Scams like these

[get me outta here]

Re: Simple check - close look at the email address or hover over link BUT DON'T CLICK

It is difficult when dealing with the olds. I am polite for callers and just hang up. For 'chuggers' (charity muggers), I politely say no thanks.

I assume it is someone trying to make a living, but no way it will be out of my time or misfortune.

The other day, my mother was on the phone with some scammers from the subcontinent. I caught the tail end of the conservation. They were asking for a 3 grand payment for some ATO debt. At that point I put the phone on the table and gave them my best whistle (I have an ear shattering whistle) into the receiver.

 

[RAM]

Re: Simple check - close look at the email address or hover over link BUT DON'T CLICK

It is difficult when dealing with the olds. I am polite for callers and just hang up. For 'chuggers' (charity muggers), I politely say no thanks.

I assume it is someone trying to make a living, but no way it will be out of my time or misfortune.

If you have a spare moment or two it can be very rewarding to play along. With the ATO debt you could have given them the ATO's bank account details for example.

Also asking the person where the call center is based can be amusing as they scramble for an Australian address. I have never had a scam where they've given a location as India, Malaysia, The Philipines etc. Not once.

Then I ask them for the post code or say isn't that's post code XYZC?

The number of times you can hear the furious typing on the key board as they search for the answer is very high.

Sometimes if they're extremely persistent (and their tone gets more and more triumphant) I have been known to ask if they've found enlightenment with the Church of Scientology?

We just happen to have a drop-in centre nearby where they will become aware of all that is holding them back.

Offering them an in-depth personality profile to ensure they can feel fulfilled.

Unfortunately, I don't have enough spare time to this that often though. The aim is to get them to waste 20-30 minutes of the time that they may be fleecing someone else.

Only once has someone hung up when I mention Scientology! They'll learn. Nothing like being brainwashed at the movies!

 

[JohnK]

Re: Simple check - close look at the email address or hover over link BUT DON'T CLICK

How does this help? It could cause injury to the person on the other end of the phone.

If they are make a living scamming people they don't deserve to be treated like human beings.

The less scammers the better. Oxygen thieves.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Simple check - close look at the email address or hover over link BUT DON'T CLICK

If they are make a living scamming people they don't deserve to be treated like human beings.

The less scammers the better. Oxygen thieves.

I appreciate the frustration - but is it worth facing possible criminal charges by taking matters into you own hands rather than saying 'no' or hanging up?

 

[RAM]

Re: Simple check - close look at the email address or hover over link BUT DON'T CLICK

I appreciate the frustration - but is it worth facing possible criminal charges by taking matters into you own hands rather than saying 'no' or hanging up?

Well, given the location of these people I'd say the probability of charges is less than that of me winning Lotto 1st Division.

Going back a few years, OK decades, I remember the NSW Police Commissioner being asked about what to do if you received an obscene phone call (heavy breathing was big in the 80s).

His response, "Keep a shrill whistle by the phone and give it a blast."

I'm sure whistle sales went through the roof for a brief time.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Simple check - close look at the email address or hover over link BUT DON'T CLICK

I appreciate the frustration - but is it worth facing possible criminal charges by taking matters into you own hands rather than saying 'no' or hanging up?

Probably not worth it but if they are a scammer they are not likely to instigate any action.

Where the frustration comes from is how people dismiss something so easily. Law abiding citizens are too nice and this is where scammers and criminals get the courage to persevere.

 

[Cynicor]

Re: Simple check - close look at the email address or hover over link BUT DON'T CLICK

Probably not worth it but if they are a scammer they are not likely to instigate any action.

Where the frustration comes from is how people dismiss something so easily. Law abiding citizens are too nice and this is where scammers and criminals get the courage to persevere.

Even better john k is start talking quieter and quieter first, so they turn up the volume.
And obviously I completely agree with your stance on this, whistle away.

 

[clazman]

Re: Simple check - close look at the email address or hover over link BUT DON'T CLICK

Air Canada being proactive or reactive

 

[Buzzard]

Did anyone read the post that was just up about a bloke selling fake passports and licences? WTF is wrong with some people

I need those details as somebody I know can not get ANY passport.

 

[moa999]

Had a call from Telstra Adelaide yesterday that was actually from Telstra! ( I don't have CallerID)

Was a slight foreign accent and started by immediately asking for my date of birth which I declined (and became alert).

Then he said let me see how I can gain your trust, I'll just look at your account. Then some comments on the weather (again easy for a scammer to lookup).

However he then proceeded to tell me the number of Telstra services on my account and what plans. Wasn't able to sell me anything as I have just signed up to NBN FTTB and waiting for install.

 

[RAM]

Had a call from Telstra Adelaide yesterday that was actually from Telstra! ( I don't have CallerID)

Was a slight foreign accent and started by immediately asking for my date of birth which I declined (and became alert).

Then he said let me see how I can gain your trust, I'll just look at your account. Then some comments on the weather (again easy for a scammer to lookup).

However he then proceeded to tell me the number of Telstra services on my account and what plans. Wasn't able to sell me anything as I have just signed up to NBN FTTB and waiting for install.

Even then I would be cautious.

If I believe the caller MAY be genuine I then ask them for their employee number and a phone number to call them back-on.

Once or twice I've been given a fake phone number - so the scammers must have hacked into the company's data for what they could tell me or paid someone off for a printout/screen shot with a mobile (latest way to defeat company file theft measures).

The pay-off approach is centuries old and still unfortunately effective, in the 80s a number of futures brokers trying to get me as a client would offer to supply me with a printout of all direct lines to the SFE Floor for any other Future's broker I was interested in. So I could know which fund managers used which brokers and monitor who was doing what. One guy was so confident he said how much they paid a Telecom Australia technician for the printout. Unfortunately he called on an un-taped phone. The direct lines were shown as a separate indicator on the (then) commander systems. Never took one up on the offer, never used a direct line to anyone and never used that firm.

The modern hacking method - One was early 2000s and got publicity in the NY Times & Washington Post but didn't see anything about it in Australia. A clearing agent for Citibank had seen their systems hacked and some millions of CC account details accessed. The CC accounts included about 5 or 6 countries in addition to US based customers. Australia was one of those countries and mine was one of those accounts.

 

[UP4014]

Had a call from Telstra Adelaide yesterday that was actually from Telstra! ( I don't have CallerID)

Was a slight foreign accent and started by immediately asking for my date of birth which I declined (and became alert).

Then he said let me see how I can gain your trust, I'll just look at your account. Then some comments on the weather (again easy for a scammer to lookup).

However he then proceeded to tell me the number of Telstra services on my account and what plans. Wasn't able to sell me anything as I have just signed up to NBN FTTB and waiting for install.

I simply ask them to put the offer in writing via the post. Call centres say they can't and I point out their offer is BS obvioulsy if they won't put it in writing. Just to string them out.

 

[Deleted member]

Re: Simple check - close look at the email address or hover over link BUT DON'T CLICK

How does this help? It could cause injury to the person on the other end of the phone.

I think that's the point !

 

[Deleted member]

Yes there are scams that are not easy to detect and are tricky.

If some stranger knocked on your door and said they are a security guard/expert and saw someone trying to break in to your property and can they come inside to look around to make sure your house is safe. Would you let them in?

No.

I was born at night. But it wasn't last night

 

[JohnK]

No.

I was born at night. But it wasn't last night

How do people give a total stranger access to their computer?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Simple check - close look at the email address or hover over link BUT DON'T CLICK

I think that's the point !

I'm concerned someone might get the idea that such an act is a good idea/justifiable/legal. The potential consequences outweigh the [very] minor inconvenience involved in receiving such a call.

I wish Telstra/Optus would devote some resources to tracking the incoming calls (there must be a way right?) and work with local police to put a stop to the operations.

 

[QF WP]

New one today from the same scammer as last weeks' effort:

Hello,

Congratulations [my email address] {their website details}

You are our possible winner!

You have qualified for entering the final draw for $ 1000 voucher from IGA {their website details}.

Participate now and click here {their website details}

IMPORTANT: This is a limited offer and is strictly limited to Newsletter recipients.

Registration {their website details} is only possible till 17-07-2015 at 23:59.

Prizes that are not asked for will re-enter the sweepstake.

Good luck!
Peter Jones
Vouchers Dept.

The above mail is in accordance to the Can Spam act of 2003: There are no deceptive subject lines and there is a automatic process through our efforts on World Wide Web.
If you need to contact us, please use the email: promonews @ mail . com If you do not wish to receive any further communications of this type, just click the link bellow:

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I'm either a winner or a loser - not a possible, you turkey. Good spelling of "below" and poor grammar and sentence construction. Better luck next time [loxip.com] scammers

 

[drron]

Home 12 hours and already have had the Telstra internet call from Vijay.Just told him we don't use Telstra so go and.......
Then Junie from Windows.To her it was well just go and jump through your window.
And as I was about to post this the phone rang.Steven morrison from the Information department of the Australian federal government with some information for you but a very distinctly Indian accent.What?We have $6326 to give you.Well I will give you some information go stick it..........

 

[stoneman]

Home 12 hours and already have had the Telstra internet call from Vijay.Just told him we don't use Telstra so go and.......
Then Junie from Windows.To her it was well just go and jump through your window.
And as I was about to post this the phone rang.Steven morrison from the Information department of the Australian federal government with some information for you but a very distinctly Indian accent.What?We have $6326 to give you.Well I will give you some information go stick it..........

How darn annoying :evil:

 

[OATEK]

Home 12 hours and already have had the Telstra internet call from Vijay.Just told him we don't use Telstra so go and.......
Then Junie from Windows.To her it was well just go and jump through your window.
And as I was about to post this the phone rang.Steven morrison from the Information department of the Australian federal government with some information for you but a very distinctly Indian accent.What?We have $6326 to give you.Well I will give you some information go stick it..........

Sounds like they were lying in wait.