Scams and frauds (2 Viewers)

[fatness]

We live with them, we hate them, yet we accept them a part of everyday life. How about we start a list of them? No politics please.

Hello, I have cancer but have never been diagnosed with cancer, I've set up a gofundme page so please donate to me while I go to college, go golfing, work my part-time job and buy props to help me look like I have cancer.

Arrested, charged, and property seized. 19 years old.

 

[The Z Machine]

I can see how someone *would* donate to that charity.

 

[ThaPenguin]

Anytime a boomer disagrees with a price or process, it is a scam or false advertising. So think we can start with Nextdoor posts and go from there.

 

[belljr]

I did get a new one.

I got a PayPal request for funds for 799.

In the notes for the transaction it said there appears to be something wrong or suspect about this transaction, please call this 1888 number to confirm. But it's obviously not a paypal number

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

My wife needed to renew her passport. For some reason instead of going directly to the US Gov. site, she googled "passport renewal" on her phone and then clicked the first link. She filled out a form that was the standard gov form, but it also asked all of these other more detailed questions. Then she paid $$. Total scam and now they have her information. How does a 100% fraud site end up as the first google result or ad???

 

[Leroy Hoard]

How does a 100% fraud site end up as the first google result or ad???

Sounds like a scam within a scam.

 

[Gally]

this may the worst scam yet

Scam Asking about your pets names

 

[Rustoleum]

Bought a new car recently and the sheer volume of authentic looking mail telling me I haven’t “activated“ my warranty is staggering.

 

[Runkle]

I did get a new one.

I got a PayPal request for funds for 799.

In the notes for the transaction it said there appears to be something wrong or suspect about this transaction, please call this 1888 number to confirm. But it's obviously not a paypal number

Oh this is a new thing. I got two today.

It's a real email, from paypal. Turns out, paypal lets anyone send an invoice to any email address for any reason for any amount of money. So scammers just send out a million or so at a time, through paypal, to every email address in the world just hoping to catch someone not paying attention. Maybe it's someone who does so much ebaying they just assume it's legit? Doesn't matter, as long as the scammer can hook one sucker for $400-$1200 or whatever it's worth their time.

Doesn't have to be tied to a purchase, doesn't have to be someone you have a relationship with, paypal is just happy as a clam to let scammers use their service to hit people up for cash willy-nilly. They know it's happening, they just don't care. They've designed their system to allow for this, after all.

 

[fatness]

Bought a new car recently and the sheer volume of authentic looking mail telling me I haven’t “activated“ my warranty is staggering.

In time you'll get more of this stuff.

 

[Mister CIA]

My wife needed to renew her passport. For some reason instead of going directly to the US Gov. site, she googled "passport renewal" on her phone and then clicked the first link. She filled out a form that was the standard gov form, but it also asked all of these other more detailed questions. Then she paid $$. Total scam and now they have her information. How does a 100% fraud site end up as the first google result or ad???

I had a similar experience filing a change of address. Wasn't paying attention to the Google results and filled out a few forms, thinking I was only in for a token $1 charge to prove my identity, that turned out to be a $50 charge. Thankfully, Chase did me right and sent a text requiring an affirmative reply before they would process the transaction.

 

[fatness]

Chase did me right and sent a text requiring an affirmative reply before they would process the transaction.

Chase has been great for me over the years. They stopped a run of expenditures on one of my cards by some woman in Fort Lauderdale (I live in MD) who was renting expensive vehicles and then shipping them to a port to be exported to the UK. When I confirmed that the charges were bogus they gave me a new card and contacted the Fort Lauderdale police who contacted me, had me fill out a simple fraud report, and arrested and charged the woman.

Being that watchful and tight has meant Chase also stopped a couple minor international transactions I made, but that was a small inconvenience compared to saving me thousands.

 

[Godsbrother]

One of the worst are the dirt bags that call old people pretending to be their grandchild that is in trouble and in dire need of money or gift cards. These slime balls had my 90 year old mother in tears not once but three times. Fortunately she was smart enough to call me first before doing anything.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

My wife needed to renew her passport. For some reason instead of going directly to the US Gov. site, she googled "passport renewal" on her phone and then clicked the first link. She filled out a form that was the standard gov form, but it also asked all of these other more detailed questions. Then she paid $$. Total scam and now they have her information. How does a 100% fraud site end up as the first google result or ad???

I had a similar experience filing a change of address. Wasn't paying attention to the Google results and filled out a few forms, thinking I was only in for a token $1 charge to prove my identity, that turned out to be a $50 charge. Thankfully, Chase did me right and sent a text requiring an affirmative reply before they would process the transaction.

In 2021 someone filled out a change of address on me and had all of my mail going to Orlando. They tried to open credit cards, but I was able to block them. We had the address where my mail was going, and Orlando police didn't do anything.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

After refinancing we’ve been getting some pretty aggressive mortgage insurance letters. Basically they’re framing it like If I don’t contact them I’m going to lose out bigly.

I could certainly see people getting scammed. They look convincing and IIRC they only want roughly $190 so I bet a lot of people pay it.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Chase did me right and sent a text requiring an affirmative reply before they would process the transaction.

Chase has been great for me over the years. They stopped a run of expenditures on one of my cards by some woman in Fort Lauderdale (I live in MD) who was renting expensive vehicles and then shipping them to a port to be exported to the UK. When I confirmed that the charges were bogus they gave me a new card and contacted the Fort Lauderdale police who contacted me, had me fill out a simple fraud report, and arrested and charged the woman.

Being that watchful and tight has meant Chase also stopped a couple minor international transactions I made, but that was a small inconvenience compared to saving me thousands.

Jesus.

 

[Runkle]

My wife needed to renew her passport. For some reason instead of going directly to the US Gov. site, she googled "passport renewal" on her phone and then clicked the first link. She filled out a form that was the standard gov form, but it also asked all of these other more detailed questions. Then she paid $$. Total scam and now they have her information. How does a 100% fraud site end up as the first google result or ad???

I had a similar experience filing a change of address. Wasn't paying attention to the Google results and filled out a few forms, thinking I was only in for a token $1 charge to prove my identity, that turned out to be a $50 charge. Thankfully, Chase did me right and sent a text requiring an affirmative reply before they would process the transaction.

In 2021 someone filled out a change of address on me and had all of my mail going to Orlando. They tried to open credit cards, but I was able to block them. We had the address where my mail was going, and Orlando police didn't do anything.

Ugh seriously how are the police this useless

 

[MTskibum]

My wife needed to renew her passport. For some reason instead of going directly to the US Gov. site, she googled "passport renewal" on her phone and then clicked the first link. She filled out a form that was the standard gov form, but it also asked all of these other more detailed questions. Then she paid $$. Total scam and now they have her information. How does a 100% fraud site end up as the first google result or ad???

It is not just you, security sites are starting to spread the warning about this. Call up the credit agencies and lock down your credit.

Until further notice, think twice before using Google to download software

Over the past month, Google has been outgunned by malvertisers with new tricks.

arstechnica.com

The surge is coming from numerous malware families, including AuroraStealer, IcedID, Meta Stealer, RedLine Stealer, Vidar, Formbook, and XLoader. In the past, these families typically relied on phishing and malicious spam that attached Microsoft Word documents with booby-trapped macros. Over the past month, Google Ads has become the go-to place for criminals to spread their malicious wares that are disguised as legitimate downloads by impersonating brands such as Adobe Reader, Gimp, Microsoft Teams, OBS, Slack, Tor, and Thunderbird.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Facebook, instagram and others are ripe with fake ads/scams being openly promoted. At what point should these online companies be held responsible for taking ad money from so many scammers?

ETA - I just looked and there are tons of class action lawsuits for this very thing.

 

[fatness]

Here's a good one. Using stolen identity information, a Chinese organized crime group was able to dupe the Texas Department of Public Safety into issuing 3,000 replacement drivers licenses. The crime group then sold the licenses to Asian Texans. The replacement licenses cost $11 each. No word on how much they were charging for them.

There was no hacking, just use of stolen identity information already available and easily getting through the one-step "password only" security of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

other articles on it:
https://www.ksstradio.com/2023/02/department-of-public-safety-license-fraud/
https://www.gcn.com/cybersecurity/2...ed-crime-group-targeting-asian-texans/383426/
https://www.click2houston.com/news/...-organized-crime-group-targeting-asian-texans

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

NINE TIMES!!!!

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Never click on anything that says ad next to it on the googles. Always scroll down to actual website you’ve searched for.

 

[Mookie]

It's not necessarily a scam, but the "Get Cash Now" schemes are really scummy. I get that there are some out there that are desperate, but holy schnikies are these a bad deal for the consumer.

"Do you want to sell your land? we will pay you CASH for it - albeit 30% of its full value,"
"Have you been named as a beneficiary in a will? We will pay you CASH for it - albeit 30% of its full value."
"Do you have a life insurance policy?...."
"Do you own your home?...."
"Do you have a structured settlement?...."
"Do you have an annuity?...."

 

[nirad3]

We all remember the Russian scammers that were using the "download this app and see what you'll look like in 20 years" to get everyone's face into a database....

Now I'm leery about the apps that supposedly can take your pulse/BP by putting your finger on your phone's camera. Is this just grabbing your fingerprints for some malicious reason?

 

[Ridgeback]

Never click on anything that says ad next to it on the googles. Always scroll down to actual website you’ve searched for.

Not a fan of Adwords?

 

[arrow1]

It's not necessarily a scam, but the "Get Cash Now" schemes are really scummy. I get that there are some out there that are desperate, but holy schnikies are these a bad deal for the consumer.

"Do you want to sell your land? we will pay you CASH for it - albeit 30% of its full value,"
"Have you been named as a beneficiary in a will? We will pay you CASH for it - albeit 30% of its full value."
"Do you have a life insurance policy?...."
"Do you own your home?...."
"Do you have a structured settlement?...."
"Do you have an annuity?...."

"It's my money, and I need it now!"

 

[FatMax]

Now I'm leery about the apps that supposedly can take your pulse/BP by putting your finger on your phone's camera. Is this just grabbing your fingerprints for some malicious reason?

How the hell is a phone camera supposed to measure blood pressure? That would be my first red flag

 

[Goodell's Alias]

One of the worst are the dirt bags that call old people pretending to be their grandchild that is in trouble and in dire need of money or gift cards. These slime balls had my 90 year old mother in tears not once but three times. Fortunately she was smart enough to call me first before doing anything.

This happened to my mother several years ago. She figured it out before giving any money, but it made her very nervous for a moment or two. She had a stroke approximately one hour later (she's fine now). We'll never know for certain whether that call contributed to or caused the stroke, but it still makes my blood boil.

 

[ChainsawU]

Somebody probably already mentioned Ponzi scheme when you hire a clown and he don't show up.

 

[fatness]

One of the worst are the dirt bags that call old people pretending to be their grandchild that is in trouble and in dire need of money or gift cards. These slime balls had my 90 year old mother in tears not once but three times. Fortunately she was smart enough to call me first before doing anything.

This happened to my mother several years ago. She figured it out before giving any money, but it made her very nervous for a moment or two. She had a stroke approximately one hour later (she's fine now). We'll never know for certain whether that call contributed to or caused the stroke, but it still makes my blood boil.

I (distantly) know 2 people who fell for this.

 

[fatness]

And while I'm at it, when a husband or wife dies, the lawyers and collection agencies who prey on mostly elderly people to pay their lost spouse's debts should be used as cannon fodder for Russia in Ukraine, the way they use their own citizens.

What the bloodsuckers do is prey on the good memories the living person has of their dead spouse like this: "We're so sorry you've lost Hubert who was such a wonderful and ethical person, who never would have wanted his debts to go unpaid." And then they gently lead into what money they claim they're owed, and ask the wife "in the memory of your beloved spouse" to pay the debt "to honor his wishes as to how to be remembered", when in fact the living person has no legal obligation whatsoever to pay a bill incurred individually by their spouse.

After my dad died in 2008, those phone calls and letters tore the hell out of my mom for 18 months or so, she felt guilty, and just didn't have enough life experience to know they were trying to take advantage of her. And my job was to remind her "mom, remember, dad made those debts his alone so you didn't have to pay them. That was his wish." Fortunately she finally involved me in her finances and then finally let me take them over despite the objections of my POS sisters. I hate the sons of bitches trying to take advantage of her like that.

 

[culdeus]

All these people want to buy my house I sold eight years ago.

 

[Godsbrother]

One of the worst are the dirt bags that call old people pretending to be their grandchild that is in trouble and in dire need of money or gift cards. These slime balls had my 90 year old mother in tears not once but three times. Fortunately she was smart enough to call me first before doing anything.

This happened to my mother several years ago. She figured it out before giving any money, but it made her very nervous for a moment or two. She had a stroke approximately one hour later (she's fine now). We'll never know for certain whether that call contributed to or caused the stroke, but it still makes my blood boil.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I can see how someone *would* donate to that charity.

Underappreciated post here.

 

[nirad3]

Nigerians are rampant on Snapchat right now. Yeah, yeah... I know... Snapchat. But I'm single and bored a lot and it CAN provide entertainment, but right now it's about 80-90% Nigerian dudes posing as women. They're after anything they can get... your phone number or email (to sell to spammers) or even just your photo (to use for God-knows-what). They're also posing as women to sell "adult content" which they just got from another source.

They're pretty easy to pin down as their English is poor and they have the same opening lines.

I know I should just delete the app and save myself the trouble.

 

[nirad3]

But I'm single

Wth?

Sorry gb

No worries pal, I'll DM you.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Apparently someone tried to open a Bank of America account in my name using my social security number.

 

[Sand]

I get a lot of texts from random numbers. Most are "hi". Yeah, the start of a romance scam. I also get some "hey, sorry I missed you for dinner" and other odd messages. I'm sure it's the same folks trying to start up a romance scam. It's amazing how many 36-24-36 stunners are just looking to connect with you!

 

[The Z Machine]

Apparently someone tried to open a Bank of America account in my name using my social security number.

Did you let the open it up then cash it out?

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Apparently someone tried to open a Bank of America account in my name using my social security number.

Did you let the open it up then cash it out?

I got a letter from BoA that said they were closing the account due to an inability to verify identity. Then I got a second letter that showed a $0 balance on the account. My credit is frozen on all 3 agencies, so I guess it prevented them from doing anything. Not sure what the goal was in opening a savings account, rather than a CC.

 

[Keerock]

I get a lot of texts from random numbers. Most are "hi". Yeah, the start of a romance scam. I also get some "hey, sorry I missed you for dinner" and other odd messages. I'm sure it's the same folks trying to start up a romance scam. It's amazing how many 36-34-36 stunners are just looking to connect with you!

My response to this is always...

Thanks for reaching out... I've been trying to get ahold of you to talk about your vehicle's extended warranty!

I actually have this set up as a shortcut on my phone

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Las Vegas Locally
@LasVegasLocally
A man posing as the owner of a Fremont Street casino convinced a casino cage supervisor to give him more than $1 million in cash for "emergency payments" to the fire department earlier this month.