Posted on 12/06/2022 9:53:12 AM PST by proxy_user
I got a new text scam that I nearly fell for - well, not quite. It claims to be the Post Office asking for an address to be corrected so they can deliver your package
Really? How would the post office know my phone number if they don't know my address? Well, maybe the phone number was on the package - let's click on the link.
It goes to usppaeckltc dot info, a somewhat convincing imitation of a Post Office web page. It might fool the average person, but not a skill Unix geek. Pulling up my trust Unix command line, I run a whois on the URL. All the fields are marked REDACTED FOR PRIVACY except a couple:
Registrant State/Province: Wilayah Persekutuan Registrant Country: MY
So, how is scamming coming along in Malaysia? Finding any suckers?
Don't be a sucker, assume all texts are fraudulent until proven otherwise!
I like this idea: Tired of Losing Packages to Thieves? Try the Blank Box!
I’m getting several emails a day supposedly from Best Buy, Lowes, Ace, and several others saying I’ve won a _?__ from them. Just provide them with mailing information. If you move your cursor over the Submit button, normally you see some URL that has nothing remotely to do with the company. And, don’t ever open an attachment from such spams.
Agreed. At times I’ll ask the crapo caller if I should just give them a card number to save time. Interesting answers usually.
> I’ve been busy placing boxes of cat crap and litter clumps of cat piss in boxes this season. <
I’ve read that a fertilizer shortage is on the horizon. So not only are getting rid of unwanted poop, you might be actually helping a thief who is also a farmer. 🙂
How would anyone know your phone number. To do business EVERYONE demands your phone number so it’s EVERYWHERE.
I recently went to Bank of America to get a large check for diligence money for a house purchase. I was standing there, in person, with every form of ID possible. But still the bank employee insisted on sending a text to my phone to “verify my identity”.
That’s funny .... pretty harmless, too. We live back off the road far enough that we don’t have packages stolen off the porch or I’d definitely be doing this. Don’t have cat litter, but dogs, chickens, a relative has hogs .... a few rocks for weight .... LOL!
Yep, I fell for that one. I was still in my car after getting my mail at the mailbox, and saw it. Had to go to my bank the next day to get that card killed. Just got my replacement.
As an American she would need $5K to open that account so they could deposit her $3.2 Million US. I called them at 2:00AM and played along for a bit while an IT friend did some mapping of the call and internet data. Turns out it was some guys in New Jersey running the scam. When we called them again on an affiliated but different phone number (mind you these were calls going to Indonesia then routed to New Jersey) the guy answered the call with a North Jersey accent.
Our government didn't care. We passed the info on but nothing.
how does the PO know yer phone number?
> a few rocks for weight <
Ha! You’ve just given me an idea. It might be interesting to permanently affix a reinforced “Amazon” package to the ground. Perhaps the package could be bolted down from the inside.
Then hilarity would ensure when the thief tries to pick the package up.
I think I’m going to work on this after my afternoon nap.
I’ve had 2x of that exact email in the last 2 weeks. Figured they were malicious spam since I hadn’t ordered anything.
Well, that’s the entire point of running Linux instead of Windows.
If you’re nervous, you can use a wget on the command line.
For about 15 seconds - then I said hey, wait a minute, let’s check this out.
Sorry Guys, I am taking MY cut!
Texts from my cell phone company or my ex-wife are the only ones I assume are not spam. All others are suspect.
Mine was a very official looking email from the “USPS” & i dont even use a smartfone or ifone.
and just the other day... I read the
ANGRY BIRDS was a leaky app and data was collected by TPTB
I never follow a link from an unknown source. It’s always a scam.
They usually have a heavy Indian or Eastern European accent so you may have difficulty understanding them.............😁
Here’s the simple foolproof way to avoid scams:
If you receive a communication from a party that you have done business with and seems legit - and you wish to respond or follow up - do not continue the conversation or hit “reply”.
Instead, initiate contact yourself, using the official contact information in your records, or provided by an independent reputable source.
When I get a call from someone claiming to be from my bank or my insurance company, and I suspect it is a scam, I say “I can’t talk right now, is there a number where I can reach you?”
If it is a scammer they will hang up.
Same with texts, same with emails. If you want to follow up, disconnect, do not hit “reply”, obtain contact information independently and Initiate contact yourself.
Last two text scams I got were someone claiming to be Netflix, telling me my account was going to expire in two days.
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