LFairbanks Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 We all know or know of someone that has been a victim of fraud in one way or another. My idea for starting this thread was to make those of us on here aware of different methods of fraud that may be circulating. Especially with the Holidays coming up. So I thought I would share my wife's experience with a phone call that she got last week. We have caller ID (like everybody now days) and she missed the phone call and called back. She got a recording and hung up. No sooner did she hang up they called back. Those that don't know my wife can be be caught off guard. She may be a female, but she is definitely a firecracker and won't put up with people that are being unscrupulous. And she doesn't care if your a man or not. I made the joke one time when we were in Disney World Epcot walking through the Middle East part of the park that she needed to walk behind me. Imagine the response I got....lol. Along with "you can walk behind me". Caller asked for no one specifically as they only had our last name. My wife asked them what they wanted. Guy was kind of demanding and the wife opened up her can on him. He claimed to be from the IRS. He tried to get her under control, by trying to be authoritative by asking her if she knew who she was talking to. Her response, was "you called my house, so yeah I know who I'am talking to. Send an agent over, I will be waiting". And then hung up. They tried calling again a few hours later, but she didn't bother answering. I did some looking on the internet and found that this was a pretty popular scam. But unfortunately some are fooled by it. And the person on the other end trying to be authoritative may work in some instances. Below are several links that may be helpful. First one is on phone scams. http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0076-phone-scams Thought this below link was interesting. Apparently there is a way to see where a picture come from that someone may be posting by doing a reverse image search. It explains how to do this in the below link. http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/new-dogand-scammers-old-tricks?utm_source=govdelivery I signed up in the below link to get updates from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on scams that are going around. After you sign up there will be an email that will allow you to click on boxes, (topics of conversation) that your interested in subscribing to. I believe that is how it worked. https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USFTC/subscriber/new?category_id=USFTC_C7 Here is a link with a long list of current scams. http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/scam-alerts There is a way to report a scam to the FTC. I did this exact thing with the incident that occurred last week. Here is the link to do just that. I think if we all push back it will eventually make it more difficult on those that aren't honest. https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#crnt&panel1-1 You may want to tell your kids that if someone calls asking for information, and adult isn't available to just hang up. If it is important they will call back when an adult is available. Also share this information with anybody that you know that is elderly that may fall victim to this as well as any other scams. Such as being a family member that is locked up in jail and needs bail money scam. Hopefully the above information helps prevent someone from falling victim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 How do these humans sleep? CMDChase and Hamilton Detail 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 It's the kids on the internet that I worry about. My wife doesn't take anything off of anybody. And if she's mad enough to use the F word (NEVER USES IT) .....................you best be another county before she finishes the word. BrianT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheWolf Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 How do these humans sleep? Hanging upside down, during the daytime. Hot_Wheel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sizzle Chest Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 How do these humans sleep? Well if they have trouble sleeping, I'll glady help them out...I think I can think of a nice permanant sleep solution! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beemer Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 I'm always amazed at the human capacity for evil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMDChase Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 How do these humans sleep? That's very generous of you Adam to refer to them as humans. crowvet 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMDChase Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 And thanks Chris for the great information. LFairbanks and Rich 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b_pappy Posted November 15, 2014 Share Posted November 15, 2014 Funny, we just got a phone call today on the answering machine, claiming to be the IRS and they were starting suit against me. The wife and I looked at each other and laughed, but unfortunately they may catch someone a little gullible. Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted November 15, 2014 Share Posted November 15, 2014 Best thing to do is to write down the number and report it. http://www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_scam.shtml LFairbanks 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LFairbanks Posted November 15, 2014 Author Share Posted November 15, 2014 Another thing that I see a lot of is credit card number theft. I deliver at least a dozen replacement cards a day. Some of the stories are crazy. Had someone tell me that her husbands card was hijacked and they were attempting to charge $2500 at a cabana in Brazil Have heard of people using cards to buy a lot of diesel fuel on the East Coast. My point is, don't let your debit card leave your hand. People have card readers and will swipe your number and use it or sell it. With a credit card it is the banks money hanging in the balance while the situation is investigated. A debit card it is your money. Another popular scam that I used to see a lot of was the secret shopper. They would send overnight a check for as much as 5K. That was the biggest that I intercepted. I was able to pick them out like a soar thumb. Boss told me that I should work for the FBI....lol. Had one guy chase me down and ask if I had an overnight letter for him. I spent a good 15 minutes talking to him and trying to convince him that it was a scam. What they would do is ask you to cash the check, buy certain products. Keep your share and send the product and unused money back to them. And you would be screwed. In the end he thanked me for taking the time to explain to him as to what was going on and how it worked. I felt really bad for him as I could tell that he was down on his luck to begin with and this dirt bag was taking advantage of that while he was already at a low point. I had a credit card hijacked a few years back. It was a Marriott Rewards card that I had recently got, and pay off every month. It wasn't hard to pin point where it was compromised. I was in Hawaii and the place that we were staying at had their computers hacked. They also had hotels here on the mainland that were compromised. Someone was trying to buy $1700 worth of stuff at a Saks 5th Avenue store in Atlanta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gen9Rolla Posted November 15, 2014 Share Posted November 15, 2014 Great tips, and definitely something people need to be on the look out for with the constant advancements in technology. Thanks for the warning and write up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LFairbanks Posted November 17, 2014 Author Share Posted November 17, 2014 Identity theft and your health insurance. http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/open-season-identity-thieves?utm_source=govdelivery The stuff these criminals think up amazes me. mc2hill 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LFairbanks Posted November 19, 2014 Author Share Posted November 19, 2014 Computer tech support. http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/ftc-cracks-down-tech-support-scams?utm_source=govdelivery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LFairbanks Posted November 21, 2014 Author Share Posted November 21, 2014 Latest Paypal scam. http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/online-sellers-stung-scammers-spoofing-paypal-brand?utm_source=govdelivery Webcam Hackers. http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/what-know-about-webcam-hackers?utm_source=govdelivery Money back scam that targets older folks in particular. http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/phone-scammers-lie-about-getting-money-back?utm_source=govdelivery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LFairbanks Posted December 19, 2014 Author Share Posted December 19, 2014 Another Holiday Scam to watch out for. http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/package-delivery-scam-delivered-your-inbox?utm_source=govdelivery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 I keep getting calls from New York. Apparently I won a trip and all I have to do is send them money to cover the taxes. I'll get right on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LFairbanks Posted December 19, 2014 Author Share Posted December 19, 2014 I keep getting calls from New York. Apparently I won a trip and all I have to do is send them money to cover the taxes. I'll get right on that. Rich. Submit the info that you have with the phone number if you have caller ID (which I assume you probably have). https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/Information?OrgCode=#crnt&panel1-1 I think the more people submit info. The more likely these kinds of turkeys will get shut down. Or at least hopefully have their phone line disconnected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
butchman Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 My mother here in IL had recently had someone try and pull the IRS scam. We have a nice service in our county. You can sign up online and the Police send emails with warnings and info about the latest scams. Also we get text messages with any traffic conditions in the area. Luckily she had heard about this scam a couple weeks earlier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LFairbanks Posted December 31, 2014 Author Share Posted December 31, 2014 http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/top-blog-posts-2014?utm_source=govdelivery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LFairbanks Posted January 16, 2015 Author Share Posted January 16, 2015 Another reason to file your taxes early. http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/dont-let-tax-scammers-get-away-it?utm_source=govdelivery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LFairbanks Posted January 23, 2015 Author Share Posted January 23, 2015 National Consumer Protection Week http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/get-ready-national-consumer-protection-week?utm_source=govdelivery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LFairbanks Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 For those unfortunate enough to may have had their personal information hacked by having health insurance through Anthem. http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/anthem-hack-attack-part-2-phishing-scams?utm_source=govdelivery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LFairbanks Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 For those of you with Smartphones. http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/does-your-app-know-where-you-are?utm_source=govdelivery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LFairbanks Posted February 28, 2015 Author Share Posted February 28, 2015 Top 10 FTC complaints for 2014 http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/consumers-told-it-ftc-top-10-complaints-2014?utm_source=govdelivery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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