# 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:** 60
**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:** [March 29, 2026, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/1181 "2026-03-29T20:22:25Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I found a tiny, generic thumb drive left in the back of a Mac monitor I was given from a client. I recommend that you be careful about plugging found USB thumb drives into your computer. That can be a vector for malware. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2026, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/1182 "2026-03-29T20:34:25Z")
Yes, but it wasn’t something I found on the street. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2026, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/1183 "2026-03-30T01:25:22Z")
I goy an email - “We’re processing your shipment & noticed a small difference between the declared & actual weight of your parcel.” > [@Tracking Number:](#): > > {supposed tracking number} > Estimated Delivery: April 02, 2026 > Status: Oh Hold > [@Latest Update](#): > > To complete delivery of your shipment, a minor adjustment of $1.65 USD applies {Track Package hyperlink} I get thay that link will undoubtedly install malware but there’s nowhere for me to attempt to pay them the $1.65 (that I don’t owe them, for multiple reasons). Seems like the missed an opportunity on scammer’s part. Enough $1.65 changes add up to real money for something many people wouldn’t bat an eye about paying. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2026, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/1184 "2026-03-30T02:07:28Z")
It’s seldom good to respond to scammers, but I’d be tempted to recommend to them a “minor adjustment” of a physical nature. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2026, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/1185 "2026-03-30T15:06:52Z")
They have been discussing scams on the BBC radio today. It seems that older people, frustrated by having to negotiate their way through regular ban security, can be tempted by a simpler interface and higher interest rates. It’s more complicated and subtle than that, but several people were interviewed who either had older relatives or were themselves scammed for large sums. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/1186 "2026-03-30T21:31:11Z")
The school’s IT department alerted us to a new one. Apparently now some websites have a “captcha” consisting of > [@](#): > > Prove you’re not a robot by completing the following steps: > 1: Hold down the Windows key and press the R key. > 2: Click in the verification box, and then hold the Control key and press the V key. > Hit the Enter key on your keyboard. I almost have to respect the brazenness of it. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2026, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/1187 "2026-03-31T03:16:03Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The school’s IT department alerted us to a new one. Apparently now some websites have a “captcha” consisting of That one isn’t exactly new. Might be time for a new IT department. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2026, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/1188 "2026-03-31T03:37:25Z")
Described as a new scam here: > **[This new scam could trick you into downloading malware](https://www.wcvb.com/article/this-new-scam-could-trick-you-into-downloading-malware/70848118)** > > A new scam involving fake CAPTCHA boxes is tricking people into downloading malware that can steal sensitive information. Also here: [https://www.idtheftcenter.org/post/new-captcha-scam/](https://www.idtheftcenter.org/post/new-captcha-scam/) New malware? ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2026, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/1189 "2026-04-01T02:50:23Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Described as a new scam here: Here it is being described over a year ago. > **[What do I do after falling for the captcha win+r ctrl+v scam? - Microsoft Q&A](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/3905427/what-do-i-do-after-falling-for-the-captcha-win-r-c)** > > I was surfing the internet and got a captcha telling me to type win+r, ctrl+v and enter. I followed the steps mindlessly and realized moments later what I probably did. I restarted my computer and did a quick scan and then a full scan with windows… ---
**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:** [April 12, 2026, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/1190 "2026-04-12T20:42:04Z")
I posted above about making a purchase at a fake website. I disputed the charges, and after a week the final decision came down, and the chargers were reversed. I wasn’t out any money, so no harm, right? This morning I got a text about a $300 charge on my credit card from a grocery store in Salt Lake City. I opened the Citi app to find the security number to call, and I didn’t see it in there. I went to the security section, and locked my card, but nothing in the app to make it easy to contact a human. I’m sure that is a designed dark pattern. Called the number on the back of the card, and eventually got connected to someone in the security and fraud department. By that time the $300 charge had already been reversed, and a hidden $0 charge at another place had been attempted and declined. The customer service person kept asking if I wanted to cancel and reissue the card. I didn’t want to be a jerk, but I kept responding “should I?” and “you’re the security team, what do you think?” The way she kept asking me really sounded like a gotcha type question; like they wanted canceling the card to be my idea. They did end up cancelling the card and reissuing it with a new number. My guess is the two incidents are related. I don’t suspect a skimmer, because I almost always use contactless payment. I did dip my card recently, “because tapping is acting up,” but it’s not clear to me if it’s possible to skim a card that way. ---
**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:** [April 13, 2026, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/1191 "2026-04-13T16:06:20Z")
I’m a runner; there are a couple of big companies that provide ancillary services for race directors - registration & secure payment (the big one), email distribution, sorting participants by sex & age for age group awards, etc. A different race director can also buy info to send out emails for their race; ie. all people who’ve participated in a race in the past year & within x miles of my race. This results in a bit of extra email in my inbox; many times I’ll just delete them but there have been times where that was how I found out about a race that I ended up doing so I intentionally haven’t unsubscribed. There is one nationwide company that is putting on a travelling mud run; much like a musician going on tour, they’re here this weekend & there that weekend. They’ve bought a _big_ email package; I just delete them because they’re scammy as Hell but the way I’m getting them I don’t want to unsubscribe. If you go on their website, every race has a price of ~~$74.95~~ FREE! However, there’s a $5 fee for you to pick up your bib that morning instead of making a separate trip the evening before, a $20 fee to park at the facility they rented & an mandatory $18 or $19 insurance fee, so this FREE races costs a _minimum_ of $44, which is inline with other small races. That’s before you add in any of the optional charges, bag check fee (you do **not** want to go anywhere _near_ your can when you’re muddy brown from head to toe). Race t-shirt (which most include) & all of their other options. Plus instead of getting a new shirt you’ll need to bring a _full_ change of clothes as you will _never_ get what you wear to race in clean again, this includes your running shoes & even your underwear! ---
**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:** [April 16, 2026, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/1192 "2026-04-16T17:48:09Z")
Our latest: Got a call from a local area code. Fellow with non-American accent saying he was from Verizon and wanted to know if we were having issues with our Verizon service. I hung up. Tried calling the number back and got some woman’s voicemail number. No company name or anything. And my husband got a call from a number in area code 989. It mentioned my name and the last 4 of my social security number, and seemed to be about a new card (or car?) application. That one has me a bit more worried. He got a second call from the same number but they did not leave a message that time. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2026, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/1193 "2026-04-16T18:23:51Z")
Looked back a few months and didn’t see a new set of scams of writers. Someone who claims to be in a book club says they love your book and want to make it a choice for their club. I believe they eventually ask for a fee. Another is someone who claims to be a publisher who says they love your independently published book and want to publish it. Sometimes the name used is stolen from a real person at the publisher. AI has helped the scammers because now they give you a summary of the plot of your book to sound more authentic. The Author’s Guild chat board is full of examples of these. I don’t think it needs to be said that publishers don’t reach out to independently published authors unless the book has sold a zillion copies, ---
**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:** [April 16, 2026, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/1194 "2026-04-16T18:57:48Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Got a call from a local area code. Fellow with non-American accent saying he was from Verizon and wanted to know if we were having issues with our Verizon service. I reached out to Verizon and they said that’s not one of theirs. Still researching the other. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2026, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/1195 "2026-04-16T19:44:34Z")
Chase has been calling me, repeatedly. Chase the bank? They periodically remind me that they don’t call. Each day, I’d repeatedly decline calls coming in one after another, usually 5 or 6 in a row. Checking my missed call log, every one from “Chase” came from a different city - spoofed. I don’t think it was the bank​🤔 ---
**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:** [April 16, 2026, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/1196 "2026-04-16T19:53:17Z")
It’s not _really_ a scam, but I have a credit card with JP Morgan Chase, and periodically receive email from them asking me to update my reported income because “keeping your income current may unlock potential offers such as credit limit increases, balance transfers and lower APR loans.” I already have a five-figure credit limit so I really don’t need an increase and don’t care to improve the profile they have on me. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2026, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/1197 "2026-04-16T20:31:17Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Chase the bank I woke up to two emails from Chase this morning claiming that my phone number had been removed from my account, and to call them if I didn’t recognize this activity. These were legitimate emails from Chase. They came to the unique email address Chase uses for me, and the call back numbers were verified on their website as Chase customer service numbers. Logged into Chase, and my phone number still seems to be associated with my account. I called Chase and they were not concerned at all, “just delete the emails, and don’t worry about it.” When I asked why the were sent in the first place I was told it was probably because I changed phone providers, which did not happen. > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > keeping your income current Chase and Citi constantly asks me this. Every single time I login, even if I updated it recently. The only reason I’m still with Chase is that they service my mortgage, my old bank closed, and Chase bribed me to move my banking there. No point in moving away from them until my mortgage is done, and then I can completely sever my relationship with them. They frequently send ads labeled as “important account information” that cannot be unsubscribed from. “Refinance now” or “buy our CDs” is not important account information. To keep it on topic, I’ll say that if I didn’t know better I’d say Chase was a scam. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/1198 "2026-04-17T08:14:14Z")
Had a weird one today. Two people show up at my front door saying their from the electric company and were warning us about a planned power outage tomorrow. Problem is they wouldn’t tell me exactly when the outage was and then immediately went into a spiel about how I could save money on my electric bill somehow. Neither of them were wearing any electric company uniforms, and then the next day there wasn’t any power outage at all. So they were deliberately lying about the planned outage just so they had an excuse to give me the salesman special on whatever scam money saving thing they had cooked up. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/1199 "2026-04-17T09:11:30Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > So they were deliberately lying about the planned outage just so they had an excuse to give me the salesman special on whatever scam money saving thing they had cooked up. There are two bozos who keep periodically showing up at my apartment complex trying to sell new “cheaper” electrical service (having researched it, turns out it is a classic bait and switch scam which will lead to higher rates in the future). When I peremptorily snubbed one the last time they were here (and hammering away at my doorbell) he accused _me_ of being “rude”. I told the office staff about them, and they said to immediately contact them if the bozos show up again, and I will. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/1200 "2026-06-27T16:18:09Z")
Anyone else getting emails from “Andrea Freeman” about a free piano? I wouldn’t want one even if it wasn’t a scam (apparently the scam is having to pay shipping, though it never ships) I get these once or twice a week, all with different email addresses. Brian [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265.md?page=59) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265.md?page=61)