OT: Phone Scams

[Atrocities]

Please Get The Word Out.

Phone Scam (Saturday 1/15/05)

I just got a phone call from some guy with a heavy Indian accent telling me that I have won $5,000 US grant. LOL I get a call from someone on a Saturday night at 9pm telling me that I have won $5,000 and all they need is my bank account number to deposited the money. I laughed so hard I hope I broke his eardrum. I then said to him: "Ok lets assume that I am so stupid that I would fall for this, and give you may bank account info right, on a Saturday night. By the time I check my account on the next business day, which is Monday, it will be empty right?" (Or something to that effect)
“Oh no sir, we are on the up and up.”
I hung up.

The man then called me right back. The number on the caller ID was 999-999-9999 Anonymous. I told him that there are plenty of stupid Americans out there, not to bother me. "Oh but sir this is on the up and up." He then told me my address to prove to me that he was telling me the truth.
“Ok, so you have a copy of the white pages on CD Rom from my area. Big deal.”
”Oh no sir, I am calling you from Washington DC to tell you that you have won a grant for $5,000 dollars.”
"Then why are you calling me at 9pm on a Saturday night?"
"Oh this is the end of my work day."
"Am I suppose to believe you? Lets see, add 12 hours to my time and I will bet it’s about 9am where you’re at."
"Oh no sir, I am calling you Washington DC."
"With a 999-999-9999 number?"
"Oh yes sir. It is the number we have here."
"And here is would say India or near abouts?"
"OH no sir, I am calling you from Washington DC."
"So give me the address that you’re calling from."
-Shuffling- Followed by a bogus address.
"Ok, I just entered that address into map quest and it came up as bogus. Just like you and this call."
"Oh but sir we are on the up and up."
"Right"
"All I need to give you your money is your bank account."
"Well that’s not going to happen."
“Oh but ….” I hung up.

For the most part that is pretty much what was said.

These guys just keep going. They will tell you what you want to hear to get you to give them your information. Don’t be fooled, ask yourself some basic question such as, when did I enter this contest, why me, and above all else, why would they call me AFTER hours on a weekend and ask me for my bank information. If you do not, then you are truly naïve and will be taken advantage of.

Additionally, keep in mind that this guy even read me my address to prove to me that he was telling me the truth. That is information they can get now simply by ordering the latest Version of Qwest Dex White Pages on CD Rom. Don’t get taken.

If any one calls you and tell you that you have won a grant, hang up. Grants are not won; they are applied for and awarded. You do not win grants

Raymond

[Combat Wombat]

Atrocities you always have the best stories.

[Iansidious]

Laugh out loud! Another great story by AT. Thanks, I needed a good laugh.

[Suicide Junkie]

Devious Plan A:

1) Use a happy-excited tone of voice as soon as you realize what is going on.
2) Say "this phone isn't secure, let me call you back from my other phone"
3) If they give you a real number to phone, forward it to the authorities!

[TerranC]

Suicide Junkie said:
Devious Plan A:

1) Use a happy-excited tone of voice as soon as you realize what is going on.
2) Say "this phone isn't secure, let me call you back from my other phone"
3) If they give you a real number to phone, forward it to the authorities!

It wouldn't work; they'd trace the phone number to somewhere in Pakistan or Bangladesh.

[Atrocities]

Suicide Junkie said:
Devious Plan A:

1) Use a happy-excited tone of voice as soon as you realize what is going on.
2) Say "this phone isn't secure, let me call you back from my other phone"
3) If they give you a real number to phone, forward it to the authorities!

GD IT! That is a good idea. Hell I wish I would have read this one before I told this Last caller that he and his family are a bunch of pork eating rag heads with bad teeth and defective sex drives. (Politly put)

[Raging Deadstar]

Atrocities said:
GD IT! That is a good idea. Hell I wish I would have read this one before I told this Last caller that he and his family are a bunch of pork eating rag heads with bad teeth and defective sex drives. (Politly put)

No Need to Apologise or for politeness. When these idiots ring my house up I just quote "Firefly" or "Stargate" down the phone, one time When i had friends round we played the Rocky Horror Picture Show down the phone line, that was funny

"Sir, we are hear to tell you have just won £5,000 and...."
"This is a fertile land...We shall call it this Land"
"Uhmm...Excuse me Sir..."
"I'd Rather call it your grave..."
"But we're on the..."
"Ahh! Curse your Sudden but Inevitable Betrayal..."

There's nothing nicer than that Warm Fuzzy feeling of lighting up someone's day

[Atrocities]

Another guy JUST called me.. This one was speaking aribic before he realized I had answered the phone. WTF? Do they think we are that stupid? They are obviously calling over the internet. I wish i could return the F'ing favor and call them.

"GET OUT GET OUT NOW! THE US IS GOING TO BOMB YOUR HOUSE WITH A BOMB FROM A JET PLANE! GET OUT GET OUT NOW!"

[Renegade 13]

Heh, I only ever get the ones asking for "charity" money. I figure that if they have the cash on hand to call thousands of people, and employ people to call thousands of people, then they can't be too bad off financially, and don't need my cash.

[Gandalf Parker]

If any one calls you and tell you that you have won a grant, hang up. Grants are not won; they are applied for and awarded. You do not win grants

No no. Thats what makes these scams, or any telephone soliciting, profitable. The fact that they dont waste time on the wrong people.
Instead, have fun with it. See how long you can keep them talking to you before they realize that its a waste of time. Or at least tell them to hang on and lay the phone down. Or hand it to your kid. Something to waste their time. Dont just hangup or you will be helping them out.

Never trust emails, people at the door, or phone calls. All "phishing" or "social engineered hacking" have common basis. IF you are at all intrigued by the offer, such as it being a product you werent aware of which sounds interesting, then get the info and visit the site manually. Never click on links in emails, never enter contracts at your door, and never believe someone who calls YOU to be who they say they are.

Side note along the same line. Do you have a sign on the house or in the yard which says "alarm system by xxxxxx"? Trade with a neighbor. It serves the same purpose but protects you from phishing where they pretend to be your security company.