, and it’s fun. When telemarketers call me, I ask them if they’re saved, and turn the conversation to that topic.
        Some conversations are better than others, but I still enjoy it. 😃

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Dear crazy parents my name is… Well my name is not important really but my comment is. I’ve never come across your blog before. The reason I am is because you subscribe to a friend of mine and you would like the comments that I posted on her page. I don’t do this very often but I read your blog posts today. I have to say I’m impressed enthused encouraged and just joyful all around. Please know that I will be following your blog from now on because you have good information and from what I can tell about your a kid’s a very busy life. May God strength be with you. Anthony.

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    1. Nice to meet you, Anthony! Thanks for stopping by, reading, commenting and following!! 🙂 I truly appreciate it. I will be heading over to your blog to check it out shortly!!! 🙂 🙂

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      2. I started the blog simply as a joke because I was bored. But then God had a hand in it and I’ve been writing ever since. I kind of feel like the male version of Sarah Drew from Moms Night Out the reason why is because I post blogs at 1 a.m. too. The blog in general has guided me just stay focused and run the good race no matter what comes my way and believe me there is many obstacles that I faced on a daily basis and that doesn’t even include not getting ice cream when I’m a good boy. I started hold on this mission for Christ three years ago with a Blog following shortly after and I’ve stood the test of time others have come and gone and I’ve seen them and I’ve taken my stand that’s what it is like in this time of age these Christians have to take our stand with boldness and sensitivity along with giving love to the unlovable people that are in the world a friend of mine who lives really close to God says there’s no lack of love in the world there’s just a lack of people in the world to give love to others.

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      6. You have a lot of work ahead of you I’m not going to let you get away that easy. So keep hitting that like button and it’ll keep you from hitting that Facebook like button various mine’s better doesn’t cause so much drama. Thankfully is a Christian I have not been on Facebook in three and a half years and I don’t miss it really take a look at Facebook for one solid week and tell me about it isn’t it just about a popularity contest? What about Personal Image? What about a relationship destroyer? Facebook in general connects you to the world but the word says if you are friend of the world you are an enemy of God. So in that case you have to ask yourself what would you do? Not Dimension the time that people waste scrolling in trolling other people on various sites. Facebook is bad bad bad times 10 I’ve been off of it for 3 years and I don’t miss it. My family members are all on Facebook and I’m the only one that doesn’t have Facebook and they all asked me what how do you stay connected I say if anybody needs an email I’m very bold like that I don’t know if it’s because of the barbecue sauce that I eat with or because I’m Italian either way it seems to work.

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      7. I agree I am not a big fan of FB. I was off for over a year, but found that even my church ministries and Christian homeschooling co-op uses it, so to stay abreast of these things and connected to family and friend easily, I do use it. As it is with anything, it can be used for good or bad. One just needs to be cautious, in my humble opinion! 😉

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      10. I’m kind of like the male version of Sarah Drew from Moms Night Out. The reason why is because I block at 1 a.m. as well. I started this thing out as a joke because I was bored and I just kept going. I am very strong faith and I’ve seen people come and go and yet I faced many obstacles and I still take my stand and live for the Lord. Someone once said to me that there is not a lack of love in the world there’s just a lack of Love shown by people to give it to others.

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  5. I’ve heard of this exact kind of story before. In the version I heard, when confronted with his “scam,” the man told the caller he was a fraud and not to go through with any payment to him because it was all a hoax. A good post, Christina, but to you and all of your readers, please be careful with these people!

    Have a great evening…
    Steve

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    1. Wow, I can’t believe you have actually heard of this happening before?!?! I have never heard of such a thing. I was in TOTAL SHOCK, but elated that he had a change of heart! 🙂 it is very true, we need to be careful about this. That is why it gets me so upset, because I know that people fall for this all the time. I think of my parents and worry they may have fallen for it. It is such a shame! I truly pray for this man and that he does change his job…. thanks for reading, Steve!

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      1. Oh we can pray for this man, and all the others like him, but sadly, most of them just move from scam to scam. In the last year or two of my poor mother’s life, (Alzheimer’s), she was sending money to mail fraud scammers until I took over her money management. I had to literally pry these letters out of her hands!

        Fortunately, she had only been sending very small amounts to a select handful, but that only encouraged others to ask for her money as well. It is a shame that people of all ages, sick or not, respond to these vipers with hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars! We try to educate the public not to send money, but a good number still do…

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      3. Yep, warn them and watch too. I know my mom was ill, but she would try to hide these scam letters from me sometimes. I would hope your folks wouldn’t try to do the same thing…

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  6. What an amazing story! I hope to hone my skills and interact with telemarketers instead of telling them I don’t want what they are selling. As to scammers, who would have thought God would call you to witness to them????? Marvelous!

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  10. Very interesting story and very well written! I wanted to let you know that I have nominated you for the Liebster Award! The details for the award are on my latest post. Congratulations on your excellent blog!

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  14. This is the craziest thing that happened to you. I mean to go as far as to tell you that a warrant is out for your arrest? That had to have been scary for a moment. It’s sad that this kind of thing happens every single day to the best of people. I am so happy you caught on not to mention were able to call that person out before they had a chance to hang up. I am also sorry to hear about what happened to you with your past identity theft.

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    1. Yes, I honestly still can’t believe the turn of events in that conversation! It makes me sad to know that unfortunately, this sort of thing is happening all the time to people who do not recognize the scam. I think of my elderly parents… thanks for stopping by!

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