Scams

[ShrimpBrime]

Just to bring awareness - Be careful!!!

My mother in law was scammed out of every single dime she has to her name. All accounts emptied, all credit cards stolen. Gone. All of it.

She's 78 years old and wasnt threatened bodily harm if non compliance or call the police.

Please spread the word to your older family members not to fall victim to foreigners or unknown people of any type. Call for help straight away.

This is news I woke to today. Some of the currency we may be able to recover, ETA months and months of red tape.

[austin86]

Apr 14, 2023 11:53:15 GMT -5 ShrimpBrime said:

Just to bring awareness - Be careful!!!

My mother in law was scammed out of every single dime she has to her name. All accounts emptied, all credit cards stolen. Gone. All of it.

She's 84 years old and was threatened bodily harm if non compliance or call the police.

Please spread the word to your older family members not to fall victim to foreigners or unknown people of any type. Call for help straight away.

This is news I woke to today. Some of the currency we may be able to recover, ETA months and months of red tape.

For sure lock everything and file fraud charge backs. If it was me, and the funds were not withdrawn your end or pc/phone. I would give a quick NO when the bank asks if you gave out any bank info. Giving your info changes how the bank will handle things. For example, if you gave the info over to a scammer and then then account was drained more often then not you have less protection and way more red tape. It's the same if the scammer remotes onto your PC and drains the funds from it. If it was something you have nothing to do with the banks tend to front the bill and fight to get it back.  So if it was me and the banks have no way of knowing the info was given then don't tell then it was given. But thats just me.

[zila1]

Damn it! My Mom's account was also hacked into in some way a few months ago. Only because I am constantly in her accounts checking on things I found some strange charges and reported them right away. Someone got her info and was slowly charging things on her debit card. They were charging things at a Walmart in Puerto Rico. It started with like $35.00 charges here and there and then grew from there. We got the money back and I locked the cards. Now her accounts are in my name. I do all purchases for her now. I am keeping a close eye on it.

Edit: I can't figure out how they got her info. Mom doesn't do anything on the internet at all. Would only shop personally at neighborhood stores here. All I can think of is some sort of a Walmart security breach. We no longer shop at Walmart with any cards. Cash only. 

[Aleslammer]

There ways to get information from the card readers in the stores, though usually happens at gas pump readers as it's an electronic device that needs to be connected. Had it happen to me from a Chevron station in Reno, was looking at my account online and saw a charge to a store in Texas within minutes of a purchase I made locally, was a Wal-Mart where the purchase was made in Texas.

[zila1]

Hmmm, a Walmart. You too. There's a common denominator.

[Mr.Scott]

No common denominator. Skimmers are everywhere. Got my card skimmed at a gas station last year.
$6300 spent in like 2 hours. Bank caught it and took care of it.

[Bones]

So far (Knock on head/wood) that hasn't happened to me yet.
I'm careful about where I buy my gas and if I have to go any distance away from where I normally get it I have the tank already topped off.
There are only a couple of places I buy it from for this reason, and even then I will look to see if it looks like the reader has been tampered with or just doesn't look right period due to they can pop a skimmer right over the end of the reader that "Looks" like it's fine but it's not.

As for Wal-Mart, I woudn't doubt you have some employees in on it.

[zila1]

Damned skimmers.

[ShrimpBrime]

On the phone all day.

Chase Bank fraud department is on the case!

She was duped into sending 2000$ in pre-paid cards and 7500$ cash in a book, shipped to an address. She doesn't remember the address, but we have reciepts for the shipping and tracking numbers. That was a couple weeks ago.

My wife and I just found out today, she's been in touch with these scammers as far as I can tell since the 29th of March.

All bank accounts are sealed off now. Roughly 25,000 dollars removed via withdrawals and money transfers. BUT, she will probably get it all back with the loss of sending cash in the mail.

Computer is shut off, I'm 99% sure she has an open folder with her account information and that's how they got such easy access to everything.

Word of advice, which I follow for myself, ALL passwords and usernames are kept in my head. Not even written on paper.

[Bones]

I never use a password manager myself, that's just asking for it.
I never allow the machine to remember passwords or login info period, plus I'm always cleaning out my cookies too.

I do have a little storage device with all that but if I use it for reference to something I've forgotten, the machine is disconnected from the web - No exceptions and I clear all user history after I'm done before connecting again.
In my case I pull the LAN cable from an extender that's right here where I am sitting and it's disconnected, plus there is no Wi-Fi to or in this machine either.

Also, I NEVER allow vendors online to "Remember" my cards, I always clear those out and I keep it that way.

[ShrimpBrime]

Apr 14, 2023 18:46:46 GMT -5 Bones said:

I never use a password manager myself, that's just asking for it.
I never allow the machine to remember passwords or login info period, plus I'm always cleaning out my cookies too.

I do have a little storage device with all that but if I use it for reference to something I've forgotten, the machine is disconnected from the web - No exceptions and I clear all user history after I'm done before connecting again.
In my case I pull the LAN cable from an extender that's right here where I am sitting and it's disconnected, plus there is no Wi-Fi to or in this machine either.

She's 78 years old. She was at one time on top of things like this. My wife feels she has a neurological issue because her memory is horribly horrible. These scammers probably threatened her, but not in a physical form. Which I did ask. 

But man, unplugging is a good idea. But I think dementia or alzheimer's - 

Oh here is a couple of phone numbers that's called her.

929 214 4342

917 387 4396

DO NOT CALL THESE NUMBERS!!! for reference only. If you get a call from this or similar DONT ANSWER IT!!!

[Bones]

Both of those are NYC area codes.

My rule is simple - If I don't know the number I'll let it ring and see if a message is left.
If not I'll block it or sometimes I'll look it up and if it's weird in any way I'll block it.

Most of the time it's a scam call because they won't leave a message so they get blocked but I'm also aware of number spoofing too.
That's when I'll look it up if I'm expecting a call from somewhere, one comes in and if there is no message left I'll check it and do whatever I have to from there.

[ShrimpBrime]

Apr 14, 2023 19:28:34 GMT -5 Bones said:

Both of those are NYC area codes.

My rule is simple - If I don't know the number I'll let it ring and see if a message is left.
If not I'll block it or sometimes I'll look it up and if it's weird in any way I'll block it.

Most of the time it's a scam call because they won't leave a message so they get blocked but I'm also aware of number spoofing too.
That's when I'll look it up if I'm expecting a call from somewhere, one comes in and if there is no message left I'll check it and do whatever I have to from there.

Yeah I found the same thing on the look up dealy. Probably spoofed numbers for sure.

I've tried calling a few with *67 before the area code. Most of the time no answer, or the number is invalid, unable to reach this customer ect ect.

But you know Bones, there's no real way to tackle this situation to punish people like this. That's the sad part of it all.

Luckily, it's only money and someone didn't break into her home and do the unthinkable type crimes. I'll take this over that any day.

[austin86]

Apr 14, 2023 18:41:51 GMT -5 ShrimpBrime said:

She was duped into sending 2000$ in pre-paid cards and 7500$ cash in a book, shipped to an address. She doesn't remember the address, but we have reciepts for the shipping and tracking numbers. That was a couple weeks ago.

Fore sure call the USPS postal inspectors, even if it was not sent via USPS they still have jurisdiction over something like this and they don't mess around.

[ShrimpBrime]

Apr 14, 2023 19:58:18 GMT -5 austin86 said:

Apr 14, 2023 18:41:51 GMT -5 ShrimpBrime said:

She was duped into sending 2000$ in pre-paid cards and 7500$ cash in a book, shipped to an address. She doesn't remember the address, but we have reciepts for the shipping and tracking numbers. That was a couple weeks ago.

Fore sure call the USPS postal inspectors, even if it was not sent via USPS they still have jurisdiction over something like this and they don't mess around.

I think she used UPS actually. Waiting on her to find the receipts.... 

[zila1]

It just pisses me off when assholes take advantage of the elderly like that. Cowards. What goes around comes around.

[austin86]

Apr 14, 2023 20:03:55 GMT -5 ShrimpBrime said:

Apr 14, 2023 19:58:18 GMT -5 austin86 said:

Fore sure call the USPS postal inspectors, even if it was not sent via USPS they still have jurisdiction over something like this and they don't mess around.

I think she used UPS actually. Waiting on her to find the receipts.... 

that would still be under their authority. they might be able to pull the tracking without a receipt if you have the transaction information assuming it wasn't payed in cash.

[freeagent]

I am very sorry to hear that

Damn shitbags are everywhere 

[ShrimpBrime]

Apr 15, 2023 8:38:31 GMT -5 austin86 said:

Apr 14, 2023 20:03:55 GMT -5 ShrimpBrime said:

I think she used UPS actually. Waiting on her to find the receipts.... 

that would still be under their authority. they might be able to pull the tracking without a receipt if you have the transaction information assuming it wasn't payed in cash.

She sent the packages over 10 days ago and shipped them overnight. The money and the person receiving the package is likely long gone by now. I'm still waiting on this receipt. My wife is going out to her house after work and will have the tracking information then, because grams can't seem to find it. 

[zila1]

Apr 15, 2023 9:59:40 GMT -5 ShrimpBrime said:

Apr 15, 2023 8:38:31 GMT -5 austin86 said:

that would still be under their authority. they might be able to pull the tracking without a receipt if you have the transaction information assuming it wasn't payed in cash.

She sent the packages over 10 days ago and shipped them overnight. The money and the person receiving the package is likely long gone by now. I'm still waiting on this receipt. My wife is going out to her house after work and will have the tracking information then, because grams can't seem to find it. 

She needs a great big hug and to be comforted. She must be feeling just awful. Poor little thing. 

[ShrimpBrime]

Apr 15, 2023 12:08:41 GMT -5 zila1 said:

Apr 15, 2023 9:59:40 GMT -5 ShrimpBrime said:

She sent the packages over 10 days ago and shipped them overnight. The money and the person receiving the package is likely long gone by now. I'm still waiting on this receipt. My wife is going out to her house after work and will have the tracking information then, because grams can't seem to find it. 

She needs a great big hug and to be comforted. She must be feeling just awful. Poor little thing. 

Yessir, we gave lots of that too! I brought Jordan with me and he gave her a big hug. For an 11 year old, he was super patient and didn't bother us when making phone calls dealing with this. Big props to him for that. But she's bummed a little bit, but not like you'd expect. She admitted to the mistakes and she can't explain why she did what she did. So that raises alarm, because if she was in a normal cognitive state, I don't think any of this would have happened at all. She's not one to just let go of money like that.

But, she's super great full for the support and good luck wishes. 

Luckily they didn't get to the retirement funds. Oh my, she'd be in real trouble if that happened. There's considerably more money in those accounts. 25K is a big deal, but this could have been a lot worse.

[zila1]

I'm going to talk to my bank about getting a credit card with a $500.00 locked limit that I can use just for my shopping. But from now on most of my transactions will be in cash whenever possible.

[ShrimpBrime]

Apr 15, 2023 13:08:58 GMT -5 zila1 said:

I'm going to talk to my bank about getting a credit card with a $500.00 locked limit that I can use just for my shopping. But from now on most of my transactions will be in cash whenever possible.

A lot of places are going cashless these days. Up at the Dells, all the water park resorts are 100% cashless. I'm not sure about all the down town stores, we didn't do a lot of shopping. 

Around town, I use cash mostly.  

I also dont do online banking on my PCs either.

[ShrimpBrime]

And lastly, filed a report with the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

[ShrimpBrime]

Cleaned ma's PC.

They where using a program called Support.client.exe

It is a sandbox screen connect tool.