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I do miss the smell of NCR paper. Aaaaaahhhh! Oh, and mimeograph sheets that we used to get in school where the print was purple. Good times!

Why not just go back to hand creating all the returns on paper and using a typewriter for all communications? That is also, with the same amount of feasibility, stop the hacking crap. I found a fossil when cleaning out my deceased dad's office on Saturday. A brand new, unopened package of carbon paper. If you go back to hand producing using paper forms, this may be worth its weight in gold!!

Totally not feasible. No email, no online backup, no research, etc. When the internet goes down, we're not quite dead in the water, but we are severely limited.

I believe they are actively working on this, and we should see some improvement in the next year.

What I don't get is why can't the authorities track the phone numbers??? Some of the numbers you can actually speak to someone or return their call. This has gotten beyond the word ridiculous. If funds are deposited to a legitimate bank, it would seem that the legitimate bank these folks are depositing the funds to should be able to see who or where the funds are moved to. It is a shame this kind of stuff goes on so long. I remember the days when my dad never took the keys out of the car and we never locked the house door. Now, we lock the car in the garage with the house double dead bolted with security cameras and security system. In todays world, you just can't do enough to protect yourself.

Most of the scammers use internet based phone programs that spoof the phone number where the call is originated. They also spoof the IP address making it virtually impossible to track them. I have a group of friends that, when I get a call or some one of my clients gets a call that leaves a number, we all call them nonstop until they take that number out of action. This will reduce the possibility of someone gullible returning their call. I have had as many as 10 of us calling them non-stop.

Here's how you stop this crap TOTALLY!!. Unplug the friggin computer from the internet!. I guess the best practice would be to prepare off line and only go online when it is time to transmit. I already work off of more than one computer so, use one for research and the other for preparing and transmitting. Of course, there is software updating; etc. Add additional tasks such as random changing of router passwords including guest networks as well. Then frequent software password change. What a PITA!!!

At least one office supply company still sells it; I bought a new package of 100 sheets just a couple of months ago. We use it in our pistol matches to make two copies of the score sheet at once.

Saw an article today that two people were arrested in CT for being part of the IRS phone scam. These people weren't the callers. They were paid $40 for each Western Union check they picked up and deposited somewhere. One of them said she was making about $500 a day doing this. That's 12+ victims A DAY. Lends insight into how hard it is to catch the real perpetrators. They're organized crime syndicates that hire unknowns in small towns that have WU offices nearby, have the money deposited to a legitimate bank and then immediately transferred here and there and somewhere else. Too bad CI couldn't have convinced the two arrested to keep picking up the checks but not depositing them. Bet the criminals would have shown up at their doors in no time. But then again, the visitors would probably be hired hit men and not the brains behind the operations. By the way, the callers are getting more aggressive. One woman interviewed said the caller threatened to shoot her in the head if she didn't pay up. Guess they weren't getting enough people to succumb to their threats to sue/arrest/deport.

Had an elderly client come in yesterday because he received a call from a "state marshal" for his supposed tax debts. He asked if I would call the number again for him. I don't think so. The local paper ran a front-page story on the scam the day before. I was finally able to calm him down and warn him about the new scam from DHHS who calls to verify people's Soc Sec and Medicare numbers. Just today I heard about another scam where crooks are hacking the email accounts of realtors. The realtor emails clients the details of their closing date and how much they have to bring in a certified bank check, and the crooks send a new email saying the money now has to be wired to a certain account. Could you imagine showing up at a closing after you wired $20k or so and discovering you are out all that money? We already know that we preparers are being targeted by criminals, but who would have suspected realtors? The internet as we know it is going to have to change.

Had a client call last evening concerned about the four warrants for their arrest for tax evasion. Now, I know they owe nothing. Client told the scammer to contact his lawyer and gave the lawyer's name. The scammer said to have the lawyer contact them and hung up. These guys never quit.