# Scam (Internet and Otherwise) Omnibus Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 4, 2022, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265 "2022-04-04T18:23:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2022, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/261 "2022-10-08T01:52:09Z")
I have a feeling the “law firm” and website were set up as part of the scam. ---
**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:** [October 8, 2022, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/262 "2022-10-08T01:57:18Z")
I’ve had several who just claimed to be an actual lawyer at an actual law firm. Sometimes, they even use the person’s photo on a (obviously fake) company ID. And I did confirm the existence of both the law firms and lawyers. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2022, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/263 "2022-10-08T02:51:19Z")
The contact info in the letter matches that provided on the website, suggesting the website is a phony too; no other site can be found for the alleged law firm. ---
**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:** [October 8, 2022, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/264 "2022-10-08T02:55:09Z")
Put the URL into [ICANN](https://lookup.icann.org/en) or [WHOIS](https://www.whois.com/whois/) and see when it was registered. ETA: Is there a visible postmark on the envelope? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2022, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/265 "2022-10-08T11:13:40Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Answers needed fast, otherwise Justin Trudeau will seize the $19,950,000 and use it on fripperies. So the clue that it’s a scam is him seizing more than $19m from an account that has less than $11m? [/blinks innocuously] ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2022, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/266 "2022-10-08T11:58:04Z")
It’s an interest-bearing account. In a Reputable Bank. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2022, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/267 "2022-10-08T14:06:53Z")
I just got hit with a scam, but I didn’t fall for it. I’m typically adept at spotting scams from the get-go, but this one took me a third encounter before I realized it. I retired from medicine and now build websites and graphic arts for fun and some income. I got a reply from my website from “John Hartman” from Houston Texas. He went into great detail about his new business developing vegan plant-based foods. He even provided a back story about how he became a vegan, blah, blah, blah. Unlike most scam schemes, “John’s” grammar and syntax were impeccable and his attention to detail was on point. “John” wanted me to create three 90-sec animated videos for the launch of his business. He went into great detail about what he wanted in the videos and said content would be provided by his marketing director for me to use in the videos. We exchanged another round of emails. I sent him links to work I did for other clients. He liked my work and told me the videos needed to be completed in 4-6 weeks. We agreed on a fee of $750. In his next email, he told me he was on a trip to Asia and couldn’t pay his marketing director for some stupid reason. He went on to say that he was sending me a check for $3750. I was to deposit the check, keep my $750 fee and send the remaining $3000 to the director. At that point, the director would send me the content and I could get started on the project. This is a classic scam. By default, banks deposit all checks and it takes 2-3 business days to clear or bounce (hence John’s insistence that the transaction needed to be done _quickly_ because this was a rush job). The check will certainly bounce and I’m out $3000, never to hear from “John” again. I may have been born at night, but it wasn’t _last_ night. Knowing there was zero chance this was not a scam, I just wanted to cut ties immediately. I wrote back that I had to evacuate due to Hurricane Ian about to hit my home in Florida (it wasn’t anywhere close to my house) and I was closed for business indefinitely. This didn’t deter good ol’ “John.” He wrote back that he sent the check by FedEx and needed me to send the director his money ASAP. He gave me the tracking #. I just ignored him. I contacted FedEx to get the delivery canceled, but it was too late. The check was delivered (I didn’t open the envelope). I called FedEx and told them to pick up the envelope and send it back to the sender, which they did (at no charge to me). Before “John” got the return, he frantically emailed back a few times, saying he verified the FedEx package was delivered and the director needed his money ASAP. I ignored the emails, but he persisted. One of his emails: _“…FedEx told me you have received the check from my company. I have messaged you to know if check payment has been deposited but got nothing. I will appreciate a message soon._ _I do not know how to tell you this but there has been delay from your end already and we need to get started.”_ I finally got tired of his emails and so wrote back that a tornado spawned from Hurricane Ian and tore into my house. _The last thing I saw was my beloved dog Toto flying away in the twister, but professional that I am, I will find a way to make your videos_ (hey, you gotta have a little fun with scammers and waste their time). _However, I don’t accept checks, only Venmo direct deposits. “John”, if you Venmo me $3750, I’ll gladly pay your director from that and we can get started._ [crickets] no reply [/crickets]. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2022, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/268 "2022-10-08T21:46:38Z")
I recently had a young “lady” contact me, claiming to have met me, and suggesting some casual sex. “She” caught me at the wrong time, as I had one of those hangovers where your body feels crap but your mind is sharp… twisted, but sharp. And I had time on my hands. I began with a volley suggesting I was interested, but required her to accept my fetish: she should wear a garbage bag because I always wanted to have sex with a homeless person. She accepted that. I then suggested a snorkel and diving mask and she agreed. Now I have been on the internet for quite a while and I remember those “shock sites” from the later 90s/early 2000s, which gave me a lot of suitable ideas, which “she” eventually agreed to perform on me, or on herself. My crowning glory, having run out of intermet inspiration: That she combine the arts of fellatio and coprophagy at the same time; using her own faeces. It was hard work getting there, but that act was apparently enough to disgust even the most determined sex scammer. “She” ceased contact. ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/269 "2022-10-12T16:18:02Z")
I like to watch scambaiting videos, but too many of them waste almost as much of my time as they wasted of the scammer’s. This one is short and sweet: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ceKa7kTOaYw/hqdefault.jpg "Scammer watches $500 disappear after wasting 10 hours #Shorts") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceKa7kTOaYw) I was thinking “Kitboga actually took 10 hours of his life for that?” and then I started wondering how soon we’ll be able to train AI’s to do this kind of thing and hopefully make the scamming industry uneconomic. But then the scammers will also have access to this tech too. Watch for the coming arms race. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2022, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/270 "2022-10-12T16:42:23Z")
> [@Ponderoid](#): > > I was thinking **“Kitboga actually took 10 hours of his life for that?”** and then I started wondering how soon we’ll be able to train AI’s to do this kind of thing and hopefully make the scamming industry uneconomic. But then the scammers will also have access to this tech too. Watch for the coming arms race. - That actually _is_ his life. He makes his living at it. What better than a job that you love, pays well, entertains who knows how many and you’re one of the best in the world at? His current record with one scammer(over many calls and weeks) is over 45 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/271 "2022-10-12T17:11:05Z")
I’ve been a fan of Kitboga for a while. Every hour he wastes of scammer’s time, is an hour they aren’t scamming someone else. And he’s very funny. I particularly like when he dons a wig and goes into his granny persona. Good entertainment and a good service! ---
**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:** [October 13, 2022, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/272 "2022-10-13T16:56:30Z")
Here is one with a bit of a twist: Dude claims to be Russian and needs money to go home, scamming an elderly Japanese woman out of 4.4 million yen (about $30,000). The Twist? > **Summary** > > The scammer claimed to be a Russian cosmonaut stuck on the International Space Station! > [Scammer Fools Woman Into Thinking They’re an Astronaut Who Needs a Ticket Home (futurism.com)](https://futurism.com/the-byte/iss-scammer-catfish) And according to this article, this isn’t the first time something like this had happened. ---
**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:** [October 13, 2022, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/273 "2022-10-13T18:18:35Z")
A common scam is someone claiming to be in the US military and needs money for phone calls/paying for forms to apply for leave(or bribes to officers)/pay for meals, etc. Looks to be an even more improbable version. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2022, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/274 "2022-10-14T16:04:00Z")
I got this today: It amused me to see someone from Amazon addressing me a “dear”. > | **AMAZON SERVICE** | > |Hello Dear > > You recently logged into from : > > Time : 10/15/2022 12:57:59 am > Country : French Guiana > lP ADDRESS : 222.67.207.171 > > lf you recentIy Iogged in from the approximate location above, you can ignore this message. > > Our team receives a phone change request report, to verify your amazon account ownership. > Please visit the link below to verify your account: > > [[https://amazon.xxx/](https://amazon.xxx/) > > Below are the details of the changes our server received: > > Name : Annora Milton > Phone : +1903308981 > Card Number : 5171-XXXX-XXXX-7847 > > **Note:** If you do not verify your account, after opening this email. within 3 x 24 hours our servers automaticaIIy delete email addresses that have not been verified by their owners. > > Sincerely, > Amazon Team > Thank you for using our service| ---
**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:** [October 14, 2022, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/275 "2022-10-14T16:26:30Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > I got this today: It amused me to see someone from Amazon addressing me a “dear”. - Not from Amazon but I got one once addressed to “Dear, Dear Beloved” allegedly from a bank. ---
**Author:** ![jerseymule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jerseymule/32/3155_2.png) [@jerseymule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerseymule)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2022, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/276 "2022-10-15T13:28:10Z")
I had occasion to check my spam email, which I rarely do. There were multiple emails with this subject line: Welcome to iPhone 14 Pro Reward Panel ID:67515 [or some other number] There are multiple emails, each with a different 5 digit ID. The body of the email invites me to click on a link that says my order for the iPhone 14 Pro has shipped! I must have ordered many many phones and will wait to see if any arrive. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2022, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/277 "2022-10-15T16:20:49Z")
Really, why spoil the surprise by clicking? ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2022, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/278 "2022-10-20T14:56:50Z")
I’m linking a new Scam thread for any of our experts who want to chime in, above and beyond the good advice already given - seems a pretty typical ‘You computer is compromised, sign up for our service (paid) and let us install software’ type, and all the right immediate precautions have been taken. > [@Could this be a scam against my Mom?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-a-scam-against-my-mom/973540): > > The other day while on her computer a screen came up with a warning that her computer may be compromised. There was a number and she called it, it was for California Techies and that is a real company, and the phone number they gave her is the one on their site. She signed up for $20 a month and they spent some time on her computer doing some sort of clean up, not exactly sure what, and I didn’t think much about it and she got detailed paper work emailed to her. But today I started to wonder … ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2022, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/279 "2022-10-20T14:59:58Z")
I am familiar with “Rachel from Card Services” who headlined a credit card rate reduction scam, but today I got a call from “Rachel from Medicare”. Seems that Rachel has switched jobs, but not changed her spots. ---
**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:** [October 20, 2022, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/280 "2022-10-20T15:28:03Z")
I’ve gotten those calls supposedly from Rachel. I thought about answering, listening to the pre-recorded message from Rachel, pressing 1 to speak to the random operator and then insisting they put Rachel on the phone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265.md?page=15)