# Fucking scammer motherfuckers **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 28, 2022, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240 "2022-12-28T21:57:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 23
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/441 "2024-05-31T19:27:36Z")
Yeah - anywho used to work, as did simply googling it. I think Anywho used to be owned by AT&T but clearly is not, any more. When I tried it just now, I got a bunch of unrelated names, showing on a bunch of scammy-looking URLs. I didn’t follow any of the links. Most were from Djibouti, some were from Lesotho, and one was from Antigua and Barbuda, judging by the top-level domain. For fun, I plugged my own cell phone number into one search site (whitepages dot com, I think). It’s got me pegged as 10 years younger than I am, and apparently I’ve racked up a few criminal or traffic violations. I declined to pay to find out just who I was or what I’d been up to. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/442 "2024-05-31T19:44:34Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > For fun, I plugged my own cell phone number into one search site (whitepages dot com, I think). It’s got me pegged as 10 years younger than I am, and apparently I’ve racked up a few criminal or traffic violations. So you identity thefted _yourself_??? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/443 "2024-05-31T19:46:27Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > So you identity thefted _yourself_??? Yep - and I’m gonna DRAIN those bank accounts. Over a period of decades. I’ll never notice the missing money. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/444 "2024-05-31T19:54:38Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > > [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > > > I googled the number and got nothing useful. > > Is there any decent, _free_ place left to do a reverse phone # lookup? I don’t care about the owners criminal convictions & I’m not willing to pay 99¢ to look up 5 phone #s in the next 24 hrs because I only have one that I want to look up, I just had some curiosity to know who called me, but not that much. > **[I USE SPY DIALER TO LOOKUP PHONE NUMBERS!](https://www.spydialer.com/)** > > Spy Dialer is the sneaky but legal way to find out who unknown phone numbers go to. Search for free! https://spydialer.com ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/445 "2024-06-01T00:51:42Z")
The problem is when you confuse Spy Dialer with Dye Spiraler (the tie-dye product). ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/446 "2024-06-02T02:09:49Z")
I am a victim of a check washing scam. I had a check go missing written on 5/10 for about $200. I paid online but I always check all my accounts weekly and I was keeping an eye out for this check. Anyway, it was cashed for $3910. I pay extra to get check images so I checked it and it’s clearly not my handwriting. They left the signature and the memo line but rewrote everything else including rewriting the same date. Already spoke to the bank and will be reporting to police and postal inspector. Still makes me mad. I only deposit checks in the mailboxes right outside the post office and try to do it right before they pick up. Short of going into the post office and handing it directly to a clerk there’s not much else I can do for those bills that I can’t pay online. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/447 "2024-06-02T02:19:28Z")
I understand gel inks are resistant to check washing. Some check papers also become obviously discolored when put through chemicals. > **[uni ball 207 Retractable Fraud Prevention Gel Pens Needle Point 0.7 mm...](https://www.officedepot.com/a/products/894730/uni-ball-207-Retractable-Fraud-Prevention/)** > > Help keep your workplace safe with fraud prevention gel pens featuring Super Ink which helps protect against document alteration. The pens deliver archival quality ink that becomes trapped in paper and assists in preventing check washing. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/448 "2024-06-02T02:27:10Z")
What bothers me is that I use gel pens. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/449 "2024-06-18T00:49:45Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > When I get a phone call and hear silence, I wait a few seconds, say “Hello,” wait a few more seconds, and if there is nothing I hang up. Wait, you get a call from an Unknown Number, and your first reaction is to answer it? You must have more free time and fewer people to talk to than I. (Damn, that subjective case sounds hoity-toity, doesn’t it?) If it happens to be a business or person I know, they can leave a message, and I may even pick up before they’re done. PS, LOVED the Dye Spiraler wordplay… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/450 "2024-06-18T01:00:23Z")
Sometimes, if I’m bored, I’ll answer an unknown caller. A couple of weeks ago, she claimed to be from my electric utility. She claimed something about a change to my billed amount. I asked her to verify my account number, so she reeled off something that might be a real account number. I said, “So sorry, that’s wrong.” (Note that electric service is part of my rent, so I don’t even have an account with the utility.) And then two days ago, they called again, this time to offer a discount. I said, “No, thank you” and then stayed on the line, mostly because I was curious what they would do. She chatted with someone else in Hindi for a bit; I assume because that wasn’t the response they expected, and eventually they hung up. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/451 "2024-06-18T03:06:34Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Wait, you get a call from an Unknown Number, and your first reaction is to answer it? I work in IT and have over a hundred people I support, so I get unknown numbers all the time. If I didn’t answer them I wouldn’t have a job. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/452 "2024-06-18T03:12:06Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Wait, you get a call from an Unknown Number, and your first reaction is to answer it? > You must have more free time and fewer people to talk to than I. My outsourced IT Tech Support techs often call me from unknown numbers. So do many of my medical/physical therapy people. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/453 "2024-06-18T12:23:03Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Wait, you get a call from an Unknown Number, and your first reaction is to answer it? 9 times out of 10, it’s a delivery guy wanting to make sure I’m home. Should I not answer? I work from home, and I get deliveries almost every day. If it’s someone I don’t want to talk to, I just hang up. Maybe 15 seconds of my life wasted. I’ll survive. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/454 "2024-06-18T12:28:17Z")
Infuriating, isn’t it? We got hit for over $16K, as noted in the OP. And they’ll never catch the guy because it was a fake name/address. By the way, close that checking account. Your forger is still out there and he still has your information. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/455 "2024-06-18T15:59:19Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Wait, you get a call from an Unknown Number, and your first reaction is to answer it? > You must have more free time and fewer people to talk to than I. WaPo had an article on just this, yesterday: > **[Sick of scams? Stop answering your phone.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/06/17/phone-scams-dont-answer/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzE4NjgzMjAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzIwMDY1NTk5LCJpYXQiOjE3MTg2ODMyMDAsImp0aSI6IjMyNjM0NzlkLWFmMTAtNDViMy05NDAzLTNjM2YwNjQwNTQyNyIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS90ZWNobm9sb2d5LzIwMjQvMDYvMTcvcGhvbmUtc2NhbXMtZG9udC1hbnN3ZXIvIn0.mu9Kxh5XGx65lmflelIO6_2yE-mI0tBjFTQZAGZXfEE&itid=gfta)** > > Phone scams are still hugely popular — and they depend entirely on people curious enough to answer. That said, sometimes out of curiosity I’ll answer. I know I shouldn’t. Last week, I did. Didn’t say anything. Was met with a very confused “Hello?”. Turned out to be a high school friend, whose number was outdated in my contacts, LOL. But the vast majority are spam at best. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/456 "2024-06-18T16:24:08Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Last week, I did. Didn’t say anything. Was met with a very confused “Hello?”. That’s why I only wait a few seconds. That pause is reasonable if it’s a real person but for some reason glitches out the auto dialer. And I wait a few more seconds after my greeting, if nobody says anything I know it’s an automated service and I can hang up. If it’s a real person all they know is that I answered, paused briefly then started the conversation, like someone having to set down a pen or otherwise situate themselves before talking; it’s normal enough that nobody has commented on it at least. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/457 "2024-06-18T18:38:22Z")
I listen for the _doip!_ sound that tells me a computer is about to pontificate. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/458 "2024-06-18T18:42:42Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I work in IT and have over a hundred people I support, so I get unknown numbers all the time. If I didn’t answer them I wouldn’t have a job. At work, I’m on a complaint/request line. Anyone in town, or anyone who drives through town, could be calling on business. I also get calls from people who were trying to call Animal Control or the police non-emergency line. I’m just one digit different from each. At home, any odd phone number could be someone from Kaiser. I get medical updates from phone numbers from nearby towns fairly regularly. No clue why. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/459 "2024-06-18T18:52:42Z")
Let’s put some of the responsibility back where it belongs, with telephone companies allowing the spoofing of phone numbers. If a phone company offered the option to block all spoofed numbers, I would seriously consider switching. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/460 "2024-06-18T19:15:42Z")
Legitimate call centers use call spoofing [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240.md?page=24)