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.
We do not answer the phone if the call isn’t one of our contacts. If it’s important, the caller will leave a message.
The app has legitimate business purposes, it is just used by scammers as well. It supposedly will give you warnings about the incoming calls from india (where the vast majority of these originate) and the scammers will often ask you to connect to them.
More info can be learned by searching youtube for ‘kitboga’ or ‘jim browning’ or ‘music is a rainbow’ or ‘pierogi scammer payback’ or ‘julia scam bbb’ or other scam baiters. There are also scam baiting robots as you will find with a search for ‘lenny scammer.’
I never answer calls I don’t know.
If it’s important, they’ll leave a message.
I ignore all calls no matter caller I.D. info or area code as that can be altered with an app.
Of course, the calls I suspect as B.S. never leave a message, most never call back.
“The app has legitimate business purposes”
And what would those be?
Amazon has the worst security. I had a CC that was only used on Amazon, and it was compromised. Got a replacement card, and that one was stolen in 6 weeks.
Cancelled that and got another card, gone in 3 weeks.
It was AMAZON, no doubt.
Cancelled my aMazon account, and nary another problem.
Deal with them if you want, I won’t.
There is simply no way to call Amazon. I was involved recently with a "Ring" doorbell that came with missing parts. Ring said "tell it to Amazon", Amazon said "tell it to Ring". There was absolutely no way to talk with Amazon. Ring finally gave me their secret phone number for calling Amazon. It was simply an automated voice system with no ability to deal with a missing part, and no way to talk to a human. I finally dealt with an Amazon automated message system (no human) that sent me a new doorbell. This was all because of a missing 3 cent screw.
YouTube has many videos of this and other scams. The Amazon/iPhone scam is fairly common. Not Nigerian Prince common but maybe someday.
I was just getting ready to take my dog for a walk. Next time, if there is a Next time, and if I have some time I think I'll have a little fun.
I'll play along, but have so many issues following instructions I'll see if I can get the scammer to hang up on me. The more of their time I waste, the less time they have to target someone else.
Maybe have a problem accessing the app store. Then pretend the download aborted saying I'm out of storage space. Wait, I'll go to my computer. (And play even dumber) "Start menu? ... Let me see..." I'm running Linux, but I won't volunteer that, just "not Apple." Admin privileges? Wait... I can't find that. Maybe it is my router/firewall... Just a second, got the admin password for that written down in the other room (while I go make a cup of coffee in the Kuerig)... Ok, maybe if I reboot my computer... Wait, maybe if I reset the modem/router. No, I can't do that my phone is using wifi calling. I know, let me check the settings... Just a minute, have to let the dog out... No no, I appreciate you telling me, I want to address this...
I'll bet I can string them along for 45 min to an hour.
Those apps (there are others besides AnyDesk) are yet another reason to never let a stranger use your smartphone. Some can be downloaded and installed in seconds and run in the background so you don’t know they are there. Some also track you via your phone’s GPS.
Thanks for the warning. It’s been a busy day for the scammers. I’ve been getting too many calls tagged “robocaller” and “scam alert” today. I don’t answer, of course, but so annoying.
The times i have had a problem that required a phone call they had to call me.
Dont remember the names but there are you tube videos of people who scam the scammers. They can track their computers and in some cases boat anchor them. In a couple of cases, the guy was able to patch into their building security cameras in Bangalore and send live footage to the authorities. I got to learn all sorts of bad hindi words
I have a landline and NEVER pick up on those calls. . .never pick up or say the word yes. The Amazon scam also comes in e-mails. I never respond to any of those. And I don’t use telephone numbers on e-mails or reply to e-mails that say they are from one of my credit cards, etc. I find the official number and call or go on-line to my account. Have had some friends who weren’t cautious and got scammed.
Happens more than you know.
There are scammers who have websites that look like
major companies but are not legit.
Almost got caught myself, had to reload my operating
system.
If they start talking about you buying gift cards as payment
it’s a total scam.
I’ve been getting loads of fake emails from amazon in the last month. Constantly claiming status or purchase report on my very expensive purchases.
I send them to amazon reported as phish.
Your thought is correct, it is phishing. Delete it.
Once in a while i answer the phone like an granny on the hooch..try not to bust out laughing and say something crazy....like..did you just steal my chickens...i saw you in the hen house.
For more than a year I have received phone calls “warning” me about suspicious activity purchases BUT I had read of this earlier online. They said I am implying by hanging up that I go along with the purchase and it’s okay but if I stay on the line I can oppose the debiting and give them information to help or something. That is an outright lie to obtain information. When I hung up and then checked myself for the first 2 or 3 times my bank did not debit anything, Amazon (or my credit card) did not put a big purchase on, or anything else.
Total FRAUD call.
Now I hang up on “This is a courtesy alert from XYZ bank” or from “Amazon.”
The genuine security person from credit cards about fraudulent use (I’ve had probably 5 or 6 in four years) identify themselves so you can look them up on your computer yourself and call them back on the real “to report fraud or suspicious charge. Real security will ask your questions “what was your childhood first dog?” “What was your first car?” “Who was your favorite teacher?” Ones that you once established for your account.
.
Go to AOL’s home page and search for any references to necessary updates.
I also have an email account with AOL, two actually, both linked to a Yahoo! email account as backup. I have not received any such emails.
You can also copy any links in the email and plug them into a sesrch engine to see what comes up. DO NOT go straight to the address. Bad idea. Sometimes links, when hovered over, look like they’re correct but redirect you after clicking. It happened to me once (I was half awake, so sue me).
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