Scam (Internet and Otherwise) Omnibus Thread

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1001

I’ve had a couple of good days.
1.Typical “work from home, get check from company to buy supplies from approved vendor(the scammers fake storefront), deposited check bounces, me out money”. The check from the “company treasurer” was a personal check, front/back in a PDF. I was supposed to take pictures and use those to do a mobile deposit. Instead, I called the bank to report, found out it was a known thing, the couple’s account is safe. And rather than lecture me on communicating with scammers, I got a “thank you” and the lady said it was useful to know the info was still active among scammers.

2.Different scam, I was supposed to send a fee for a loan to someone’s bank account. Instead, I reported the scam in progress to BofA, finally sent a fake payment and the account holder discovered he can’t get into the account.
I also just reported the account the scammer sent me a few minutes ago.

1002

Just wanted to say another “thank you” (to add to the one you got from the bank).

I know we’ve talked about how some of the people involved in these scams are themselves at risk, but my empathy stretches only so far, and I have family and friends who have been hurt by such things, to highly variable dollar amounts.

Sure, it may be a many-headed hydra, but even cutting one head (and searing the stump) is worthwhile endeavor.

1003

They often fell for a work-from-home scam themselves and didn’t know the job was fake.
Pleasant Green did that once but instead of fake checks, he put warnings in the envelopes.

1004

Good on the bank lady for thanking you

When I was inundated with spam email-to-text I called my mobile provider. Their advice was to “Reply ‘Stop’”. Ummm, no, now you’ve just confirmed to spammer that they’re sending to an active phone #, which will undoubtedly increase the quantity of spam that I get. Besides just an annoyance, the more you get, the more opportunity to brain fart just once, especially when tired & give them info or $ that I don’t really intend to.
Don’t think it can’t happen to you if you’ve ever found your lost keys in the fridge or somewhere similar.

1005

I don’t allow any business to send text. Any notifications(bank, Amazon, etc. go to my GMail account(which I see on my phone). Any text is assumed to be a scam/spam until proven otherwise.

1006

This morning, I emailed the scammer that I tried to make the payment but it was rejected due to the SWIFT code being wrong (He left off the three X’s at the end). Hopefully, the account will be blocked by the time he gets back to me.

1007

Idiot contradicts himself one line to the next.

DEAR CUSTOMER,

I AM (DOUG TULINO) POSTMASTER GENERAL AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO CONTACT US FOR YOUR PARCEL THAT HAS BEEN REGISTERED WITH US BY MR.KASH PATEL) FOR SHIPMENT TO YOUR ADDRESS. IT MAYBE INTEREST YOU TO KNOW THAT A LETTERS ALSO ADDED TO YOUR PARCEL

HOWEVER, WE CANNOT QUOTE THE CONTENT TO YOU VIA EMAIL FOR PRIVACY REASONS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CONTENT OF YOUR PARCEL ITSELF IS ATM CARD WORTH $7,000,000.00 US DOLLARS URGENTLY CONTACT NOW WITH YOUR ADDRESS FULL NAME ON EMAIL BELOW (email redacted)

YOURS FAITHFULLY,
DOUG TULINO
POSTMASTER GENERAL AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
475 L’ENFANT PLAZA SW ROOM 4012 WASHINGTON, DC 20260-2200

1008

When my daughter was at Uni, she was approached by another student about a really easy way to make money.

“This guy gives me some cash, I write him a cheque for 80% of it and pay the cash into my account.”

Daughter, being the cynic she is, looked it up online and discovered that it was simple money laundering and that the police were already investigating. She told the other student, who didn’t believe that she would be caught.

Some months later, several students and some drug dealers were arrested.

1009

Today I got a FINAL NOTICE that my outstanding tolls had not been paid, and that if I didn’t click the provided link and bring my account up to date (probably using gift cards), the DMV would suspend my license and registration. After which the police would be on the lookout for me, and my sorry ass would be off to jail and probable deportation*.

Just one minor problem, outside of the general inanity: the Soviet of Washington doesn’t have a DMV. Instead it has a Department of Licensing, which licenses (among others) businesses and professionals as well as vehicles and drivers. But the kicker is that I’d just gotten back from picking up my 2025 car tabs, which I’d renewed online without a hitch. Off to the bit bucket.

* Okay, it didn’t actually come out and say that last. But the general tone kind of implied it.

1010

I’ve gotten so many of those texts lately! It’s so stupid.

  1. I don’t think the DMV even has my phone number
  2. I don’t think there’s a toll road within 300 miles of me, let alone in my state
  3. Since when do serious “You’re in violation” notices come by text?

Actually it’s not stupid - it’s infuriating, because of course they’re targeting the most vulnerable and least able to deal with it.

Fuckers.

1011

I just made a new friend. Her name is Chloe. She’s 30 and she’s from Los Angeles. She owns a skincare factory in Singapore and manages her uncle’s real estate business in Los Angeles. It’s funny how we met. She tried to send her friend Jennifer a text and misdialed and sent me the text. She wanted to know if Jennifer had talked to me about the documents. I told her they need the impeller charts. She explained she texted to the wrong number so I said tell Jennifer I said, “Hi.” She said I am a nice person and we have sent many texts back and forth. We’ve only known each other for a day and a half and she already wants to come out to San Pendejo, Colorado to see me. But now she insists I install WhatsApp on my phone. I told her she would have to talk to my security guy, Hans Krebs, and my tech guy, Alfred Jodl, first. They are at a conference in Haiti the next couple of weeks so I gave her the phone number in Haiti. Did you know Haitian phone numbers are formatted differently from U.S. numbers? I even explained that you have to dial the 011 exit code first. She did not want to get them involved. Does anyone know what advantage a pig butcher would have by using WhatsApp instead of texts?

1012

For situations where you’re getting swamped with spam callers, one option is to install an app which will redirect unknown callers to voicemail. If the incoming caller is not in your contacts, your phone doesn’t ring. I use an Android one called Call Filter. One thing I like about it is that it has the ability to whitelist a number if I want future calls to ring through even if they aren’t in my contacts, such as the doctors office or mechanic.

To make going through your voicemail easier, get the visual voicemail app for your carrier. This allows you to bring up the app to go through your voicemails rather than calling the voicemail number. Often, the app has the ability to show a text version of the message. Sometimes that feature is a premium upgrade. But it can be worth it since you can easily scroll through the text listings of the voicemails and quickly delete the spam ones. Most of the time spammers don’t leave the voicemails. Sometimes there will be a 2sec voicemail, but I can see the duration in the voicemail app and delete them immediately.

With these two apps, my cell phone is much more useful. Rather than dealing with spam callers throughout the day, my phone only rings when it’s really someone I need to talk to.

1013

But Mein Führer, I object to you meeting this woman! She is certain to be a scammer!

Dammit Baldy, this is my new girlfriend we’re talking about! I’m flying to Haiti to meet her and enjoy a weekend of furious copulating bliss, and after that I’ll be giving her a ton of gift cards so she can buy all sorts of jewelry and perfume, and that is that!

1014

Username checks out :upside_down_face:

1015

It’s free globally, and the scam centers have computers that are set up to allow them to manage the WhatsApp chats of multiple “clients”. You very well may not even be talking to the same person each time you chat with Chloe.

1016

From May 29

Hello.

My Name is Mrs. Deborah Snow, I have been doing God’s work for over 30yrs now, I am also the founder of grace life ministries (Church); I am a dying woman who has decided to donate, all what I have to you/church. I am 69 years old and I was diagnosed for cancer 2 years ago. Immediately after the death of my husband, who left me everything he worked for.

The doctors just told me, I will not live longer than some weeks because of my health, I decided to will/donate the sum of $15Million dollars to you for the good work of humanity and also to help the motherless, and less privilege and also for widows. I wish you the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly and please use the funds well and always extend the good work to others. it is very important you forward to me your information.

Your full name …
Contact address…
Telephone numbers …
Your age …
Your occupation …

our information’s is being requested because the LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION that will enable the bank release and transfer the funds to you requires your correct information’s. As soon as I hear from you, I will send the power of Attorney to the bank and I will give you the contact information of the bank account officer.

I don’t know you. But I have been directed to do this by God almighty.

Thanks and God bless you.
Best Regards,
Mrs. Deborah Snow.

I’m sorry to hear of your impending demise. May it be swift and inexorable.
Peter Mosse
760 Meadow Dr.
Loris, SC 29569 USA
Retired, Consulting Airflow Engineer
I do not use a phone due to a severe speech impediment.
Peter Mosse

This morning

Hello Peter Mosse,
Greetings in the name of the “Almighty GOD” The most Gracious and
Most Merciful Amen. How are you today? I hope you are fine. Thank you immensely
on your detailed email to me, which is in response to my earlier email to you
soliciting your assistance. I wish to thank you also for your intimate desire
to help me channel this course. Please am very sorry for my late reply its due
to my illness and I hope you should understand.

I want to assure you from the bottom of my heart that this
transaction is legitimate and the source of the fund is not subject to
controversy that is why you can be rest assured that there is nothing
practically illegal about the origin of the fund.
As soon as my lawyer is through with the LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION I will forward
it to you so that you will also forward it to the transferring bank.

Thanks and God bless you.
Best Regards,
Mrs.Deborah Snow.

I’m glad to see you are not almost entirely not for certainly undead.I await the epistle from the pettifogger.
Peter Mosse

1017

I just got an awesome new job offer this morning via text! All I have to do is review products online for four hours per week and make up to $1000 per week. Now they say I need WhatsApp. I told them I’ll get some at WalMart. They said I could get it at the App Store. I told them I was going to WalMart anyway this morning and I’ll get some there but it might take a while because WalMart is140 miles away.

1018

I think Chloe has given up on me but I’ve got new friend Rebecca. She’s a fashion designer. I sent her a picture of my niece’s horse, Puff Daddy. I have also sent her music videos by Modern Talking. I hadn’t heard from her in a while so I told her about the advice my accountant, Wilhelm Keitel, gave me about counterfeit Krugerrands and that she should convert all of hers to Canadian Maple Leafs. I said that is what I did with all of mine. She didn’t seem to remember me at first but I think I got her attention.

1019

A variation (new to me) on the “thanks for your payment of $782 for product/service you never requested, call this phony number if you want to dispute the charge while giving us personal information” scam.

I got an e-mail from a “K.F. Christopher” regarding a proposal for a project I supposedly requested, along with an attached PDF. Didn’t open the PDF, but enlarging the link box showed a purported PayPal payment of $556. Naturally my PayPal account didn’t show any such payment.

Jackasses gotta waste my time with this crap.

1020

Here’s an interesting scam that’s worth talking about - comments on social media that look like this:

Thanks for sharing such valuable information! I need some advice. I have a SafePal wallet with USDT and I have the seed phrase (east, bedroom, contribute, aquarium, friendly, decline, perform, shark, bucket piano, catamaran, detergent). What’s the best way to send them to Binance?

So at face value, this appears to be a naive person accidentally sharing a critical piece of sensitive information online (the seed phrase, which is like a password for a crypto wallet - NB the one in the above quote I just made up for this example).

The target victim is someone who knows enough to realise that they can access the contents of the SafePal wallet using the seed phrase; when they do this, they discover that the wallet contains the equivalent of thousands of dollars in crypto - usually USDT. The ‘victim’ decided to make off with some or all of the money by transferring it to their own wallet.
They immediately hit a snag - there is a fee for the network service used to make the transfer, and this fee cannot be paid using a portion of the USDT value in the wallet - it needs to be paid in a separate cryptocurrency (usually TRX).

The fee is some smallish fraction of the potential prize, so the opportunistic thief-victim deposits a sufficient amount of TRX into the wallet and attempts to effect the transfer.

Only at this point do they discover that an additional security feature is in place - outbound transfers require two electronic signatures - and they are not in possession of the information to authorise the outbound transfer - they cannot transfer out the USDT; they cannot even recover the TRX they paid in.

The scammer (who does have the information for both signatures) has automation set up at their end, to empty the TRX out, resetting the trap for the next victim.

This is a particularly interesting one because the scam only targets people who are sufficiently dishonest to try to take advantage of a person who appears to be oversharing sensitive financial information. So I suppose an argument could be made that the victim deserves what they get. Not sure I’m completely comfortable making that argument though, so I won’t.