# Scammer calls. Does anyone actually fall for them? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 25, 2021, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018 "2021-06-25T19:45:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2021, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018/241 "2021-12-14T11:13:56Z")
Someone called me a few weeks ago to introduce himself, saying he was my new “(bank) account manager.” I’d noticed that the call was identified as coming from out of state, which the caller confirmed when I asked. I hung up and reported it to my bank through a dedicated email address. My bank’s anti-fraud department confirmed that it was a scam but claimed that nothing could be done about it. I can easily imagine someone else (very old, etc.) falling for it: The scammer establishes his false identity and calls a few weeks later to obtain sensitive information. It’s a damn shame is what it is. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2021, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018/242 "2021-12-14T15:30:11Z")
A new one today. Text message from an unknown source that says “Your Apple ID code is XXXXXX. Don’t share it with anyone. Reset your password?” Really? I wonder how many will fall for it. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2021, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018/243 "2021-12-14T17:56:48Z")
I’ve been getting texts saying that since I paid my November AT&T bill so nicely, I’ve qualified for a bonus. Just click here. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2021, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018/244 "2021-12-14T17:58:47Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > A new one today. Text message from an unknown source that says “Your Apple ID code is XXXXXX. Don’t share it with anyone. Reset your password?” That could just be someone trying to reset a forgotten Apple account password and entering the wrong phone number to send the confirmation code. ---
**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:** [December 14, 2021, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018/245 "2021-12-14T18:00:54Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > I’ve been getting texts saying that since I paid my November AT&T bill **so nicely** , I’ve qualified for a bonus. Just click here. - No wonder I’ve never gotten a bonus. I always pay it grudgingly. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2021, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018/246 "2021-12-14T18:04:04Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > No wonder I’ve never gotten a bonus. I always pay it grudgingly. I’d probably better check to be sure I’ve paid it at all. I’m getting forgetful and no way the scammer knows. ---
**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:** [December 14, 2021, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018/247 "2021-12-14T18:15:42Z")
I mentioned this back in October, and have gotten several since. Funny\* thing is, my AT&T account is on autopay and the payment date is nowhere near when I get these “bonus” offers. \* Not really ---
**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:** [December 14, 2021, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018/248 "2021-12-14T21:13:50Z")
I just received an email, purportedly from PayPal, stating “some information on your account appears to be missing or incorrect”. I should click HERE to update my information. I hardly think PayPal is sending emails from “[Server\_PayPcL@centurytel.net](mailto:Server_PayPcL@centurytel.net)” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2021, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018/249 "2021-12-14T22:06:16Z")
My favorite one from two weeks ago: > SECRETARY OF STATE > > Update your Driver’s License to date, as directive by the office of the Secretary of State of illiinois follow https ://thebookonadrenalfatigue.com/illionis > to update your information I mean, they’re not even _trying_ there. Bad English. Poor grasp of capitalization. And the Secretary of State has a URL beginning with The Book On Adrenal Fatigue? And a subdirectory of “illonis” [sic]? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2021, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018/250 "2021-12-14T22:09:54Z")
That is almost standard form for two-factor authentication, though the hanging “reset your password?” sounding like it’s expecting a reply is non-standard. Also, specifically apple notifications for two-factor have shown up as a pop-up on my Apple device with the verification on it. It’s my other services (Bank of America, Stripe) that say “Your verification code is 123456. Don’t share this code with anyone; our employees will never ask for the code” with no call to action after it. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2021, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018/251 "2021-12-14T23:10:09Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I mean, they’re not even _trying_ there. Bad English. Poor grasp of capitalization. And the Secretary of State has a URL beginning with The Book On Adrenal Fatigue? And a subdirectory of “illonis” [sic]? That kind of thing is a feature, not a bug. It weeds out the less credulous, who are not their target market anyway. As a tactic it dates back to the original Nigerian scams; I got one by international post (!) in the late 70s, poorly spelt and capitalised in the classic style. They keep doing it because it works. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2021, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018/252 "2021-12-14T23:19:13Z")
True, that is what they say about that. But usually they try a _weeeee_ bit harder and at least obfuscate the URL. The usual secretary of state/drivers license scam is worded a bit better. And, in this case when you want somebody to click-through, why would you make it sloppier? In the typical 409 scam, it makes sense. Here, you want as many to click through as possible, and not really want to weed anybody out. The better scams look near indistinguishable from the real thing, and require hovering over the link to see the URL. Those get the credulous and a number of the less credulous as well. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018/253 "2021-12-15T19:17:17Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > And the Secretary of State has a URL beginning with The Book On Adrenal Fatigue? And a subdirectory of “illonis” [sic]? Little known fact: one of the common symptoms of adrenal fatigue is misspelling state names. ---
**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:** [December 16, 2021, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018/254 "2021-12-16T03:43:02Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I remark that there’s no way he can cover almost 8,000 miles in 5 minutes. > He cusses and hangs up. You want to _really_ make them mad? Say something in Hindi. Esp. if it has something to do with their mother having a rather disreputable job. They often claim that their name is Anglo. The scambaiters on YT often can ferret out their real name. So they esp. love it when you address them with that. ---
**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:** [December 16, 2021, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018/255 "2021-12-16T03:53:12Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > You want to _really_ make them mad? - Wasting as much time as possible makes them mad enough. The kind of lasting mad that I hope makes them ineffective on the next (few) potential victims. Cussing them out doesn’t really do that. Getting a $5 Forever 21 card instead of $3000 in Google Play cards does. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018/256 "2021-12-20T05:17:28Z")
"One of these days in your travels, a guy is going to show you a brand-new deck of cards on which the seal is not yet broken. Then this guy is going to offer to bet you that he can make the jack of spades jump out of this brand-new deck of cards and squirt cider in your ear. But, son, do not accept this bet, because as sure as you stand there, you’re going to wind up with an ear full of cider. " - Marlon Brando as Sky Masterson ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Jocko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncle_jocko/32/2932_2.png) [@Uncle\_Jocko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Jocko)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2021, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018/257 "2021-12-25T13:54:35Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > I just received an email, purportedly from PayPal, stating “some information on your account appears to be missing or incorrect”. I should click HERE to update my information. > > I hardly think PayPal is sending emails from “[Server\_PayPcL@centurytel.net](mailto:Server_PayPcL@centurytel.net)” Years ago I got a scam email purportedly from Bank of America asking me for some information or other (it was a long time ago, I don’t remember the details). While I realized it was a scam right away - because I didn’t have any BoA accounts - it led to a very well-designed website that looked very much like the real thing. The only tell was in the webpage address, which looked like “[bankofamerica.com](http://bankofamerica.com)” - _except_ the “o” in “of” was replaced by a zero. Very clever. ---
**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:** [December 25, 2021, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018/258 "2021-12-25T14:48:41Z")
Got some more recently from “CenturyLink” saying their email servers had been updated and I should click “Here” to update my information and access my 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:** [December 25, 2021, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018/259 "2021-12-25T14:54:35Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > Years ago I got a scam **email purportedly from Bank of America asking me for some information or other** (it was a long time ago, I don’t remember the details). While I realized it was a scam right away - because I didn’t have any BoA accounts - it led to a very well-designed website that looked very much like the real thing. > > The only tell was in the webpage address, which looked like “[bankofamerica.com](http://bankofamerica.com)” - _except_ the “o” in “of” was replaced by a zero. Very clever. - That’s also a tell. I can’t imagine what info any bank would need that they don’t already have. ---
**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:** [December 25, 2021, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018/260 "2021-12-25T18:18:35Z")
I’ve seen a lot of scam attempts but I got one last week that really has me puzzled. It came through on Facebook Messenger from an elderly family member with whom I almost never interact – major life events like a death or wedding in the family only. Here’s the message : look what i found …. 😂https://photo.dl4d.in/t0l3h29r7 It sure looked like something fishy to me, but with some apprehension I clicked on the link anyway. A dialogue box pops up, supposedly from Facebook, saying “Let’s make sure it’s you” and inviting me to enter my user name and password. Nope. Have any of you gotten anything like this? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-calls-does-anyone-actually-fall-for-them/945018.md?page=14)