Scams like these

[Forg]

So @Major … are you really Sophia Clarke?
I’m happy to accept that money if you want me to?

 

[Brissy1]

Apparently you (your ph number) can be added to a WhatsApp group without your knowledge or prior consent.

"Katherine" (funny name for a Burmese/Chinese/West African person) added my number to his/her victim group inviting me to invest in asx shares.

I suppose that I can block, but how to remove my number from the Katherine established group? I replied to the group with simply a bunch of and within 30sec a WhatsApp message was received, "Katherine removed you from group". Gee sensitive.

 

[SYD]

Apparently you (your ph number) can be added to a WhatsApp group without your knowledge or prior consent.

"Katherine" (funny name for a Burmese/Chinese/West African person) added my number to his/her victim group inviting me to invest in asx shares.

I suppose that I can block, but how to remove my number from the Katherine established group? I replied to the group with simply a bunch of and within 30sec a WhatsApp message was received, "Katherine removed you from group". Gee sensitive.

I had one of those. Block early, block often.

But I then also found in WhatsApp a setting that only allows people in your address book to add you to a group.

 

[Brissy1]

I had one of those. Block early, block often.

But I then also found in WhatsApp a setting that only allows people in your address book to add you to a group.

Excellent thanks, default is anyone can add you!
Found it here....
Settings>Privacy>Groups

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Apparently you (your ph number) can be added to a WhatsApp group without your knowledge or prior consent.

"Katherine" (funny name for a Burmese/Chinese/West African person) added my number to his/her victim group inviting me to invest in asx shares.

I suppose that I can block, but how to remove my number from the Katherine established group? I replied to the group with simply a bunch of and within 30sec a WhatsApp message was received, "Katherine removed you from group". Gee sensitive.

Most likely he would have provided your whatsapp details to the next set.
If they say they have deleted your data off their list, I would be very sceptical.
Like as if I ever make sense, do you really believe, that they would do that?

 

[VPS]

I love the email address this is from - very close to mygov

 

[Brissy1]

Most likely he would have provided your whatsapp details to the next set.
If they say they have deleted your data off their list, I would be very sceptical.
Like as if I ever make sense, do you really believe, that they would do that?

I suppose quite likely, so if you have WhatsApp go into Settings>Privacy>Groups and change default setting.
A dreadful default setting, but obviously designed to expand their reach. Creeps.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I never joined Whatsapp, so will not have to worry about that side of the scam "friendship" thing.
I already have too much of "you might know xx_yyyxx_ who is a friend of 777xx_777zzz on FB", and xx_yyyxx_ has sent you a friend request.
Not touch that goat/goatess with a herding pole.

 

[p--and--t]

Post automatically merged: Jun 7, 2024

 

[Warks]

Mrs Warks received an overdue tax notice text from the "ATO" on her mobile. Sounds scammy? It's my business but she is a director so they have her number. But I didn't get the same notice. However, the amount owing was correct and there was no link in the email. It was genuine. I contacted my accountant who looked it up and told me my mobile wasn't listed on my ATO account. So I fixed that up. But weird that such a common scam text type turned out to be genuine.
PS I've paid my tax now.

 

[drron]

Mrsdrron is going for the record. So far in the last 20 hours she has had on her phone these scams-
linkt
telstra
Coles
ATO from My Gov

 

[moa999]

Posting this here as a PSA.

My father got done by a so called Hey Mom scam this week. Thankfully only A$500.
And I thought I'd educated them fairly well to not trust any emails and check all links etc.

Although in this case it was an interstate friend (and a relative nobody, that I wouldnt have suspected would be hit in this style of attack)
Probably wouldn't have happened if they hadn't had visited interstate in recent weeks and Dad hadn't been a bit ill himself.

Started on email with the correct address, though at some point shifted to a very similar Gmail address (double letter) that wasn't picked up.
Sob story about feeling sick and wondering if they could help out by buying an apple voucher from supermarket.

Dad actually called (saved number in his phone) and had a short conversation with this sick friend (he doesn't remember much of it but the voice sounded fairly legit) but it sounds like the number had been ported and an AI voice used, to confirm the request.

Then went up to supermarket and bought a gift card. Despite lots of questions on how to use it, the staffer didn't unfortunately ask the right questions to twig my father.

So photo of gift card (and passcode) sent to the scammers of the card and of course quickly claimed and money gone.

Dad finally twigged when they quickly came back with another request for even more $$s and asked a personal question which quickly cut communication.

Still trying to contact the friend.. phone now not answering, hoping that others haven't also been scammed given the scammers seemingly access to their email and had managed to port their mobile.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Tell your mum and dad to use code words that only the 3 or only in the family will know.
---
Scary to know that porting is still so easy these days.
And we the legit holder would not the wiser, till either someone falls for the scam, or our phone reads "no service, emergency calls only".
---
Also that its still so easy to spoof ATO as sender.
Tho now we all know that Coles will never use a mobile phone number to state "your coles points are about to expire".
Can I say who I believe is the race of the author, or will I get into trouble?

 

[moa999]

I suspect you would.. unfortunately Apple wouldn't say where the voucher had been redeemed, but it had been redeemed within minutes of being sent.

Had it been family I think they actually would have twigged as a conversation would have been longer and asked about kids etc.. In this case the timing of a friend they had recently visited, the so called sickness and had other issues caused the perfect set of circumstances that worked in the scammers favour.

 

[MARTINE]

So — not only is the 0 in Gov a dead giveway, who the hell is Douglas Hedges?!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Martine, that one takes the cake.
Exactly how the authentic my gov would read.
Of course, they had put the numerical 0 instead of a capital O.
---
Thought you were Mr Douglas.

 

[TheRealTMA]

View attachment 390120
So — not only is the 0 in Gov a dead giveway, who the hell is Douglas Hedges?!

Don’t give away your hidden tax avoidance identities!

 

[MARTINE]

Don’t give away your hidden tax avoidance identities!

No - thats Colonel Mustard

 

[Major]

Greetings,

I'm writing to you on behalf of James Smith, whose information you are included in. This letter is to formally inform you that James Smith has passed away. You are mentioned in his previous trust document. Please get in touch with me for further information. Please give this situation your prompt consideration.

Best regards,
Barr. Ray Dennis

 

[MARTINE]

Greetings,

I'm writing to you on behalf of James Smith, whose information you are included in. This letter is to formally inform you that James Smith has passed away. You are mentioned in his previous trust document. Please get in touch with me for further information. Please give this situation your prompt consideration.

Best regards,
Barr. Ray Dennis

I’m sorry for your loss