Scams

[CaptainCrunch]

I don't know if we've had this thread before as just a thread, but I think its a good idea so that we can share information, and even be able to alert for example our elderly relatives or parents so they don't get suckered.


1) There's a new one where you get a phone call from the scammer telling you that the Internet security package that they installed last year has alerted them that their computer is infected and they are calling to help them. If they are given access, they will first of all bill the scammed on their credit card, but they will plant malware on their computer for an eventual lockup. My parents got a call from the scammers and were confused because I actually installed AVG ultimate on their machine last year, luckily they called me.


2) A new scam that a friend of mine got hit on. They got a nasty piece of email blackmail, that said that their computer had been hacked and it actually contained a password of theirs. The basis of the scam is that the hacker had activated their webcam and caught them doing something embarrassing and if they didn't pay several thousands of dollars that the hacker would send the video to everyone on their contact list. the reason why its frightening to some is because of the email has that password in it, all that means that in the past one of your passwords has been sold and the only action is to ignore the email and change your passwords


http://www.cjme.com/2018/07/17/scamm...es-in-weyburn/

[Locke]

The CRA scams drive me crazy. I understand how that would really freak people out and get them to pay to make the Government go away but what really drives me up the wall is that these have been going on for years now.

Who is doing anything about it? Its insane.

One would think that a Government agency being misrepresented would be a significant concern but nope. Keep on scammin'!

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Locke

The CRA scams drive me crazy. I understand how that would really freak people out and get them to pay to make the Government go away but what really drives me up the wall is that these have been going on for years now.

Who is doing anything about it? Its insane.

One would think that a Government agency being misrepresented would be a significant concern but nope. Keep on scammin'!

If it’s oversees based how do you stop it?

I think one good thing the CRA does when contacting you by email is basically say you have a message waiting in your online account and NOT provide a link. So I think they do what they can to try to avoid scams.

[CaptainCrunch]

Oh my dad did get bit on a weird one where he received an email from a streaming service telling him that he over paid on his last bill. It gave a link to a website and the old man went in and it looked official to him so he gave his credit card info because he's old and gets confused sometimes and he did receive a $1.00 refund. When he asked me what streaming services I used and I asked him why he was asking that, he gave me the name of his streaming service that I'd never heard of before, I made him cancel his credit card and change all of his passwords etc. But the whole we owe you a refund scam seems to get a lot of older people.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Locke

The CRA scams drive me crazy. I understand how that would really freak people out and get them to pay to make the Government go away but what really drives me up the wall is that these have been going on for years now.

Who is doing anything about it? Its insane.

One would think that a Government agency being misrepresented would be a significant concern but nope. Keep on scammin'!

I did hear that the scam has changed and in some cases there's a local accomplish that actually facilitates the scam and shows up to collect payment in the form of things like gift cards.



Which is a frightening concept.


I agree with what your saying, but I think its hard to impossible to do much about these kind of scams since they're usually all the way around the world.


One thing that I do like is on my phone after the last major update, when I get the call, the phone will tell me that its a possible scam call.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I did hear that the scam has changed and in some cases there's a local accomplish that actually facilitates the scam and shows up to collect payment in the form of things like gift cards.


Which is a frightening concept.

I agree with what your saying, but I think its hard to impossible to do much about these kind of scams since they're usually all the way around the world.

One thing that I do like is on my phone after the last major update, when I get the call, the phone will tell me that its a possible scam call.

This is my point, one of these idiots actually shows up to your door to collect! Why are the Police or RCMP not there to throw these morons in jail?

Its the dumbest, most obvious scam I can think of but its been going on for years.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Locke

This is my point, one of these idiots actually shows up to your door to collect! Why are the Police or RCMP not there to throw these morons in jail?

Its the dumbest, most obvious scam I can think of but its been going on for years.

People are gullible, and there's a reason why these scammers make so many phone calls,. Because frankly if you ignore it they keep going. If you respond there's a 50% chance that you're going to give money, if they get the person they're calling asking questions, or who isn't aware of what's going on, it probably jumps to a 75% chance of success.



The biggest problem was for years, the CRA went around bullying people and scaring the crap out of them, so of course to someone that's maybe older or not that smart, they're going to believe the threats. When they say they're sending an RCMP office to your door to collect, these people aren't going to phone the thcops. They are expecting to see a cop.

[Inferno]

I get the CRA and the Chinese Embassy scam calls alot. The Chinese Embassy one was easy to ignore since I don't know Chinese anyway.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...scam-1.4234983

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Inferno

I get the CRA and the Chinese Embassy scam calls alot. The Chinese Embassy one was easy to ignore since I don't know Chinese anyway.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...scam-1.4234983

I got the CRA scam on my company line.

"You owe $4500, if you dont pay immediately the RCMP will be dispatched to execute a warrant for your arrest."

Really? Cool. Send 'em over. I'll make coffee.

[Looch City]

The CRA scam calls I've received, it's been pretty damn obvious from the first couple words that it's a robot recording.

This. Is. Officer. TOM. From the. C.RA. Our records show you have...$4000. Owing.

Have you guys talked to actual scammers or just robo?

[psicodude]

I've received a call from the "Credit card security department" about 3 times in the last week or two.

I can't even count how many calls from the furnace and duct cleaning places I've gotten lately. I love how the caller doesn't know any English beyond the script and you can hear about 50 other people in the background saying the exact same thing. Inspires confidence!

[Luder]

The Windows/Microsoft one is my favorite, I told them I didn't own a PC because I had 8 Ipads or something ridiculous like that. He audibly gasped " 8 Ipads????" then started into the benefits of owning a PC.

I got the CRA one at work, the message went on about "how I'll rue the day I ignored this message" and how Officer Whatever was "looking forward to a battle in court"

Yes, the CRA will threaten you in a voicemail, seemed pretty convincing lol

[aaronck]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I don't know if we've had this thread before as just a thread, but I think its a good idea so that we can share information, and even be able to alert for example our elderly relatives or parents so they don't get suckered.


1) There's a new one where you get a phone call from the scammer telling you that the Internet security package that they installed last year has alerted them that their computer is infected and they are calling to help them. If they are given access, they will first of all bill the scammed on their credit card, but they will plant malware on their computer for an eventual lockup. My parents got a call from the scammers and were confused because I actually installed AVG ultimate on their machine last year, luckily they called me.


2) A new scam that a friend of mine got hit on. They got a nasty piece of email blackmail, that said that their computer had been hacked and it actually contained a password of theirs. The basis of the scam is that the hacker had activated their webcam and caught them doing something embarrassing and if they didn't pay several thousands of dollars that the hacker would send the video to everyone on their contact list. the reason why its frightening to some is because of the email has that password in it, all that means that in the past one of your passwords has been sold and the only action is to ignore the email and change your passwords


http://www.cjme.com/2018/07/17/scamm...es-in-weyburn/

I know people burned by both # 1 and 2 recently. In the case of #1 my friends dad is out about $500. Case 2 he changed all his passwords and no further has come of it. I work at AHS and a new one just hit the news-
https://www.thestar.com/edmonton/201...employees.html

It's ballsy but they went into the HR profiles of employees, changed the direct deposit info and attempted to steal paycheques! Talking to a friend in that department, it was probably bad password management that was to blame.

Always rotate and use new and unique passwords people!

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Luder

The Windows/Microsoft one is my favorite, I told them I didn't own a PC because I had 8 Ipads or something ridiculous like that. He audibly gasped " 8 Ipads????" then started into the benefits of owning a PC.

I was over at my aunt's when she received this phonecall. After talking for a minute or so she gave it to me, she was pretty confused about it. Mostly because she doesn't have a computer ha.

[burn_this_city]

I keep getting one where an automated voice says I need to call them back at division headquarters or there will be a warrant for my arrest. They never identify themselves or say my name. Came from a 403 and a 587 number.

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I did hear that the scam has changed and in some cases there's a local accomplish that actually facilitates the scam and shows up to collect payment in the form of things like gift cards.



Which is a frightening concept.


I agree with what your saying, but I think its hard to impossible to do much about these kind of scams since they're usually all the way around the world.


One thing that I do like is on my phone after the last major update, when I get the call, the phone will tell me that its a possible scam call.

Every single instance I know of and/or am familiar with of the bolded has turned out to be false, and the scammed person has admitted that they exaggerated or didn't have someone that they met, but said that they did.

[CaptainCrunch]

Have you done a reverse directory of the number?


Usually scams come from other area codes 263 being a major one.


Its probably a scam, but its unique to see local area codes.

[Timbo]

It’s threads like these that seriously have an adverse effect on my earning revenue.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Yeah it was pretty prominent story last month about the woman being approached by two 'officers.' It was less so when she said she exaggerated the claim and was not approached:
https://globalnews.ca/news/4291673/v...ammers-police/

[Otto-matic]

Last time I told the CRA scammers I had my lawyer on the line and they promptly told me to **** off and hung up in a rage.