Be careful answering the phone

[StrawHat]

As a business owner, my phone connects me with my customers. I answer each call that I can. The nuisance calls get hung up.

Kevin

 

[mtgianni]

My grandaughter has been hit hard with scammers about her credit card being used for unusually large purchases at Amazon. Funny since they originate in Butte, MT where Amazon has no presence and at 13 she has no CC. They get blocked and deleted. It's just an unfortunate part of life like going past the "Will work for food signs" when the one holding them has new socks and expensive shoes.

 

[grover99]

I keep having problems with my PayPal account. Problem is I don't have a PayPal account. EBay also sends me Email about me needing to pay my past due account. I just delete them.

 

[Golphin]

If I don't know the number I don't answer. If they need to talk to me they can leave a voice mail.

 

[AJ]

Spoofing the Caller ID is common practice for these guys. My solution is; if I don't KNOW who the caller is, I don't answer it. Period. If it was ligit, they can leave a voice mail.

There are apps for smart phones that warn you if it thinks the call is Spam.

Pretty much here, caller ID on the phones and on the TV screen. If we do not know the number we do not answer our cells. The house phone is virtually never answered. Leave message and will call back if necessary. Now if I could just break my B-I-L from calling the house phone and to call our cells.

 

[MTC(SS)Ret]

I never answer a call from any number I don't know. Same with emails, I never open one I am unsure of.
I set up my bank accounts to receive a text alert if a withdrawal or charge exceeds a certain amount, and check my balances almost daily.

 

[Oracle]

It's not just phone calls, which I tend not to answer.
Just this week - according to Emails, I've had 2 serious problems with my Amazon account and one with my Netflix.
I'm under siege!
Do you Guys all know to check the full address of the sender?
And never answer one of these emails or punch that button on the phone.

The web address is fictitious you can't trace it back, very similar to the phone numbers of the phone scammers.

 

[csurp34]

Last month I had enough and bought a one year subscription to Robokillr.


It is magic!


I still get calls but never more than one ring. After that number is blocked and I won't hear it again.


I have two cell phones and no landline.


What a difference.


No, I am not a scammer.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Another thing these scammers are doing is starting to threaten people.

I've had several the past few years tell me they had friends that would kill me and my family if I didn't turn over my bank account or credit card information.

My concern is if they do this to me, what happens when they do it to an elderly or other individual who believes them.

(Oh, another point of interest. I have also found out that if you play games with these guys, they will "swat you". It hasn't happened to me, but I have been advised that this is another trick they do now).

They're getting more sophisticated....and I think more organized. Something to be concerned about in the long term.

What is swat you?????????

 

[Rustyt1953]

What is swat you?????????

One of the more infamous cases.



2017 Wichita swatting - Wikipedia

 

[Beemer-mark]

Swatting is calling 911 and saying there is a hostage situation, or shooting, etc at your address.

Never, ever click on a html link in an email. Spammers are great making emails look official like they came from Bank of America, Amazon, or other financial institution. They'll ask you some innocence question like go to the BOA site by clicking on this link. Also go directly to the web site and sign in.

 

[Golddollar]

Spoofing numbers is not that difficult and is pretty common with scammers.

On two occasions somebody tried to spoof me with my own phone number. I've been talking to myself for years and I don't need a telephone to do it.

 

[Beemerguy53]

I'm sadly amazed at the number of lowlifes who make a living by stealing from other people. How do these slugs explain to people what they do? How do they look themselves in the mirror? I don't get that...

 

[robertrwalsh]

I have in the last two weeks received four emails about fraudulent access to my Apple account. I am pretty sure they were fake because I have never had an Apple account. I also got an actual letter, allegedly from a bank in Canada, informing me that a distant relative had died and that I am the closest remaining relative. I have $9.5 million coming, after some research and legal costs of course. Strange the letter was on plain white paper (not bank stationery) and had no actual bank name, or address, or phone number on it. Just an email address of the "bank officer" to contact. Set my stinkometer off big time. I guess the Nigerian prince moved to Canada.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Nothing amazes me anymore. Heck, I'm getting letters now, along with calls, about the warranty on the car I bought last March. It still has the factory warranty, only has 5300 miles on it. I ask them sometimes which car they are talking about. The other one is 2 years old. I've had people call me about lifelong guaranteed light bulbs.

 

[Maddog 521]

I get a few calls about free stays at Marriott Hotels. I stayed there once a couple years ago.

 

[chief38]

We got a call this week that our Amazon CC was being used fraudulently. I LMAO because we do not have an Amazon CC!

 

[steelslaver]

I get a few calls about free stays at Marriott Hotels. I stayed there once a couple years ago.

I have tried everything to get rid of those guys. Done the opt out, blocked numbers, spoke to the agents, called Marriott and told them I would never stay in their chain again and it hasn't done any good.

The your computer is broke guys must have finally firured it out after I wasted hours of their time entertaining myself at their expense cause they have not called for a long time.

The guys that think I am having trouble with my Dish network are my new entertainment. No, I don't have Dish either.

 

[Gaffer]

You can blame our government and greedy legislators who broke ub the Bell System and now do nothing to stop this billion dollar scam and worthless phone calls. It is extremely tough for old duffers such as me to get out of my chair and answer the telephone each time it rings. I have complained to my Representatives and senators and all I get is weasel worded replies.

 

[Sarge9]

Removed home phone due to spam and BS calls.
No voice mail set up on any cell phones.
Friends can text me if they need me. No family to speak of.
Just watched special on phone scammers, they make 300 calls each person per day, just to trick 2-3 people. Most victims are older and lonely.
FYI- any gov. form that ask for your number is then sold to others.
I always put down old number if they ask for it.