# 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:** 8
**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:** [December 29, 2023, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/141 "2023-12-29T13:39:56Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Got a text this morning at 4am from my credit card people. Someone tried to fraudulently use my card, so now it’s canceled. Most annoying, isn’t it? I have two cards, one of which I never use. So if the active card is compromised, I at least have a backup. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/142 "2023-12-29T13:48:41Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Most annoying, isn’t it? I have two cards, one of which I never use. So if the active card is compromised, I at least have a backup. Yeah, me too. I’m sort of thinking about running on cash for a while though. Or maybe use a debit card. At least until I get a new card. It was probably a test. The charge was $2.99. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/143 "2023-12-29T13:53:14Z")
When our card got stolen, whoever had it used it to get gas, groceries, and a trip to Dunkin’ Donuts. Which, weirdly, felt a little better than, say, electronics. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/144 "2023-12-29T14:24:00Z")
I follow a bunch of well-known tattoo artists on Instagram. The other week I commented on a post of one of them, a former finalist on _Ink Master_, and right away got a message saying, thanks, are you interested in booking for a tattoo. I (texted) laughed that I was in a different city. Oh, she’s going on tour and will be here in January. I actually fell for it for about ten minutes, then the scammer started giving the game away with fractured sentences, evasive answers, and a push to get me to send a huge deposit. I googled the artist and found the studio she works at in NYC, and called them. To my surprise she herself picked up, and confirmed she’s not coming here any time soon. I let her know that she was being impersonated online, and we exchanged some messages later when I sent her screencaps of the conversation so she could also report it. If it hadn’t been the height of seasonal stress and insomnia when this played out, I would have spotted much sooner that the profile that messaged me had one extra letter in the moniker. I’d like to say I was never fooled, but they did have me going for a few minutes. Glad I listened to the nagging suspicious voice in the back of my head about it. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/145 "2023-12-29T15:18:01Z")
We have our own scammers in our own IS Department. But it’s fake. About once a month (it’s probably more random than that) people get sent a FAKE phishing scam in the email. I work for that department, so it’s embarrassing as hell to get caught by one. But they are very good. And very well worded. For myself, and I think others, it is usually a case of I’m too busy right now, and excepting or opening something instead of kill the email. If you get caught, it’s back to the old how to avoid scams video/test that you must take. ---
**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:** [December 29, 2023, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/146 "2023-12-29T15:41:40Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > But they are very good. And very well worded. - And there’s the problem. Unless there’s _some_ clue it’s fake, it’s worthless as a test. It’s the ones that fall for “This emails is from the President of Coprorat and I need you to confirm your passwords to me. This is secret project so do not inform of other beings” that they should be worried about. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/147 "2023-12-29T15:42:59Z")
At work we frequently get warned about messages that are real, but also scams. Real companies will frequently contact random people at the university about software licensing. In many cases these are just sales calls. Annoying, but generally harmless, “I’m not the one who makes purchase decisions for the institution…” However, sometimes the email and calls are pretense to catch us being out of compliance with license terms. For example, an email actually from IBM that is just doing a survey to “better meet our needs” by asking how many people are using SPSS. We are told to **never** respond to these, and to forward them all to the software licensing group. Even if we are completely in compliance, the wrong words or response could trigger an expensive audit. ---
**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:** [December 29, 2023, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/148 "2023-12-29T15:46:21Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > We have our own scammers in our own IS Department. But it’s fake. About once a month (it’s probably more random than that) people get sent a FAKE phishing scam in the email. I work for that department, so it’s embarrassing as hell to get caught by one. We have the same thing at my work, though it’s not nearly as frequent. > [@running\_coach](#): > > And there’s the problem. Unless there’s _some_ clue it’s fake, it’s worthless as a test. Agreed. Our IT security folks don’t make them _too_ good, because real phishing attempts aren’t like that. I’ve been an IT professional for a long time and there is always a way to tell. Phishing attempts are not made by sophisticated people. With just a bit of vigilance and foreknowledge you can spot them pretty easily. If you’re testing people with unusually clever phishing attempts, then that’s like testing an umbrella’s ability to stand up to a heavy rain by dropping bowling balls on it. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/149 "2023-12-29T15:56:01Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Most annoying, isn’t it? I have two cards, one of which I never use. So if the active card is compromised, I at least have a backup. This was my strategy also. Until the bank of the unused card canceled it, citing lack of use. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/150 "2023-12-29T16:10:25Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > And there’s the problem. Unless there’s _some_ clue it’s fake, it’s worthless as a test. Oh, there is generally a very subtle clue. But in todays hectic world it’s easy to not spot them. We outsource this. Not sure, perhaps different departments get different emails. That would be the way to do it. ---
**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:** [December 29, 2023, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/151 "2023-12-29T16:20:35Z")
> [@whitetho](#): > > This was my strategy also. Until the bank of the unused card canceled it, citing lack of use. May have to rethink my game plan. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/152 "2023-12-29T16:35:09Z")
Put one or two recurring charges on it. I’ve done this with a card I’ve carried since '87 (and stopped using as my primary over 20 years ago). Banks try not to cancel cards used for recurring charges since they know it makes a hassle for the customer. ---
**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:** [December 29, 2023, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/153 "2023-12-29T16:36:45Z")
I do actually have one recurring charge on that card that I’ve been meaning to cancel. Guess I’ll leave it alone. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/154 "2023-12-29T16:51:20Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > And there’s the problem. Unless there’s _some_ clue it’s fake, it’s worthless as a test. > It’s the ones that fall for “This emails is from the President of Coprorat and I need you to confirm your passwords to me. This is secret project so do not inform of other beings” that they should be worried about. Where I worked, there were always clues, some more subtle than others, mapped to the mandatory training everyone went through. It got to the point that there would sometimes be legit emails that got referred to the IT fraud guys for advice. And that was fine. Most people had a healthy nervousness about it. Some people (“repeat offenders,” they were called) could not receive an email without clicking any and all links. And this despite warnings that this could be grounds for termination if the behavior didn’t change. Some folks is dumb. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/155 "2023-12-29T19:36:10Z")
Hey our Director of Compliance, the guy who runs our anti-fraud and anti-money laundering programs fell victim to a scam where he paid an “electricity bill” using Western Union. Not a personal bill, but a bill that was supposed to be for the facility he worked in. Note that his responsibilities did not in any way shape or form include building management, accounts payable or energy management. Of course he’s a nutter in other ways. He hates energy conservation, makes fun of anyone driving an EV or hybrid and parks his gigantic pickup truck in the EV charging spots. Unfortunately his boss is an even bigger ass and protects him from the consequences of his assholery. ---
**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:** [January 20, 2024, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/156 "2024-01-20T05:31:28Z")
Last April Fisher Capital was charged by the Feds for allegedly fraudulently persuading victims, [“through materially false and misleading statements and deceptive sales tactics, to invest their retirement funds and savings in gold and silver coins (“Precious Metals”) at grossly inflated prices that frequently were double or even triple the prevailing market value of those coins.” ](https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nyed.496370/gov.uscourts.nyed.496370.1.0.pdf). Reuters article: [https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-cftc-charges-fisher-capital-with-investment-fraud-targeting-older-adults-2023-04-26/](https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-cftc-charges-fisher-capital-with-investment-fraud-targeting-older-adults-2023-04-26/) They are very much into right wing affinity fraud. They [opened for Tucker Carlson in Vegas in November](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/fisher-capital-ceo-alexander-spellane-120000460.html) and last month they were a [Diamond Sponsor of Turning Point USA’s conservative conference](https://www.thedailybeast.com/turning-point-usas-america-fest-with-tucker-carlson-donald-trump-jr-was-funded-by-accused-fraudsters?ref=home?ref=home). The shindig featured Tucker Carlson (again), Donald Trump Jr., Steve Bannon, Glenn Beck, Ted Cruz, and MJT. They also sponsored Turning Point’s July meeting. I understand that Fisher _Investments_ is a separate company, also an over-priced ripoff but not in a fraudulent way. Think 1-2% of your assets skimmed, as opposed to 33-67%. ---
**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:** [January 20, 2024, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/157 "2024-01-20T06:01:11Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Or maybe use a debit card. No! Then, when your debit card is compromised, your bank account gets frozen until it’s straightened out. And you don’t get the same protections as with a credit card. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/158 "2024-01-20T11:55:43Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > No! Then, when your debit card is compromised, your bank account gets frozen until it’s straightened out. And you don’t get the same protections as with a credit card. Yeah. I had another CC that I used for a bit. I only use a debit card to withdraw from my banks ATM. I mis-spoke. I got things mostly straightened out. Got my new CC. God I hate malicious shit like this. All the thief managed to do was throw a wrench in the works of my life. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/159 "2024-01-20T14:09:37Z")
I had a friend that fell into the conservative “buying overpriced gold” trap. It’s based on the conservative/libertarian fear that the government is going to seize your precious metals but there are certain types of gold that will be immune from seizure. > **[Gold & Silver Confiscation: Can the Government Seize Assets?](https://goldsilver.com/blog/gold-confiscation-history-myths-and-real-solutions/)** > > Can the government confiscate your gold and silver? This video guide explains why gold is confiscated from private citizens and how to protect yourself. The conservatives aren’t really consistent on this one, this article claims that the collectible coins my friend was buying aren’t as safe as she thought. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/160 "2024-01-20T19:44:21Z")
If the ~~deep state~~ government is keen on confiscating your gold, why would they be shy at collecting coins, rings, or even your fillings? This is skating close to SovCit territory. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240.md?page=9)