Scams

[jeffporfirio]

Not really a scam, but I get about 10 calls a day from Somalia, of all places, it just rings once and then they hang up.
I've blocked about 50 or so numbers, but they keep calling.
Don't know what it is, but I'm guessing someone found a bank error in my favor at the First National Pirate Bank.

[Weitz]

Don't answer your phone if you don't recognize the number and the chances of you getting scammed are very low.

[CaptainCrunch]

I did get the CRA scammer call, I told her to stop right in the middle of her script and asked her to tell me what my place of employment is.


She couldn't ask me so I decided to do the Star Wars


"I'm an officer with the CRA, so I need to know your actual name and operating number"


She hung up.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by jeffporfirio

Not really a scam, but I get about 10 calls a day from Somalia, of all places, it just rings once and then they hang up.
I've blocked about 50 or so numbers, but they keep calling.
Don't know what it is, but I'm guessing someone found a bank error in my favor at the First National Pirate Bank.

You have to commend those Pirates on their diligent bookkeeping and unfathomable honestly.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by jeffporfirio

Not really a scam, but I get about 10 calls a day from Somalia, of all places, it just rings once and then they hang up.
I've blocked about 50 or so numbers, but they keep calling.
Don't know what it is, but I'm guessing someone found a bank error in my favor at the First National Pirate Bank.

That's called a one ring scam


https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/don-t-...nada-1.3801297

“When they do call back, it puts them through to a pay-per-call type of scenario where there’s a cost involved to initially be connected, as well as a cost-per-minute once you’re on that call,” she told CTV Winnipeg last week.
Henry said callers are often greeted by waiting music or a pre-recorded message.


“The longer they are on the call obviously the more expensive the call could end up being, sometimes $400 a minute,” she said.


Debbie Leah said she received a “one ring” call last Monday. It was almost midnight when her phone rang. She didn’t recognize the number and the caller did not leave a message. An internet search indicated the number was from the West African republic of Mauritania

[AltaGuy]

So many scammers are based in Montreal... something about this place.

I still remember getting scammed as the manager of a coffeeshop back in 2002. They called, and asked if I had permission to approve invoices. I did. They then asked my name, which I gave. They then asked if I'd like to renew our subscription to some kind of online directory, to which I said no, and I'd like to see the details first.

That was the end of the call. But we got an invoice for like $500 with my name on it. The owner freaked out when he received the invoice, and called them. They played a recording of my voice to him saying "yes" to the question about renewing the subscription and so the owner paid the ****ing invoice with his CC.

He still believes to this day that I ordered this stupid subscription, when I know for a fact that I did not and that he was scammed (as was I). I think I said yes when they asked me to confirm the address and they just played around with the recording. He wanted me to pay him back the $500 and I said no, and promptly quit.

Most small businesses get these calls on the regular, as well as tons of fake invoices sent out to them. Many pay!

[MoneyGuy]

My wife got something by email a couple of weeks ago that she asked me about as she does with these. It was clearly a scam so I had her delete it.

This one showed her actual password for a site. I’ve never heard of that before so I had her change the password immediately. Anyone heard of this? I just searched her deleted emails but I don’t know the key words to use so I can’t find it.

[jeffporfirio]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

That's called a one ring scam


https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/don-t-...nada-1.3801297

Why would you call someone in Somalia back?

[Oling_Roachinen]

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/201...fall-for-scams

Coincidentally an article on BBC today about scams.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

This one showed her actual password for a site. I’ve never heard of that before so I had her change the password immediately. Anyone heard of this? I just searched her deleted emails but I don’t know the key words to use so I can’t find it.

CaptainCrunch talked about a variant of this in the OP.

[troutman]

'They're threatening me with porn': Scam using old LinkedIn data alarms Canadians


https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...firm-1.4759534

[Oling_Roachinen]

That's actually the premise of a Black Mirror episode, wonder which came first.

[WhiteTiger]

Since this is a topic about scams, which come in dozens of different forms, and we're talking about them to help educate people, I'll take a minute to discuss the the steps you can take, if you feel moved to 'do something' beyond just hanging up or ignoring them.

Who you report it to depends on what has happened and depends on the answer to this question: Are you a victim?

Has the scam been successful? Have you sent them money (not personal information, but are you actually out of pocket money?) This includes being out of pocket money because you bought some kind of gift card or bitcoin. Have you spent/lost money? If yes, then contact your local police dept. Don't be ashamed. These people are GOOD at what they do. There is a reason that some folks can make a living by doing this. Don't, however, exaggerate or lie to the local PD to get a different response.

You didn't send them money, but did give them some personal information? You don't need to contact your local PD, but there is some legwork you need to do now. You need to contact the places that information may be used and let them know to keep an eye out for fraud. This will generally mean you will want to contact your bank. You will also want to contact one of the "Big Three" credit reporting agencies. They are Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. I'm told that you only need to contact one, and that one is supposed to talk to the other two. However, this is your credit rating that may be at risk, so I might 'make sure' that all three know by contacting all three. Then keep an eye on your bank account and/or credit card expenditures for oddities.

You figured out it was a scam, didn't fall for it, didn't give anyone any info, but "Just want to let us know". Your local PD doesn't need to know. They're well aware that there are scams out there. Most local PD's can't prosecute outside of their border limits, so telling them all about the very non-local phone number that called you doesn't do much. If you want to report a scam or give a phone number that called you or anything like that, you want to do it via this website: http://www.antifraudcentre-centreant.../index-eng.htm This is the Canadian Anti-Fraud Website. It's run by the RCMP, who CAN prosecute inside and outside of Canada. They have a "Report a Scam" link right on the front page, and right near the top. If you don't have access to the internet, you can phone 1-888-495-8501. That is how scams are effectively reported for as much investigation as is possible.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by troutman

'They're threatening me with porn': Scam using old LinkedIn data alarms Canadians


https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...firm-1.4759534

Its funny, this is the one talking about. And the ring of truth is the old password. Your computer can be super secure, but when you sign up for anything there's a password out there that chances are can get stolen.


I wonder about that scam now that my friend got freaked out about it.



1) What the hell are you doing in front of your computer, because clearly you wouldn't worry about a blackmail email if you were sitting in front of your computer playing War Craft.


Now if you make it a habit to sit in front of a computer naked with a tie tied around your neck and tied to the ceiling fan, you might want to consider putting a stick of tape over your webcam, especially if your doing that while playing warcraft.


2) Is a threat to expose you watching porn even something that should freak you out? I mean porn is pretty much main stream entertainment, unless it involves Furry's and in that case you should be fired out of society via cannon.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by WhiteTiger

Since this is a topic about scams, which come in dozens of different forms, and we're talking about them to help educate people, I'll take a minute to discuss the the steps you can take, if you feel moved to 'do something' beyond just hanging up or ignoring them.

Who you report it to depends on what has happened and depends on the answer to this question: Are you a victim?

Has the scam been successful? Have you sent them money (not personal information, but are you actually out of pocket money?) If yes, then contact your local police dept. Don't be ashamed. These people are GOOD at what they do. There is a reason that some folks can make a living by doing this. Don't, however, exaggerate or lie to the local PD to get a different response.

You didn't send them money, but did give them some personal information? You don't need to contact your local PD, but there is some legwork you need to do now. You need to contact the places that information may be used and let them know to keep an eye out for fraud. This will generally mean you will want to contact your bank. You will also want to contact one of the "Big Three" credit reporting agencies. They are Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. I'm told that you only need to contact one, and that one is supposed to talk to the other two. However, this is your credit rating that may be at risk, so I might 'make sure' that all three know by contacting all three. Then keep an eye on your bank account and/or credit card expenditures for oddities.

You figured out it was a scam, didn't fall for it, didn't give anyone any info, but "Just want to let us know". Your local PD doesn't need to know. They're well aware that there are scams out there. Most local PD's can't prosecute outside of their border limits, so telling them all about the very non-local phone number that called you doesn't do much. If you want to report a scam or give a phone number that called you or anything like that, you want to do it via this website: http://www.antifraudcentre-centreant.../index-eng.htm This is the Canadian Anti-Fraud Website. It's run by the RCMP, who CAN prosecute inside and outside of Canada. They have a "Report a Scam" link right on the front page, and right near the top. If you don't have access to the internet, you can phone 1-888-495-8501. That is how scams are effectively reported for as much investigation as is possible.

Obviously part of my idea for this thread was that scam stories are fascinating. But a bigger part is what kind of good can something like CalgaryPuck do? It can protect people or their loved one. My friends and family members are getting a lot of approaches in terms of scams, and for the most part I've told my parents to call me first, and as GI Joe said, knowing is half the battle.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by AltaGuy

So many scammers are based in Montreal... something about this place.

I still remember getting scammed as the manager of a coffeeshop back in 2002. They called, and asked if I had permission to approve invoices. I did. They then asked my name, which I gave. They then asked if I'd like to renew our subscription to some kind of online directory, to which I said no, and I'd like to see the details first.

That was the end of the call. But we got an invoice for like $500 with my name on it. The owner freaked out when he received the invoice, and called them. They played a recording of my voice to him saying "yes" to the question about renewing the subscription and so the owner paid the ****ing invoice with his CC.

He still believes to this day that I ordered this stupid subscription, when I know for a fact that I did not and that he was scammed (as was I). I think I said yes when they asked me to confirm the address and they just played around with the recording. He wanted me to pay him back the $500 and I said no, and promptly quit.

Most small businesses get these calls on the regular, as well as tons of fake invoices sent out to them. Many pay!

I would assume its because Montreal probably leads the way in terms of organized crime.


I've worked for more then one company that when it comes to doing business with firms in Quebec on the first order nothing ship unless its paid for, and if and I'm sure a lot of you remember these things called checks, it its a check it has to clear the bank plus x weeks, even a certified check.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by Luder

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

It is my understanding that the CRA will never call u as there is no record of anything

I always love how those calls are from officer joe - however, officer joe has a thick accent, as does everyone talking in the background

The only way these guys will ever stop calling is when it is no longer profitable.

When I can I like to have fun with these fellows by making up information as I go along

[CaptainCrunch]

The biggest key to these scams is the phishing portion. If you send out a 1000 emails blackmailing someone for lets saw $1000.00 and you get $10,000 for very little cost. Then you run 10 of these campaigns in a year and suddenly its $100,000 or more per year for no work. And a lot of these scams are run from companies with crap currency so that $100,000 will buy 10X that amount.

[jeffporfirio]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

It is my understanding that the CRA will never call u as there is no record of anything

I always love how those calls are from officer joe - however, officer joe has a thick accent, as does everyone talking in the background

The only way these guys will ever stop calling is when it is no longer profitable.

When I can I like to have fun with these fellows by making up information as I go along

The website http://www.419eater.com/ is dedicated to stories of guys messing with Nigerian scammers. There are tons of pretty hilarious reads. There is one in particular, which I can't find, but some Nigerian scammer gets "scammed' into purchasing a bunch of "anus" laptops, and the guy on the other end sends him a broken washing machine, to Nigeria, to which the Nigerian scammer has to pay shipping for.

[CaptainCrunch]

There was one where the scammer ended up with a tattoo on his face.