I think as of July 1 the smaller telecoms had to implement the technology blocking spoofed calls or be cut off from the network. The number of calls to our landline (blocked by NoMoRobo) has dropped a ton. Usually no more than one a day. I did get one on my cell saying my electric company was going to turn off my power, but it is much better.
Anyone else seeing a decline?
We’re getting far fewer on personal and business landlines and cell phones.
I would estimate a 50% reduction in calls to my cell (which still get a carrier screening of ‘scam likely’) and a 70% in reduction of the ones that make it to voicemail. So still 2-3 calls a day but now only 2-3 voicemails a week.
Progress at least. The biggest advantage on my cell is that the text transcription on the VM means not having to listen to the message for the few moments needed to trash it.
Not noticeably, and there has been a noticeable increase in text spammers. It’s possible that they actually cancel each other out and I didn’t notice the decrease in phone spammers, but that some of the phoners changed to texters.
In related news -
https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/21/tech/fcc-robocall-crackdown/index.html
Specific to auto-warranty robocalls, and who knows how much actual reduction we’ll see, but I’ll take it.
Though the FCC had previously notified US telecom companies about the robocalls, Thursday’s order is the first to force carriers to stop transmitting them. By unmasking the specific people and entities behind the calls, the FCC has provided the necessary information to block them, said Acting FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan Egal in a statement.
So the difference (apparently) is this specific group of scammers has been identified and targeted. Of course, I’m sure in the not too distant future they’ll be reorganized and continue, because since they’re demanding carriers take action, it sure seems the FCC and government in general cannot.
The volume of scam calls on my cell has indeed been down. Usually just 2-3 a day, which is far less than a few weeks ago. I enabled the Verizon Call Filter app, so the majority of them do not even ring anymore.
I have had an uptick in scam texts - several in the past couple of days threatening that my Amazon account was about to be locked. Interestingly, the messaging app seems to have been upgraded (or maybe this is a side effect of activating Call Filter) so that such messages come with a popup saying that it appears to be spam, and I can easily block them.
I just checked my work email, and saw an email titled ‘Your quote is attached’. Can this be any more obviously a scam email? Yes! The sender made it even more obvious! [NB: Square brackets indicate my edits.]
J.B. <[email address]>
To: [Johnny L.A.]
Fri 7/29/2022 4:53 PM[docx.svg file attachment]
Hi [Johnny L.A.],
The signed quote is attached. Thanks for the discount.
Sincerely,
Jeff [Scammer]
CEO, VCCU–
[Reply & Forward buttons]
On Friday at 2:44 PM, [Johnny L.A.] <[work email address]> wrote:
Dear Jeff,
Here is the quote we discussed on the phone. I was able to get you a substantial discount from the previous quote.
Please sign and return. Thank you for your business!
Sincerely,
[Johnny L.A.]
[work email address]
Nice touch, replying to an email I didn’t send.
How does someone this stupid manage to scam anyone?
(this is the first contact with this clown)
Hello, please confirm if you are still ready to comply with the bank as directed to release your funds to your access.
If yes, let us know when you are making the deposit to schedule with the authorities to make sure that we release your funds to your account immediately we confirmed your deposit receipt of 200 Euros only as required for the release of your funds.
I have no idea what this is about.
Peter Mosse
You are to pay for the transfer permit charge of 200 Euros only to run the transfer of your funds in our database through telegraphic wire departments.
(well, that clears it right up)
What funds?
Who do I pay?
What is a telegraphic wire department?
Peter Mosse
Different scammer, inheritance fraud. Emails exchanged.
He calls me on my Google Voice number.
I had sent him my (fake) work ID.
PETER MOSSE
Engineer Emeritus
Guess which one he thought was my name?
I’m guessing the money lost yearly due to scammers must be in the billions of dollars. They prey on the hopes and naivety of people who are often in dire financial straits. Unfortunately, many good people fit that profile.
The federal government should run continuous public service ads, warning folks of the tactics scammers use to commit fraud and steal. Salient points should include:
• Never provide vital information or purchase anything from someone who cold contacts you, or a business you are unfamiliar with.
• If you are contacted by a business you are familiar with, but something seems fishy, don’t provide vital information or purchase anything from them at that time. Instead, call them back with a legitimate number you have or find from a trusted site.
To the best of my recollection, I’ve never given anything of value to a cold caller in my life. I rarely engage them at all. At most, when I have the time and inclination, I’ll waste their time while entertaining myself. They almost always hang up on me. I figure the more time of theirs I waste, the less time they have to steal from others.
I’m very protective of my information, and yet I’ve still had my identity stolen a few times (I suspect gas station card skimmers). So, it’s important to check your bank statements regularly for fraudulent withdrawals. And, use a bank that has a good track record of triggering on suspicious purchases, investigates and reverses fraudulent charges quickly.
I learned as a young teen that the world is full of people who want to pry you from your money. I was intrigued by a magician performing tricks in front of a downtrodden storefront in a sketchy mart. When the clown (that’s not a slur, he was actually dressed as a clown) garnered a large enough crowd, he invited us into the store and we followed like sheep. The magic tricks turned into an auction, with a few accomplices as auctioneers. They began auctioning mystery boxes starting at $5 bids. Some of the bidders opened their won boxes and squealed with delight. They won fabulous prizes! I realized too late that these “winners” were planted stooges.
Bidding intensified after seeing people win great prizes for little money. I bid $20 for a box and I won! What did I win? A Rolex watch? A $1000 bill? A trip to the Bahamas? No, I won a plastic Bic pen, half out of ink.
Lesson learned from that day forward: people suck and they love to rip other people off.
I just got this ID from a scammer. I wonder if the employee number is their joke or they copied it from a scambaiter’s ID?
Ya gotta love the guy’s job title, his non-matching signature and his professionally photographed pair of ID badges.
“My name is Williams Newton…but my friends call me Billies”.
Another new one, going to try a different tack. Diplomat has 700K Euros for me, she’ll cover 1,400 of the $1,700 demanded by Heathrow Airport, I have to send 300.
My reply
Diplomat Edelman,
I am awaiting the delivery from several sources totaling close to $50,000,000 USD.
Why should I care about a paltry 700K Euros?
Peter Mosse
Wanna bet I get warned about scammers?
“She” didn’t even read my reply, just re-sent the original email.
Forgot to mention her ID photos are clothing catalog shots.
Sent the same email again.
Me: Are you an idiot or a bot?
We also need to tell people that if you see a call from a number you don’t recognize, it’s almost certainly a scam, and the number is spoofed, so don’t try calling it back.
Apparently some scammer has started using my cell number for spoofing purposes, and I’ve been getting “call backs” from people all over Canada asking “Why did you call me?” Goddamnit, I didn’t! It’s a scam!
I can see how scammers find people, though. I could have scammed any of these people, I’m sure.
They could start with this excellent video from @Mangetout.
Why do I see so many posts on FB that are so obviously scams? Can’t they pull some fact checkers in to screen posts?
Or can I actually buy a $2500 drone for $79.95 from (checks latest offer) 123flowers.ns
Scammers pay to place ads on social media. This is somewhat of a disincentive for social media companies to stamp them out.
Are you telling me that Rayban Sunglasses AREN’T 90% off today only with coupon Rayban123? Because Facebook says otherwise!
Steve at tech Youtube channel Gamers Nexus had a video yesterday about people regularly falling for scams where someone responds to a Youtube comment with “You’ve been randomly selected by Gamers Nexus to win a free gaming PC!” and said commenter winds up sending some rando on Telegram $150 for “shipping”. Then, weeks later, scammed person starts complaining about how Gamers Nexus ripped them off and they never got their free gaming PC. As Steve pointed out, his audience is presumably younger and more tech savvy than the norm so this isn’t a problem plaguing purely the “old” and “stupid”.