|
|
Were you ever scammed or almost scammed? Share your story.
11-01-2021, 02:16 PM
|
#1
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 966
|
Were you ever scammed or almost scammed? Share your story.
Today, my wife, who owns a business received a text message from PG&E which is our power company in California. The text message claimed that they are from the PG&E Disconnection Department and they are scheduled to shutoff the power to my wife's business which generates approximately $1,000 to $2,000 in daily revenues.
The scheduled shutoff is that same morning and text message left a message to call a number. I called that number and the rep stated he needed a $300 deposit so PG&E can change out the PG&E electrical meter in order to suspend the shutoff. I initially stated OK since it was only a $300 deposit.
However, they then wanted me to buy a MoneyPak Green Card from WalGreen Drug Store instead of paying by credit card. That raised red flags in my mind. In any case, I listened to his instructions which is to buy the $300 MoneyPak Green Card from WalGreen and scratch off the security code on the back and then call the same number and provide the security code to him so he can suspend the power shutoff.
I immediately called the PG&E office phone number listed on our utility bills. PG&E office confirmed it was a scam. They were very clever because my wife's business could not afford a power shutoff and $300 was a relative minor expense that I was willing to pay because of our potential loss revenues. The PG&E office stated that the text mail was probably sent to many thousands of phone numbers so they just needs a few hundred people to bite on it.
Anyone out there should share their experience of being scammed or almost being scammed for the benefit of other members.
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
11-01-2021, 02:31 PM
|
#2
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 26,891
|
" ...text message left a message to call a number. I called that number".
Stop right there. A text like that has "spam" written all over it, the last thing you do (unless you are just curious about the scam) is to call a number or email or website that they give you.
If you have any real concern of it being legit, go immediately to your second step - call the company directly using a publicly available number. If people did that, there would be no scams like this. It's pretty simple.
And if you gave them $300, they'd start in on the next play, and say something else requires $3,000. They know they have a 'live' one.
-ERD50
|
|
|
11-01-2021, 02:33 PM
|
#3
|
Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: LI
Posts: 102
|
Probably about 15 years ago we got a notification from my husband's credit card company that our cash advance of 10k would be delayed along with an apology for the delay.
Being that we didn't ask for a cash advance, we called immediately. The CC company said they could not stop the cash advance and that we had to report it to the police. We did just that and the 10k was sent to someone in Pennsylvania who had stolen my husband's identity.
We know he was caught and we were not responsible for the 10K. We weren't filled in any further beyond that. It will always be a mystery.
|
|
|
11-01-2021, 02:43 PM
|
#4
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
|
I have had so many calls from scammers. Usually, they don't leave a message, but perhaps once every week or so, one would leave a message and a number for us to call. It may be the "IRS" threatening to put me in jail if I don't pay up, or Paypal or Amazon who is processing an order that I know nothing about and I have to call to stop it, etc...
I once thought of writing down their phone number and reporting it, but it's most likely a throwaway number that cannot be traced. So, I just erase their messages.
__________________
"Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)
"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
|
|
|
11-01-2021, 02:49 PM
|
#5
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Pacific latitude 20/49
Posts: 7,677
|
I bought a $100 wall paper certificate in a startup mining operation. I kept it framed to remind me....
__________________
For the fun of it...Keith
|
|
|
11-01-2021, 02:51 PM
|
#6
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Living the Dream!
Posts: 853
|
Traveling from Mexico to the U.S. last week we had to get a Covid test in Mexico for $18 each in order to fly back. The negative results came via email to my phone after I paid the $18 for the test, but before the actual test (nasal swab) occurred
Obviously was scammed for $18!?
My lovely wife asked if anyone tests positive. The medical technician said politely that positive never happens and now I understand why.
|
|
|
11-01-2021, 02:58 PM
|
#7
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Spending the Kids Inheritance and living in Chicago
Posts: 17,094
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1242Vintage
Traveling from Mexico to the U.S. last week we had to get a Covid test in Mexico for $18 each in order to fly back. The negative results came via email to my phone after I paid the $18 for the test, but before the actual test (nasal swab) occurred
Obviously was scammed for $18!?
My lovely wife asked if anyone tests positive. The medical technician said politely that positive never happens and now I understand why.
|
I need that kind of testing facility so I can go on a cruise.
__________________
Fortune favors the prepared mind. ... Louis Pasteur
|
|
|
11-01-2021, 02:58 PM
|
#8
|
Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Eastern WV Panhandle
Posts: 25,340
|
We've never been scammed (retired fraud investigator lives here) but not for lack of trying on their part. I'll give them an "A" for perseverance though - they keep warning me that the warranty is about to expire on my 19-year-old pickup truck.
__________________
When I was a kid I wanted to be older. This is not what I expected.
|
|
|
11-01-2021, 03:02 PM
|
#9
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 8,968
|
They never end;
IRS has filed a lawsuit
IRS has issued a warrant for my arrest
IRS has filed a lien on my house
A $1300 I phone has been ordered on my amazon account
The iphone people called a dozen times before they stopped. Yeah, just checked my amazon orders and guess what? No phones ordered. As I expected.
Oh I forgot all the free vacations I won too. Keep them please, don't need another time share sales pitch. Of course, that's not a scam, just a pest.
They all talk to the machine and nobody else.
|
|
|
11-01-2021, 03:03 PM
|
#10
|
Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 59
|
Personally, I actually enjoy all the scam calls I have been getting lately. The latest type, which started last week, was a Medicare Free Offer type scam. At first I just hung up, but the next couple I decided to see how long I could keep them on the phone and feed them fake information before they got pissed and hung up on me. Sadly, my best time was 10 min, 15 seconds. My next goal is 15 minutes, but I haven't been getting any calls lately so I wonder if they blacklisted my number....?
|
|
|
11-01-2021, 03:36 PM
|
#11
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 26,891
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by natetheb
Personally, I actually enjoy all the scam calls I have been getting lately. The latest type, which started last week, was a Medicare Free Offer type scam. At first I just hung up, but the next couple I decided to see how long I could keep them on the phone and feed them fake information before they got pissed and hung up on me. Sadly, my best time was 10 min, 15 seconds. My next goal is 15 minutes, but I haven't been getting any calls lately so I wonder if they blacklisted my number....?
|
That would be great! But I fear (somewhat irrationally) that some smart-alek at the call center will put my phone on continuous auto-dial, or random attacks in the middle of the night.
-ERD50
|
|
|
11-01-2021, 03:37 PM
|
#12
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,958
|
Just as a side comment I thought it was pretty much standard procedure to get the proper contact number for the entity such as power company and call them directly.
Wouldn't you actually know if you had paid your power bill?
Certainly our cell phone numbers aren't secret anymore...
|
|
|
11-01-2021, 03:40 PM
|
#13
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,146
|
Almost got scammed the first year Obamacare came into effect.
I had an automated voice mail with a recording saying the call was from BCBS. Caller ID said BCBS, even addressed me by name.
I'm sure the scammer was trying to steal personal information.
__________________
Have you ever seen a headstone with these words
"If only I had spent more time at work" ... from "Busy Man" sung by Billy Ray Cyrus
|
|
|
11-01-2021, 04:05 PM
|
#14
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 26,891
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by easysurfer
Almost got scammed the first year Obamacare came into effect.
I had an automated voice mail with a recording saying the call was from BCBS. Caller ID said BCBS, even addressed me by name.
I'm sure the scammer was trying to steal personal information.
|
I seem to remember one of those. I was with BCBS, so not too surprised they'd call, but soon into the convo, they asked me to ID myself. I said "You called me, who were you calling?". They tried again, but I wasn't going to provide anything, hung up. Contacted BCBS, and they said they didn't have any reason to call.
I think there were only a few carriers in IL at the time, so they'd have a pretty high hit rate with any IL area code.
-ERD50
|
|
|
11-01-2021, 04:34 PM
|
#15
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: St. Charles
Posts: 3,919
|
A few years back, I got a call, at work, from XYZ bank saying my car payment (low interest) had not been made, and do you want to pay now to avoid a fee?
I told them I was leery and would call the number on the bill. They were polite and said "no problem, we understand".
Turns out it was legit. I had forgot the payment, and they saved me the late fee by letting me know, and understood my hesitancy on the original call.
Lately we have both been getting spam texts. We know not to open them, but it is a pain.
__________________
If your not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space.
Never slow down, never grow old!
|
|
|
11-01-2021, 04:47 PM
|
#16
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
|
The OP was talking about a threat to cut-off power to his wife's business. I just now recall a similar incidence with my business office quite a few years ago.
I managed a local business office for a small company of which I was a partner, and the rent and electric bill were paid by our financial guy in the main office on the east coast. One day, I received a letter by the electric company threatening to shut off the power soon if they did not receive last month's bill soon. Mad as I was at the financial guy who forgot to pay the bill, I had to drive to the electric company office to pay in person.
A legitimate business would not make you pay via a gift card, or through Western Union, or any untraceable means.
__________________
"Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)
"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
|
|
|
11-01-2021, 05:25 PM
|
#17
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,373
|
Lately I've been getting e-mails confirming that my Norton Anti-Virus subscription has been renewed for some crazy amount ($300-$400) and will be charged to my credit card. For more information call this number...
I don't have a subscription and the times I've gotten that message I've monitored my 2 credit card accounts. Nothing showed up. I'm guessing that many people call to protest and give away too much info.
And-periodically someone uses our priest's name on an e-mail account they create and asks for gift cards to give to women with cancer, people at the hospital, church staff, etc. He's in a lot of meetings so can't get them but he'll pay me back. Just buy them, scratch off the back to reveal the number and send him photos. Uh-huh. I go back and forth with them saying what a pleasure it would be for me to be with him when he gives them out, or offering to bring them to church.... Nope. When I ask a question only he would know (whose funeral did we have most recently?) they slink away. Sadly, one of our parishioners got scammed by one of these e-mails.
|
|
|
11-01-2021, 05:27 PM
|
#18
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 8,968
|
Oh yeah, I forgot about the "computer scams"
This is Microsoft technical support and we see that your computer has been infected with...
Sure it has...
|
|
|
11-01-2021, 05:29 PM
|
#19
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: St. Charles
Posts: 3,919
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by athena53
Lately I've been getting e-mails confirming that my Norton Anti-Virus subscription has been renewed for some crazy amount ($300-$400) and will be charged to my credit card. For more information call this number...
I don't have a subscription and the times I've gotten that message I've monitored my 2 credit card accounts. Nothing showed up. I'm guessing that many people call to protest and give away too much info.
|
I forgot. I got that one about 2 days ago.
__________________
If your not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space.
Never slow down, never grow old!
|
|
|
11-01-2021, 06:49 PM
|
#20
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,929
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by RobbieB
They never end;
IRS has filed a lawsuit
IRS has issued a warrant for my arrest
IRS has filed a lien on my house
A $1300 I phone has been ordered on my amazon account
The iphone people called a dozen times before they stopped. Yeah, just checked my amazon orders and guess what? No phones ordered. As I expected.
Oh I forgot all the free vacations I won too. Keep them please, don't need another time share sales pitch. Of course, that's not a scam, just a pest.
They all talk to the machine and nobody else.
|
I got this one last week, but mine was an $1100 I phone. I guess the scammers liked you better!
__________________
"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." - Epicurus
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
» Quick Links
|
|
|