# 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:** 8
**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 12, 2022, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/141 "2022-07-12T17:55:59Z")
Typical car warrant call, 25 minutes wasted. This time I did a little post call research. Initial call came from an Indian call center-no company name given. Specifically referenced my bait car-a 2014 Jeep Compass with “over 80,000 miles” (guess where that came from) which I’ve never owned. Got transferred to an American (sounding) call center. Again, no company name. All the usual rigamorole except they didn’t attempt the fake credit card while I was on the line. The 888 number I was given is invalid(wouldn’t connect) though it’s owned by [CallSource.](https://www.callsource.com/) > **[Performance Management for Sales and Marketing Calls | CallSource](https://www.callsource.com/)** > > CallSource is the industry leader for call tracking, lead management and business analytic solutions. Maximize your marketing dollars and get measured results The company that’s supposed to handle the contract payments is Mepco which has [abysmal ratings.](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/mepco.html) > **[Top 69 Mepco Reviews](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/mepco.html)** > > I purchased a warranty thru Mepco back in July 2013. I recently got sick back in January and was in the hospital and my policy was cancelled due to non-payment. ... Mepco > **[About Mepco](https://www.mepco.com/about)** > > Mepco specializes in providing payment plans for vehicle service contracts to customers, allowing them to pay for their vehicle service contracts over time. ---
**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:** [July 12, 2022, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/142 "2022-07-12T20:22:59Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > The Federal Department of Amazon Police 😆 😆 ---
**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 12, 2022, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/143 "2022-07-12T23:12:02Z")
Another typical box of money scam. Nothing interesting until now. The scammer is demanding my full name after I sent my (fake) WU and banking informations. (My persona is just two names, never a middle or initial) > That is my full name. I had my middle name legally removed when my father(who’s name it was) killed my mother. > Peter Mosse ETA:It didn’t even bother the cold fucker. I guess that’s normal in Nigeria. > Alright, Hopefully by tomorrow, as soon as we pick Up the Money, We > shall proceed to the Bank to enable them Release and Transfer your > Fund Direct to Your Bank Account in United States Of America > > Regards > Mr Tom Bello ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/144 "2022-07-14T16:07:01Z")
I regularly get phone calls with a recorded voice informing me that they are calling from the :Department of Service Canada" to inform me that my Social Insurance Number is being suspended for some unspecified nefarious activity. I am really a bad prospect for this scam, as not only did I spend my entire government service in the real federal department for which “Service Canada” is the label for their operations providing direct services to the public, but the first several years were in the division which administers Social Insurance Numbers, including a couple of years replying to inquiries from the public, the media, MPs, etc. about how it all worked. ---
**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 15, 2022, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/145 "2022-07-15T18:50:08Z")
Lately I’ve been getting tons of scam phone calls on my cell phone. Nothing new about that - but nowadays, if I call the number back on a lark, the damn thing actually rings through to a recorded message. Not sure how they’re managing that - maybe loads of free Google Voice numbers?? I have gotten 13 of them today. 7 of them were in the first hour of the morning. I have to assume that the times I called back got my number flagged as “here’s a live one, fellow fisherscum!”. ---
**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, 2022, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/146 "2022-07-15T19:37:02Z")
A couple of weeks ago, I found out about [Mugu Guestbook.](https://www.muguguestbook.com/) It’s only there for would-be scambaiters to put their emails if they aren’t getting enough scams to play with. It works. After a few days, I went from a couple of emails a month to several a day. So now I can pick and choose. One I turned down was written in that every-moment-is-a-testament-to-my-life-walking-with-Christ style. Except WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY over the top. So I just answered with " I hope you burn in Hell and your friends get eaten first!" and attached this picture. [![](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/villains/images/7/72/Lovecraft-cthulhu.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20151128095138) ](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/villains/images/7/72/Lovecraft-cthulhu.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20151128095138) ---
**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, 2022, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/147 "2022-07-15T19:38:34Z")
I _have_ found that my persona “Peter Mosse” makes some scammers assume I’m German. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2022, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/148 "2022-07-15T21:17:22Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > and attached this picture. I hope it was more impressive when you attached it to your response, because Discourse is making a dog’s breakfast of that as a preview box. The extra metadata at the end of the URL apparently trip it up. Here He is, in all His tentacle-y glory: [![](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/villains/images/7/72/Lovecraft-cthulhu.jpg) ](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/villains/images/7/72/Lovecraft-cthulhu.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2022, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/149 "2022-07-15T21:18:50Z")
Double-s e is kind of a German sounding word ending. ---
**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, 2022, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/150 "2022-07-15T21:20:22Z")
Looks the same to me, size and all. ---
**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, 2022, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/151 "2022-07-15T21:23:45Z")
According to [this site](https://www.houseofnames.com/mosse-family-crest), it’s Anglo-Saxon. I even have a family crest. [![](https://www.houseofnames.com/dpreview/MOSS/EN/Mosse/family-crest-coat-of-arms.png) ](https://www.houseofnames.com/dpreview/MOSS/EN/Mosse/family-crest-coat-of-arms.png) ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2022, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/152 "2022-07-15T21:30:48Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > , it’s Anglo-Saxon Nice. An extinct dialect of Low German. Makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2022, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/153 "2022-07-15T21:45:41Z")
After going quite a long time with only getting the odd Nigerian scam once in a great while, I’m now getting multiple ones per day. I love the ones, for example, where I am supposed have a similar name to someone who died leaving a lot of money behind. And it’s not addressed to me by name. Just something like “Dear email user”. And people still fall for this? One yesterday wanted to give me $50k. Cheapskates. I don’t give my SSN, bank account number, etc. away for less than $50M. Add some zeroes, bozos! (Note: Such files opened within my spam folder autoblock external content. So they don’t know I’m reading it.) ---
**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 16, 2022, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/154 "2022-07-16T07:31:30Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > One I turned down was written in that every-moment-is-a-testament-to-my-life-walking-with-Christ style. Except WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY over the top. I forgot I had a copy in the “Sent” folder. > DIVINE DONATION FROM ME, PLEASE DO REPLY ME ASAP! \> \> Dearest in Christ, \> \> Calvary Greetings in the name of our lord Jesus Christ our savior. \> \> My name is Mrs. Lucy Cart, wife to the late Gerald Cart from Europe, i \> am old i have no family no kids, i lost my husband and my only two \> kids in a motor accident five years ago it’s so sad for me right now, \> i am very ill with cancer, doctors says i have short time to live, i \> have decided to give my wealth to an honest person that can use it to \> glorify the name of the lord. \> \> After I received instruction from my God to use this fund to do GOD’S \> work and to give to charity, I prayed to God for direction and he has \> been directing me. I told God that I want a ministry, or an honest \> person who will spend the fund for things that will glorify His name. \> This revelation came after my conversion from sinner to a Born Again \> Christian. \> \> I received Christ and I found out that a sinner has no place in the \> kingdom of God. I never had rest of mind, I seek God for forgiveness \> and he revealed to me that I will only have rest of mind if I serve \> him with all my wealth and he will bless me mightily. \> \> It was when I received Christ that I realized the meaning of going to \> heaven is to make heaven; I don’t want to perish in hell fire. As my \> level of Christianity was increasing, I understood that the wealth of \> sinners is acquired for the just. God opened my eyes to the book of \> Ecclesiastes 6, verses 1 & 2. Read this scripture and you will \> understand that there are people in this world that God gave the grace \> to acquire wealth yet God did not give them the grace to enjoy the \> wealth. \> \> I happened to fall into the same category now it is the wish of \> God.When God revealed to me to use my wealth to do his work, I \> understood that God was testing me like He tested Abraham and other \> men of God.Abraham needed a child and God asked him to use his only \> son for sacrifice, Abraham was faithful. He obeyed and God made him \> father of many nations. \> \> After the death of my late husband and when I was told about my \> illness I had to sell all our properties which amounted to about $22 \> million which I deposited with the Bank for safety purposes. If \> anything happens to me these funds will be impounded, can you use \> these funds for charity purposes? \> \> Please reply me on my private below Email: [lucycart88@yahoo.com](mailto:lucycart88@yahoo.com) \> \> \> AWAIT YOUR PROMPT REPLY. \> \> In His Service, \> Mrs. Lucy Cart Thus the need to summon 'Ol Tentacle-Face. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2022, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/155 "2022-07-16T08:53:31Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > … So I just answered with " I hope you burn in Hell and your friends get eaten first!" … Granted that my knowledge of the mythos is sketchy (to put it mildly), but isn’t being eaten first considered the best possible outcome? ---
**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 16, 2022, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/156 "2022-07-16T08:57:16Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > Granted that my knowledge of the mythos is sketchy (to put it mildly), but isn’t being eaten first considered the best possible outcome? - “She” doesn’t know that. I also doubt “she” recognizes who that is. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2022, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/157 "2022-07-16T12:57:54Z")
It is for the friends. Not so much for her if she’s the last to go. ---
**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:** [July 18, 2022, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/158 "2022-07-18T18:43:06Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Just found this one in my inbox. Yep, same tracking number, complete with “us” prefix. Still making the rounds. Just found another one in my spambox; they want “3.00 Dollar”. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/159 "2022-07-18T22:32:03Z")
I’ve gotten several emails lately appearing at first glance to be from Target, Kohl’s etc. “Click below to claim your prize” or “Enter your information so we can ship your award” Expanding the header shows some strange email addresses that appear to originate in Europe or elsewhere, but not [kohls.com](http://kohls.com) or [target.com](http://target.com). I immediately delete these, but an older, less aware person could easily be tricked into entering data that should not be shared. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/160 "2022-07-18T23:13:19Z")
I fell for the first one of those that I got (I think it was better written than the run of the mill ones) to the extent of starting to fill out the survey (for which act I was going to get an improbably large prize), then I backed out and marked it as spam. I don’t think they managed to damage anything on my computer, but the word went out that I was a live one, and since then I have had quite a few of those. I always marked them as spam, and so by now most of them are going directly into my spam folder. So it’s a minor nuisance at this point. I don’t know if other email front ends do this, but mine shows the “real” email addresses behind the label for every email, on the reader pane. I was careless the first time and didn’t notice (I think because I really had just bought a big-ticket item from the relevant store), but I have learned my lesson. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265.md?page=9)