“Can you hear me? This is Tony with Tax Relief Support, I am calling about the IRS Fresh Start Program.”
Scammer will ask how much you owe to the IRS (minimum $10,000) and how long you missed filing your back taxes to the IRS before transferring you to their “senior tax specialist,” Lexus from an undisclosed company in Southern California. I tried my best to pressure him into providing the name of their company, but he wound up disconnecting with the promise of “calling me back” at a later time.
I then opted to call them back, where “Adam” picked up and transferred me to his “tax consultant,” Tyler from ClearStart Tax at the Lakeshore Towers at 2211 Michelson Dr Suite 900, Irvine, CA 92612
Associated Phone Numbers:
(866) 538-9442
(number no longer in service)
(888) 235-0004
“Thank you for calling ClearStart Tax Relief. Calls may be monitored or recorded for quality assurance. If you know your party’s extension, you may dial it now. For customer support, press 1. For billing-related support, press 2. For resolution appointments, press 3. For finance-related support, press 4. If you are calling from the IRS or a state tax agency, press 5.”
The scammers have attempted to call back from unknown numbers.
2 Likes
Actually, it may indeed be a scam or at least a legit company acting fraudulently. I called the 888 235 0004 number & spoke with a very polite, helpful young lady whom was more than happy to confirm what phone numbers belong to them. She told me the 949 889 2772 & 888 235 0004 numbers are theirs but the 585 513 5427 & 866 538 9442 numbers are definitely not theirs. I was also told from a different employee that the company used to be called plain old Clear Start but rebranded (Probably because of that unaccredited, C- rating). I asked her if she was positive & she said yes. Clear Start Tax is what they go by now & they are now accredited with an A+ rating which they’ve managed to maintain for 3 years.
I know that just going by a the BBB website usually isn’t enough but based on my previous conversations with 2 employees from the official numbers, I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt in this case. However, the 866 538 9442 comes up under their old company name of Clear Start so either Clear Start Tax is still using their old numbers & not admitting it, or someone is impersonating them. I’m going with the latter scenario.
2 Likes
So basically what I’m saying in roundabout way is 888 235 0004 & 949 889 2772 are their legit numbers.
585 513 5427 & 866 538 9442 are not their numbers any more so have at it with those 2.
1 Like
866 538 9442 just rings a bit then goes to a busy signal. I don’t think it’s being used anymore whatever it it. 585 513 5427 is definitely a scam because I traded insults with a few different males that sounded like they were still in the throws of puberty for like 30 minutes straight.
1 Like
