I think pretty much all of us are plagued to a degree with spam emails and scam phone calls. My spam blocker does a pretty good job with the emails and as for phone calls, if I don't know the number, I just don't answer.
Generally the phone will go to voicemail and the scammer just hangs up. If they do leave a message and it is obviously a scam, I pat myself on the back for ignoring them.
The other day I got a really strange one. Instead of the area code of the town or state I live as usual, it had a toll free code of 855. They left a message but the caller's ID got garbled, then the pitch started. Seems I had been awarded a settlement and to collect my 3.5 million, I was to call a specific 855 number, ask for extension #1. I was then to supply the case number 978 which they provided.
Ok this was not the usual Nigerian Prince approach. Just for a second I was tempted. What impressed me most was the amount of money. It was not one million or five million but 3.5 million. More believable than either of the other amounts. Of course if they had just said $3,257,000--I might have bought into it. Still 3.5 Mil was smarter than the average scammer bear. They are getting better. Beware.
No I didn't call so I may be out 3.5 million l but somehow I think I'm OK. Have you ever gotten a scam call or email that you almost got taken in by?
Nope. And I hope I never fall for such idiocracy. I have caller ID on my phone. If an unfamiliar number without face (or logo), I don't bother. Immediately block the number. Now, spam SNAIL mail is a whole 'nother story!! And shortly it will be campaign adds in mail.
ReplyDeleteAnni,
DeleteI have caller ID also and it is a lifesaver. I know what you mean about campaign ads. Mail or TV--ugh.
If I see anything with the word million in an email message I don't even bother reading--yawn! But just yesterday I got a message from "Google" that said my account had been compromised, click on this link to change my password. I studied that message for several minutes, trying to figure out if it was real or a scam. It looked totally legitimate. I finally gave up, but decided I'd play it safe and change my Google password anyway. Just not through the link in that message! Patti, your blog is one of the few places on the internet I feel safe. 🙂👍
ReplyDeleteDoug,
DeleteI am delight that you feel safe here. I think I got that Google message also but I ignored it since it supplied a link What you did is the right thing.
Doug, if you hover the cursor over the "google" address the email comes from, the actual sender shows up right underneath so you can see right away it is not from Google.
DeleteI am the same, I don't answer spam calls and they are usually easily identified by the odd number. Only a few leave voicemails, which I delete. Never been tempted to take them up on their scam.
ReplyDeleteDjan,
DeleteLately I have noticed they can actually make the call look like it is coming from my area--even my town. If they don't leave a message then I know it was not important. I have looked up the number they provided and it is not even registered in our area. Have no idea how they do that.
The first time I got an email about a $100 gift card for shopping at Home Depot, I had in fact just been shopping there two days prior so I almost bit. However, I had been warned to always check out the sending email address. Most, if not all, are really funky.
ReplyDeleteOlga,
DeleteYou have to give them props for being sneaky don't you? I get stuff from supposedly my niece but the address is from Japan--You have to be so careful.
I'm pretty leery of e-mails, especially ones with links to sites. Like Dug mentioned, if it seems somewhat legit, I'll head to the appropriate website rather than clicking the link.
ReplyDeleteSince I've gone to a cellphone only I rarely, if ever, get spam calls. In fact I can't recall the last one. But I used to answer them, wait until someone came on the line and then would scream at the top of my lungs. It always took them a second to hang up and I got my frustrations out. :p
Eileen,
DeleteYou and Doug are being smart.
Ooh, screaming sounds fun. Maybe I have missed out not answering them:)
If we don't recognize the number we don't pick up the phone. Sometimes the spammers leave a voicemail, and sometimes they just hang up. Sometimes our phone even says "spam" next to the phone number. We shout SPAM!
ReplyDeleteRobin,
DeleteI know, I sometimes get the "suspected spam" warning in the ID. I'm guessing they need to change their approach. Everyone is on to them.
I answer all calls that come in because I don't recognize the numbers of all the doctor offices I go or those of my nieces and nephews and or fellow residents where I live. I know how to recognize scammers and hang up the phone and it's good exercise for my voice. As for email scams, I never, ever click on a link within an email. Like ApatchDug above, if I think I should check something out I'll go to my source to my account and not use the link in the email.
ReplyDeleteI did that too till I sprung for the extra $5 a month and got Caller ID. It lets me know who it is and if it is a scammer, it says "Unknown."
DeleteLinks are bad and I do like you and Doug.
No, I am never conned by scam calls or email. I get calls from grown men pretending to be my 12 year old grandson, and calls from people pretending to be technicians from Windows Support. Bah! I just hang up.
ReplyDeletegigi,
DeleteNever had the grandchild one but I hear they are out there. Bad creeps. Hadn't heard from Windows support in a long time. These people need to get a job.
Like you, I screen my calls so I actually talk to very few scammers. They almost never leave a message. Wow, 3.5 million! You could be rolling in the riches. ;) I'm getting more and more scam calls and texts on my cell phone, which I don't appreciate.
ReplyDeleteMargaret,
DeleteThat would have been fun but sigh, not to be. Now you make me realize that I am lucky not to have cell service here and only use a prepaid flip phone for emergencies. It never gets scam calls.
With a labour shortage for legit jobs, I suspect spammer/scammers are slowly changing careers. Havn't had any bogus messages for a very long time now. Not complaining, mind!
ReplyDeleteFlorence,
DeleteSo glad they are leaving you alone mostly. I haven't noticed a drop off but definitely not an increase. Let's hope they are getting real jobs.
In the last few weeks we have had a remarkable decrease in nuisance calls. I do believe one of our government agencies has caught some of the culprits.
ReplyDeleteLinda,
DeleteNow that would be wonderful. Love it when our tax dollars show up positively in our daily lives.
I got a very official looking email saying the results of my medical test were available. I had just had a medical test. However ... this one wasn't from the right laboratory, it was from someplace else. I almost clicked on it but didn't -- I probably would have died! -- and then, fortunately, got the proper test result by email the next day.
ReplyDeleteTom,
DeleteNow that is unfair hitting us with medical results. Have they no shame? So glad you waited. I can't help but wonder what the success rate is for scammers. Can't be good.
I got a new scam -- a private message on FB. It had a RIP for someone I knew so I clicked the link. Scam. Tara. 864000seconds blog
ReplyDeleteTara,
DeleteWelcome to TNS. Wow, I don't have a real FB account, only a fake one so I can check up on family members. I didn't know they would attack you there. What a disgusting way to scam you.
I don't get fooled. With emails supposedly from a friend blogger I hover the cursor over his/her name and the real sender shows right under it, usually an odd mix of letters and symbols and often Asian.
ReplyDeleteRiver,
DeleteThat does work. That was how I knew the email wasn't from my niece. When I hovered over their address, I knew my niece wasn't in Tokyo.
They are getting smarter. I had a voicemail saying they red flagged a purchase on my credit card and to please call to verify whether purchase was accurate. It temporarily stressed me out especially since I was away from my computer. I kept calm though. I went home and verified my credit card had no illegal purchases. I then googled the phone number and verified it was a scammer.
ReplyDeleteAnon,
DeleteSmart move. I get supposed emails from Ebay or Amazon saying I had just bought an expensive camera or whatever and I was to call a number if I wanted to dispute it. They won't get me on that one.
Lots of these scam calls or texts sound familiar. We don't go for any of them. Actually we may miss real possibilities by avoiding all of them, but we do. Figure it's safer. I have called my bank when receiving a strange message from them once, but never click on or use the number given by the text. They didn't send it. But our phone does say "Scam Alert!" a lot...
ReplyDeleteRian,
DeleteDon't you love it when the phone spots the phonies and lets you know? Me too on not clicking. Pretty sure we aren't missing anything. Anything legit would probably send snail mail with official stationary--or I hope so.
Our main landline number is used mostly as a back-up to our smart phones and the occasional long distance call. Since I'm happily retired, I have lots of fun with the scammers that call, and I'm getting well known enough that the callers hang up on me the second they hear my voice.
ReplyDeleteG.B. Miller,
DeleteAh ha, I see I have been looking at this all wrong. I should be having fun with them like you or at least having a cathartic scream like Eileen. Love that they recognize your voice:)
As they say, if it sounds too good to be true it usually is
ReplyDeleteFun60,
DeleteAmen. That applies to phone, emails or even door knockers.
No, I haven't been tempted with scam calls, though I think I've had every one coming down the pike. Periodically I had the ones from prison where they say, "Hi Grandma"; goofed and said "Grandpa" once but I never respond, just hangup. With my old land line portable phone setup I deliberately chose to answer calls at times. Once a number I was annoyed with that kept calling I answered in one of my few probably poor French phrases saying that I didn't speak English. The guy laughed and said he had lived in France, but I didn't speak to him and just hung up -- never answered that call again. There were all the calls about my computer or shutting me down -- so much more -- winnings and freebies, you name it. I got familiar with them all. A few times I took the call but didn't say "Hello" or speak at all. Another time I didn't disconnect for a long time hoping to tie up their line. I don't want to waste my time playing games with them now, plus it could be risky with some of the real serious scammer crooks who having my number to call me could become really nasty with many disrupting calls if I made them angry I've considered. With my new portable phones I get up to about ten calls a day, but the phone reads it aloud and it shows on the phone I have by my chair. If I don't recognize the number, or sometimes the caller's name appears who I don't know, I don't answer. I figure if it's important they'll leave a message and I can call them back. The numbers are all saved even if they don't leave a message so at my leisure I can put each number into my computer search if I'm curious. Almost everyone turns out to be identified by Google as a robocall or others are phishing calls. Very few leave a message which I easily erase without even listening. They're coming from area codes all over the country and some from specific local area communities but with ever-changing numbers easily spotted now without even bothering to Google them.
ReplyDeleteJoared,
DeleteGoodness you really have had your share. I do like you and if there is no name on my caller ID I just let it go to message. I never answer. One neat thing, if I am watching TV, the ID or lack of one shows up on my screen. Don't even have to get up.
I too have Googled the numbers. Never a legit one.
Dear Patti, not a call, but several e-mails over the years that tell me I owe money--sometimes as much as $3,000 for something I've ordered.
ReplyDeleteThe first time one came--maybe three years ago--I racked my brain to figure out exactly what the thing was the e-mail was saying I'd ordered and if I had. Truly, I thought I must be "losing my marbles."
Fortunately, my savvy niece stopped by and explained the scam to me. Now I just trash these things. Got one yesterday. Peace from Dee Ready
Dee,
DeleteAww I get those too, usually saying I have bought something expensive. I do like you and just trash them. They are persistent aren't they.
I did get awoken one morning at 5:00 and told that it was a Apple technician and wanted me to check my computer because they'd discovered my machine was infected with some virus. They wanted me to go to my computer and type in some letters or words or whatever. I actually started walking to my computer before I realized I don't have an Apple computer. I asked the guy if his mother knew what he was doing. And he hung up on me. The nerve of him! So rude!
ReplyDeleteKay,
DeleteI have had the same guy or at least his clone. I asked him if he wasn't ashamed of himself and that he ought to get an actual job. He hung up too.