Posted on 12/26/2020 6:16:21 AM PST by blam
Sometimes we have to question the intelligence of Americans. It’s no secret that unhealthy lifestyles and eating mounds of junk food can impair brain function. With that being said, intelligence is lacking for some Americans as thousands were recently swindled out of millions of dollars by a scammy Indian call center.
According to the NYTimes, an Indian call center in Peera Garhi, west of Delhi, tricked victims into believing their bank accounts were frozen as part of an elaborate drug investigation. As many as 4,500 victims were told, they had to transfer money to the scammers or risk serious jail time.
On Dec. 17, as many as 50 people from the call center were arrested. Authorities alleged the employees learned American accents and pretended to be officials of various American law enforcement agencies.
Delhi Police Cybercrime Unit shows police arresting a group suspected of conducting an international scam at a call center in Delhi. Source: NYT
Investigators said the victims were given an ultimatum: Face jail time or take an “alternative dispute resolution” to avoid criminal charges.
Over two years, the call center bilked more than $14 million from gullible Americans who “were asked to buy Bitcoins or Google gift cards worth all the money in their accounts,” said Anyesh Roy, a police officer in New Delhi. The monies were then transferred to what the victims thought was a “safe government wallet” but were actually accounts tied to the call center.
The South China Morning Post said the “call center even had a human resources policy offering graded salary scales, bonuses for Christmas and for those who could get people to capitulate fast, as well as paid holidays.”
The stupidity of some Americans makes you wonder if IQ rates in the country are dropping?
Why do I think that your post is an actual transcribed phone call, and not satire?
I will not blame the victims. These people were using American accents anyway. It’s a problem that more times than not, the authorities do not investigate these sorts of scams. Bravo to the authorities for doing this.
I don't "wonder" at all. A trip to Walmart confirms it. The fact that Creepy Joe/Crazy Ho are headed to the White House confirms it. Etc.
Just doing the needful
I recently called to activate a new credit card (couldn’t seem to do it online for some reason). A guy with an Indian accent answered the phone so everything seemed normal. I told him what I wanted. He said their system was down and they were offering a $100 gift certificate for the inconvenience. I literally said “bs”. He said no, this is real. Since I had called the number on the card I said okay and gave him my address. Then he asked for my account number and my internal alarms went off like crazy. I said there’s no way I’m giving you my account number. He hung up on me just about immediately. Then I looked and saw that I had misdialed one digit of the number. These people apparently owned the 1-800 numbers surrounding the real credit card’s number.
A couple of days ago I got a call from a guy with a very strong Indian accent who said he was officer so and so and gave his badge number. I’m sorry, but someone would have to be borderline retarded to believe this one. I yelled at him till he hung up. I can’t help but wonder if the two calls weren’t related and they got my number on caller ID on the first call.
“I got a call from someone saying they were from the social security admin. Hung up immediately. Amazing how many people don’t.”
I got one of those calls, too. I was very rude and hung up on her. Then I got a call from the lawyer’s office asking why I hung up on the social security representative handling my disability claim. Oops.
The FCC has five hundred excuses why they can’t stop the scammers.
I have an easy solution.
Tell the FCC the FCC will be abolished in six months if they don’t eliminate the scammers—then watch what happens next!
I don't answer. If the call isn't from someone who isn't in my contact list, then the call goes unanswered. I recently downloaded the Verizon call filter app, and I have to say it's working marvelously.
“Legalizing Marijuana will restore a strong sense of responsibility.”
Criminalizing it hasn’t done so, troll.
Merry Christmas!
Actually, they used standard American-sounding names like "Steve Smith" delivered with a thick Indian accent. That alone should have aroused people's suspicions, but it fooled many.
My work has great spam filters, but nothing is perfect.
Whoever used to run the physical scams (letters in the USPS) graduated to the Internet (email & hacking) many, many moons ago. One time I received an email stating that the Grand PoohBah of Nigeria had passed away, and left me a small fortune. All I had to do was ‘share’ my bank account and password. I decided to have some fun. I composed a short but concise message to send via FedEx $5,000 in gold. Once the gold arrived, I explained, I would know that I could trust them.
I received this reply:
‘I know understand you.’
I replied back ‘No kidding Dick Tracy.’
But
But we will get smarter with legal recreational Marijuana
Sure, but don’t dare allow people to have adequate pain medicine.
Now that was precisely what I was thinking.. :)
I let them do their thing and then I tell them I am investigator with the Attorney Generals Office and ask them if they want to continue. They disconnect.
My favorite is getting a call from Wells Fargo (caller id), answering it and hearing “Hi this is the Social Security Administration”.
I had to call AARP for some info and got a Paki whose name was “Robert” and had a very thick accent. He got all hissy when I asked him to repeat a couple of times. “Would you repeat that please?” “OF COURSE I can repeat it!”. I hung up and got the info via another source. Sent an email to AARP asking them if they are going to offshore, at least get people who have a command of the English language.
Heh, because it is damned plausible in the slightest way. There is NOTHING I rule out any more with these people who I regard as enemies...
Even a silly parody of a support call!
Doesn’t hold a candle to what American politicians get away with everyday.
$14M...pffft...chump-change.
You bet your ass.
Things change when one is actually expecting a call from the SSA.
JoMa
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