# 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:** 31
**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:** [July 10, 2023, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/601 "2023-07-10T23:11:56Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > The guy upthread who has gotten eight fake payments is still around, looking for a ninth. > we have to obtain insurance permit documents.before she lives.your documents is what delaying your delivery for long time.so send payment to get a tomorrow before she lives.thanks _How can she deliver documents if she’s dead? Once she’s alive, she can pick up the documents, I’ll add the cost to the payment when she gets here._ _Peter Mosse_ > you are mad man by speaking such word .she is alive .but you will send payment to obtain insurance permit documents today and we are waiting for you right now.thanks > I don’t like your behavior .why do you delay to make payment? _To quote you: “we have to obtain insurance permit documents. **before she lives”** _ _That implies she’s dead but will come back to life when she has the documents._ _Anyway, how should I send the payment?_ _Peter Mosse_ > you have to make the payment to her account direct _Are you going to give me the needed information all at once or do I have to drag it out of you piece by piece?_ _Peter Mosse_ > Send this payment through money other with ups tracking number.send tracking number and recipient to enable her track and receive your payment very fast.thanks _What is a money other?_ _Peter Mosse_ > Money other is a check.tell your bank to give you money other check. _I have never heard of a money other check. Could you elaborate?_ _Peter Mosse_ > You can purchase money order from banks,credit unions or usps office even gas station or supermarket. _Money order is not the same as money other. What’s a money other?_ _Peter Mosse_ > Get the check with ups tracking number > you can also get money other in united states postal service _So is it a money order or money other?_ _Peter Mosse_ > Money other is a check .you can get it from bank,postal service,supermarket or gas station _That doesn’t explain how a money other is different from a regular check._ _Peter Mosse_ > I’m sorry is money order _Then what’s this money other you wanted? Sounds interesting._ _Peter Mosse_ > you can also get money order in united states postal service ,bank and supermarket > Its not regular check.ask for money order check get and send it with ups tracking number for easy receive _UPS doesn’t accept financial instruments._ _Peter Mosse_ > Purchase the money order check first _A money order isn’t a check._ _Peter Mosse_ > There’s many place you can get money order check get it and send the recipient and tracking number _Who’s the recipient?_ _Peter Mosse_ > Since you it better do it .she will waiting for you > Make sure you send tracking number so she will receive it > I mean tracking number of your payment > You will purchase money order from banks,credit unions or usps office even gas station or supermarket.then send it with tracking number By now, I’ve already left on my no doubt unsuccessful mission to obtain the money other. Mainly because I don’t have a recipient’s name for the money other. However, I will not abandon my quest until everything is closed for the night. ---
**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:** [July 14, 2023, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/602 "2023-07-14T20:41:37Z")
Interesting variant on telemarketing scams today. I will occasionally answer unknown calls on my cell phone just for lolz. Today, the number showed up as my area code, unknown rest. Pretty sure to be a scam. Someone with a strong Indian accent claimed to be from Allstate wanting to help me with an insurance quote. Er, right. I told him he was a scammer and hung up. Then for the hell of it, I tried calling back - but my phone said “This is an international call, you might get charged, still wanna try?”. Nope, nope, nope. So I looked more carefully, and instead of just 555-555-1212, it was +1-555-555-1212. ---
**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:** [July 14, 2023, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/603 "2023-07-14T21:28:39Z")
The “leader” responsible for compliance with money laundering and fraud protection measures at our company almost fell victim to the scam where his teenage kid was supposed to be in legal trouble somewhere and needed $2,500 in Visa gift cards right away or he’d be in jail for the weekend. People at one of the retail location managed to stop him. This is a location WHERE he has personally, directly or indirectly, documented many, many scam attempts (some successful) almost identical to this one. So last week he was telling them to watch out for this scam. This week they are telling him, don’t send the card numbers, it’s a scam. His son was at an out of town tennis camp, where they take your phone away from you for the whole day. He tried calling his son’s phone and it went directly to voicemail. He somehow believed that scratchy voice on the phone was his kid and a bail bondsman. I guess once you believe your kid is in danger, your brains just fall out of your head. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2023, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/604 "2023-07-14T22:26:38Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > He somehow believed that scratchy voice on the phone was his kid and a bail bondsman. NPR (or was it American Public Media) had a short piece describing AI being able to (almost) perfectly imitate someone’s voice, simply based on a few voice samples found on social media sites, and how it might be used in exactly this type of scam. Their advice was to have a passphrase that only family members know. They had an AI voice replicate the host’s usual introduction, but it stumbled badly on the last party of his name, David Brancaccio, which was funny. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2023, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/605 "2023-07-15T00:29:58Z")
I have won yet another Walmart Sweepstakes!!! I just have to reply to an address not related to Walmart and answer a few basic questions. I declined as I have too many iPads and wish to share my good fortune with others. ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2023, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/606 "2023-07-15T00:42:25Z")
This one just floated to the top of my spam filter. I’m wondering what the point is – trying to verify that my email address is a “good” one? _Hello,_ _Sorry to bother you, Just wanted to know if you order from Amazon often?_ _Am having issues with my order._ _Fran_ ---
**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:** [July 15, 2023, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/607 "2023-07-15T01:05:17Z")
> [@bobsmom101](#): > > This one just floated to the top of my spam filter. I’m wondering what the point is – trying to verify that my email address is a “good” one? > > _Hello,_ > > _Sorry to bother you, Just wanted to know if you order from Amazon often?_ > > _Am having issues with my order._ > > _Fran_ - I haven’t seen this specific form but two possibilities. 1. Claims she wants to test her computer by using your account and password, changes password and orders either gift cards or things to sell. 2. You order what she wants and she’ll reimburse you. Which she(he) won’t. ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2023, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/608 "2023-07-15T01:38:06Z")
two possibilities. Shoot, I wouldn’t do either of these for somone I knew, let alone some random emailer. I mean isn’t the action most likely to succeed _just contacting Amazon_, rather than writing to a complete stranger? How dumb would someone have to be — oh, never mind.😖 ---
**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:** [July 15, 2023, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/609 "2023-07-15T01:47:19Z")
> [@bobsmom101](#): > > How dumb would someone have to be — oh, never mind You should see some of the insane stories I get in my scambaitng email. How about W.H.O is giving a billion dollars each to a lucky 100 people to fight Covid-19. The International Monetary Fund is giving all scam victims 100 million dollars each as compensation for being scammed. And so on. I’ve had several scammers state they need my bank login details in order to deposit the ATM card. Clearly, there are people who fall for it. ---
**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:** [July 28, 2023, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/610 "2023-07-28T07:58:57Z")
I spotted a new way to spam people, the other day. A public page I followed some time back posted a photo, and I happened to notice it, so I clicked on it to look at at their FB page. Lo and behold, there’s now a “recommendations” tab - where you can recommend such a business. There were the usual “Had a great time!” sort of posts on that, but the first two were pure spam that had nothing whatsoever to do with the page’s topic. Very obviously spam - non-US phone numbers, and while they were not identical, they hyped some “financial planner” (different one on each). I reported them both to FB but we’ll see if anything happens. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2023, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/611 "2023-07-28T08:49:21Z")
I’ve been looking lately at regular spam-scams (ie scams of the type where they just want you to click a link or open a file which may be malware, or a link to a phishing page or just spam that links to some porn site or something other than what it claims to be). In my experience, there is _always_ a clue somewhere in the email that it’s not genuine - sometimes it’s very, very obvious and the whole email is an absurd mess; other times it’s more subtle like a fake Amazon security warning that contains grammatical nonsense like the phrase ‘U͏͏n͏͏f͏͏о͏͏r͏͏t͏͏u͏͏n͏͏а͏͏t͏͏е͏͏l͏͏y ԝ͏͏е m͏͏а͏͏y ѕ͏͏u͏͏ѕ͏͏р͏͏е͏͏n͏͏ԁ͏͏е͏͏d y͏͏о͏͏u͏͏r а͏͏ϲ͏͏ϲ͏͏о͏͏u͏͏n͏͏t’ or one that says ‘We’ve sent notifications the issues of your account was updated’ So far, I have never received link or attachment spam that was truly and completely convincing in every detail (and I’ve looked at a _lot_ of these things), and yet, I continually get people telling me that the one they clicked on was completely spot on. Do such ‘perfect spam’ messages actually exist? I’ve heard it argued that spammers make the messages less than perfect as a pre-filter specifically because they only want people to click through if those people are not the type to pay close attention to what’s going on, which makes sense, but I am surprised that no spammers out there anywhere (at least amongst the collection that have sent stuff to me) have ever tried creating a completely convincing message. Has anyone ever seen such a spam email that was utterly and completely convincing? in: - The scenario it claims is happening - The grammar and spelling - The logos and other assets - The sender (eg either spoofed, masked or at least a plausible-seeming but unofficial domain) - The tone and urgency ---
**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:** [August 4, 2023, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/612 "2023-08-04T17:05:41Z")
Another new one: I got a message request on FB from someone I knew. Generic message “how are you doing?”. It was odd, as there’d have been no need for such a request; we’ve been friends on FB for years. Hovering over it, it had his profile picture. I looked more carefully, and the first name was spelled wrong - think “Jhon Doe” instead of “John Doe”. And it actually comes from an Instagram user, e.g. “jhon\_doe\_58”. I notified the real “John Doe”. There doesn’t seem to be any way to report the Instagram user, since I don’t have an IG account. ---
**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:** [August 4, 2023, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/613 "2023-08-04T20:10:17Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I’ve heard it argued that spammers make the messages less than perfect **as a pre-filter** specifically because they only want people to click through if those people are not the type to pay close attention to what’s going on, - I think it’s a side effect of their generally poor English so they just go with it since it works. When I make scammers improvise, there’s no difference between their on the spot English and their script. In other news: [https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/04/tech/fcc-robocall-scam-biggest-fine/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/04/tech/fcc-robocall-scam-biggest-fine/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2023, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/614 "2023-08-08T22:30:42Z")
Good Og, my spam folder is getting to be full of [survey scams!](https://www.freep.com/story/money/personal-finance/susan-tompor/2022/02/25/red-flags-surveys-pfizer-costco-scams/6894748001/) ---
**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:** [August 11, 2023, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/615 "2023-08-11T01:54:38Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > The guy upthread who has gotten eight fake payments is still around, looking for a ninth. He’s back from another 3 week break. Now he wants 2500 for demurrage and payment delay fees. I’ve asked for an itemized invoice with the signatures of two bank officers. In other news, I baited two spellcasters who didn’t understand that “Peter” is a man’s name and that they can’t get me pregnant. The most recent fool is yet another who ,despite several clear hints, thinks that SC in my address means Southern California, not South Carolina and continues to claim he can deliver today as he’s near me in California. ---
**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:** [August 11, 2023, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/616 "2023-08-11T02:03:58Z")
Did anything happen? ---
**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:** [August 12, 2023, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/617 "2023-08-12T15:48:50Z")
If you think this sounds legit, I’ll take gift cards for my finder’s fee. > Greetings and Compliments > > We are credible loan financial consultants too competent and reliable > UK based Investment Funding and Project-Finance firms, with > magnificent financial capacity to provide huge loan Funds to complete > your projects and businesses. Tenure of loan is 10years and two > percent 2% interest rate annually. Borrower will commence payment of > interest rate at the end of third year, > > because the first two years are grace periods, during which there are > NO interest rates. I am waiting to receive your reply now, and I will > send full working procedures to you today. Give me your direct Email > address and WhatsApp /Mobile Telephone number and I will call you for > detailed discussions. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2023, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/618 "2023-08-12T15:51:17Z")
Your Radio Shack gift cards are on their way. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2023, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/619 "2023-08-12T15:54:10Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Your Radio Shack gift cards are on their way. - I have it on good authority from the Radio Shack Master Employee himself that the re-opening is any time from this very soon. This was from a very real and Legitmate emails. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2023, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/620 "2023-08-12T18:17:27Z")
The school system in New Haven, Connecticut, lost over six million to hackers. They gained access to the email box of the school system’s chief operating officer and then had payments redirected. The city was able to recover at least $3.6 million. ([Gift link](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/10/nyregion/new-haven-schools-hackers.html?unlocked_article_code=4ObNr8s7TJI2l3iw4yQA8MADK68doPV77aNc6snvDnSDgQfpl4rHaHRS54QziyeESc5lUmEFj0qu1c7qgwETxLMp8o4jPNZSzYA6C_cMhogf1l1hJTooTT0K0yQBOiE43YY4G8ggh2BTJGIyniWiuRvnmEHwC-3sU1D3f4m9qtJHiyZs4BhozOOR1614w9pz4MuwQUo1ZnbrmX-ugBIKkhckGc9cxoiNHgCq2SbuYZUea-jRMETI0nVxsOdt-XVsvEpIabpBSJ_U18mPuSHpMJbvLshqjb9JXRppZgwk4oFtMEEyWCXSDRIonr6IfbPDqe8RxRHjpdbwAKVe-ME6mf0M&smid=url-share) to a New York Times article.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265.md?page=30) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265.md?page=32)