Posted on 11/27/2021 3:30:44 PM PST by ThunderSleeps
Just a heads up on a new (to me) scam.
Got a robo-call today allegedly from Amazon. Something about suspicious activity on my account. Ok, I pushed the button to talk to a real person.
A guy comes on the line and asks if I was purchasing an iPhone 11. I of course said no. (I'm an Android guy) He said fine, the purchase would be denied. (this is a key part of the scam)
I had him on speaker phone and went to my Amazon account. There was no record of an iPhone purchase. Now he claimed they had denied it. But it is just part of the setup because they are not affiliated with Amazon in the least.
He then said their "cyber team" would help correct and protect my account. He asked what kind of phone I had, iPhone or Android. He then said for the cyber team to help correct my account I needed to go to the play store and install "AnyDesk." I looked it up, it allows full remote access to your device. H**l no.
That's when I hung up on him. So be forewarned fellow freepers - there are new scams coming out all the time.
These people never sleep. A pox on them.
Your quick thinking saved you from something that could have been horrendous. Good on you! I have absolutely no tolerance like the one you narrowly avoided.
I got that call too. I hung up but if a person is worried you can always call the source of the issue...like Amazon... Except with amazon you probably have to go through their internet system.
Thanks for the warning.
This does sound odd. Why would they need you to go to the play store and download something, in order to deal with your Amazon account? It does sound odd.
I have no tolerance for my crappy typing either. Heh.
Of course you can guess that what I *meant* to say was “. . . no tolerance for VULTURES like the one you narrowly avoided”.
This has been on going for the last 5 years, very surprising you just got one. I have countless calls.
Too bad they don’t realize I hate Amazon and won’t do business with them.
Easily fix if you set up your account for 2-step authentication. Did he sound like a Haji form india?
That’s been around for a couple of years...
I called Amazon about it in 2020...
They seem to appreciate getting the info (date & time)...
Also beware of texts with virtually the same scam. NEVER click on any links in texts messages. Find another way to verify anything you’re not sure of.
First mistake: You answered the phone.
Our phone system blocks robo calls & we get quite a few a day, usually 2-3 minimum with a high of 16! If a call is a number not in the directory or on the “allowed” number list, they get a message that ‘Smart CallBlocker’ is in progress ... if they are an “invited person or business”, they should press the # sign. Robo calls can’t do this. Maybe 1 in 20 calls get through this way & they have all been legitimate calls by actual people. The calls in the directory & allowed list ring straight through. We also have the ability to directly block at least 1,000 numbers, but most scammers change numbers/extensions with almost every call so the “press #” really works best overall. I have elderly parents very susceptible to scams (& if the phone rings, they think they should answer regardless) so this system is a real blessing.
I never answer ANY questions from people who call me cold. I won’t even answer if they ask me how the weather is where I live. These scumbags are always fishing for information.
Got a call today. Said it was from Amazon about a purchase - hung up right then and there.
Begs the question why is the playstore even listing this app?
We’ve had these Amazon scammers too.
We also get Publishers Clearing House scammers, both of these do not call residents at home.
Here’s one that I’m wondering if it’s phishing, I keep getting this email from AOL member services telling me that I’m supposed to click on one of the links below because they’ve decided I have a non-AOL app. If I don’t update it before December 7 I could lose my email.
When I hover over the links they all have some portion that says AOL in them. That’s not usual typical typical in a phishing scam. I called AOL and they told me that they don’t understand what the email was about and I should probably ignore it. But I just received a second one. They are not the typical usual misspellings in it.
I’d be interested in knowing what other Freepers think about it.
Thanks a lot for hanging up on me, it’s how I make extra holiday cash. 😎
I have that system too. Every once in awhile the idiot will press through like they think i am going to talk to them. I take it off when expecting a call because sometimes businesses will just hang up.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.