more phone scams

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sbwertz

sbwertz

Member
Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
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Location
Phoenix, AZ
Yesterday my husband got a call telling him that Medicare needed to send him a new Medicare card and they needed to verify our information. The caller had an Indian accent, and he just hung up. More information here

New Medicare scam falsely claims new cards are being issued - Sun Sentinel

Also here

http://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-04-2010/scam_alert_medicare_phone_calls_a_medi_con.html

Also, I'm still gettng calls from "Microsoft Support" telling me they have records that show I'm having trouble with Windows, and if I'll just turn on my computer and go to their website, they'll fix it for me. SURE they will. (These also originate in India).
See warning here

Avoid Phone Scams | Cybercriminal Tech Support Scam | Security Threats


Sharon
 
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Tell them you are busy at the moment, but, "Please give me your phone number and I will call you back". The next sound you hear is "click".

Oh; I understand you can't even trust caller-id any more as someone figured out how to send a fake ID.
 
Machine

Unless we specifically recognize the caller, we let almost all calls (In cluding all calls where the ID says unavailable or lists an 800/888/877 number) go to the answer machine. That filters out 99% of all of the scam calls - wish I had something similiar for my email but I can't use the email filter because of business email.
 
I do exactly what Smitty and his wife do. I only answer calls from family. All other calls go to voice mail. I am almost to the point of dumping my landline as it seems the only calls I get are scams. And yes, I know cell phones are not immune to these scams, but they are far fewer than those to landlines.

The Do Not Call List DOES NOT work. Scam artists are agile enough to switch phone numbers in the blink of an eye and the FCC does not have any resources to enforce the DNCL.


My advice: Do not give out your phone numbers on any unsolicited offer, email, electronic form or other communication. It might mean you'll miss out on that $350,000,000 jackpot prize, but ... figure the odds :biggrin:
 
Leroy, unfortunately I have the same problem with my phone. I'm a computer consultant, and can't afford to let everything go to the answering machine because a number of my clients have unlisted numbers that show up as "unavailable" or "private" on the caller ID. Fortunately, my phone has the ability to block numbers, so if I keep getting calls from the same number, I just block it and it will ring once and then the phone hangs it up.

Sharon

Smitty37 said:
Unless we specifically recognize the caller, we let almost all calls (In cluding all calls where the ID says unavailable or lists an 800/888/877 number) go to the answer machine. That filters out 99% of all of the scam calls - wish I had something similiar for my email but I can't use the email filter because of business email.
Click to expand...
 
Like Sharon.......I work with John Q Public. When they call me it is usually once they need me. I can't let all calls go to the machine. But I am getting very selective of the numbers I answer.
The ones that really get to me are the voices I can tell that English is not their native language. After listening to their little speech, I will ask to speak to their supervisior. That gets a 'click' unless it is really a serious call. I am going to have to start asking for their phone number and will call them back when "I have the time".

And just because you think you are avoiding them.......talk any call you don't trust over with your family. My father who was sharp as they come at 80......was scamed at 82 and lost over $50,000.oo If I could only find those people.
 
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Yeah, I got one of those "Hi Grandma, I'm stuck in Italy" calls the other day. I knew right away it was a scam, but played along for a few minutes just to see where it was going. Finally I said "Which grandson is this?" Pause.....John! Sorry, you lose, don't have one named John!
 
sbwertz said:
Yeah, I got one of those "Hi Grandma, I'm stuck in Italy" calls the other day. I knew right away it was a scam, but played along for a few minutes just to see where it was going. Finally I said "Which grandson is this?" Pause.....John! Sorry, you lose, don't have one named John!
Click to expand...
I've gotten that one -
caller: Hi Grandpa I'm stuck in (froget where) and need help?

me: "Oh my gosh - are you in jail?"

caller: "No?"

me: "Well you ought to be, trying to scam a poor old man like me"

click.
 
Tonight the wife had someone instant message her saying "Hello" and asking her to check into a site where she could be a winner of thousands of dollars.
This person had HIGHJACKED her niece's facebook name.
When my wife asked her how they were connected......the other person said she was her sister. WRONG ANSWER.

I am telling the members this because this isn't the first time I have heard of this. AND it is one more reason I don't have facebook.

Be Carefull everyone
 
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