This is really a scam that is going around. They find people they think they can scare and get them to send money, sometimes with gift cards! I work for the Sheriff, we never call people, never, not for warrants (prefer to sneak up on them, you know) and we sure as heck don’t take gift cards! If someone tells you that they need you to send money, don’t do it! IRS scam is similar. Seriously, if you don’t see paper, or find it on line on a legit government site, don’t do it. Also, I kind of think an airhorn would be a nice app for a phone to have now.
I read a story where a COLLEGE STUDENT got the call from the “IRS” and sent them $6,900 in gift cards. I think her parents are wasting money keeping her in college, that is the bigger scam.
Scammers just prey on those that lose their cognitive reasoning capabilities as they grow older. As I’m now closer to 70 than 60 I hope I remain aware and alert of theseba$tardo$. As for younger people that fall for these scams…their just stupid.
Shortly after my mother passed, I started receiving calls saying a lawsuit was going to be filed against my father, but we could come to a settlement over the phone. I told them to go ahead and file the papers and I’d see them in court…with a copy of my father’s death certificate (he passed 20+ years ago).
the best investment we made was having caller ID on the phone. if we don’t recognize the number, we don’t answer. Another fact is answering machines. We have one we now keep off since if our machine answers those robo callers know it’s a viable telephone number and will keep calling back.
the best investment we made was having caller ID on the phone. if we don’t recognize the number, we don’t answer. Another fact is answering machines. We have one we now keep off since if our machine answers those robo callers know it’s a viable telephone number and will keep calling back.
Also good to know that Tia Carmen learned from the lottery scam she almost got caught in several years ago. And nuisance calls are horrible. The newest tricks include using a number with the same 3 digits as your cell phone. I get at least 2 calls a day from a nearby neighborhood; I guess they think I’m more likely to answer if the number is close-by. And I’ve even gotten robocalls for bad charities, usually some sort of supposed police/first responder association that now have the recorded sound of “boiler rooms” in the background to make you think it’s live. Scam artists are tricky and always coming up with new ways to get you.
I can block up to 50 calls with Vonage, calls that are not RoboCalls. I registered with www.nomorobo.com. Robo calls are blocked, my phone rings once. Calls keep coming, even though they are blocked —mostly Robo. The worst pests right now are calls id’g themselves as Veteran support groups. All of them (about 6 right now) have different area codes and numbers. This hurt the “real” Veteran Support Groups. I am a Veteran.
Another scam is the one purportedly from Microsoft. They tell you your computer is compromised and then tell you to do something that does compromise it and then they hold it for ransom till you pay them.
The most ‘popular’ scam of 2016 was people calling to say they were from Microsoft, and that your computer is having problems, and it is sending so many error codes to Microsoft that it is overwhelming their servers. And you need to allow them to help you fix your computer. Then they will put a ‘trouble-shooting’ app on your computer, which you essentially have to pay them to take it back off, and of course they will need your credit card number. So, now I just tell them ‘Great! That program I downloaded for free called ’Stick it to Bill!’ is working!’ I tell them that Bill Gates got a lot of his money from stealing other people’s ideas, and this is just a little payback!
Templo S.U.D. almost 7 years ago
bien hecho, Carmen
ajmsdca almost 7 years ago
This is really a scam that is going around. They find people they think they can scare and get them to send money, sometimes with gift cards! I work for the Sheriff, we never call people, never, not for warrants (prefer to sneak up on them, you know) and we sure as heck don’t take gift cards! If someone tells you that they need you to send money, don’t do it! IRS scam is similar. Seriously, if you don’t see paper, or find it on line on a legit government site, don’t do it. Also, I kind of think an airhorn would be a nice app for a phone to have now.
NeedaChuckle Premium Member almost 7 years ago
I read a story where a COLLEGE STUDENT got the call from the “IRS” and sent them $6,900 in gift cards. I think her parents are wasting money keeping her in college, that is the bigger scam.
Egrayjames almost 7 years ago
Scammers just prey on those that lose their cognitive reasoning capabilities as they grow older. As I’m now closer to 70 than 60 I hope I remain aware and alert of theseba$tardo$. As for younger people that fall for these scams…their just stupid.
jackianne1020 almost 7 years ago
Shortly after my mother passed, I started receiving calls saying a lawsuit was going to be filed against my father, but we could come to a settlement over the phone. I told them to go ahead and file the papers and I’d see them in court…with a copy of my father’s death certificate (he passed 20+ years ago).
Cameron1988 Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Awesome. Freaking awesome, Tia Carman
arianseren almost 7 years ago
the best investment we made was having caller ID on the phone. if we don’t recognize the number, we don’t answer. Another fact is answering machines. We have one we now keep off since if our machine answers those robo callers know it’s a viable telephone number and will keep calling back.
arianseren almost 7 years ago
the best investment we made was having caller ID on the phone. if we don’t recognize the number, we don’t answer. Another fact is answering machines. We have one we now keep off since if our machine answers those robo callers know it’s a viable telephone number and will keep calling back.
GaryCooper almost 7 years ago
This scam is rampant in my community lately. Well done, Tia Carmen!
drbeth almost 7 years ago
Also good to know that Tia Carmen learned from the lottery scam she almost got caught in several years ago. And nuisance calls are horrible. The newest tricks include using a number with the same 3 digits as your cell phone. I get at least 2 calls a day from a nearby neighborhood; I guess they think I’m more likely to answer if the number is close-by. And I’ve even gotten robocalls for bad charities, usually some sort of supposed police/first responder association that now have the recorded sound of “boiler rooms” in the background to make you think it’s live. Scam artists are tricky and always coming up with new ways to get you.
jbarnes almost 7 years ago
My brother answers scam calls (usually from India) by asking “Does your mother know you steal money for a living?”
edreajr almost 7 years ago
As the famous old-time showman, P. T. Barnum is reputed to have said: “There’s a sucker born every minute.”
ElGato almost 7 years ago
I can block up to 50 calls with Vonage, calls that are not RoboCalls. I registered with www.nomorobo.com. Robo calls are blocked, my phone rings once. Calls keep coming, even though they are blocked —mostly Robo. The worst pests right now are calls id’g themselves as Veteran support groups. All of them (about 6 right now) have different area codes and numbers. This hurt the “real” Veteran Support Groups. I am a Veteran.
amaryllis2 Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Another scam is the one purportedly from Microsoft. They tell you your computer is compromised and then tell you to do something that does compromise it and then they hold it for ransom till you pay them.
STACEY MARSHALL Premium Member almost 7 years ago
The most ‘popular’ scam of 2016 was people calling to say they were from Microsoft, and that your computer is having problems, and it is sending so many error codes to Microsoft that it is overwhelming their servers. And you need to allow them to help you fix your computer. Then they will put a ‘trouble-shooting’ app on your computer, which you essentially have to pay them to take it back off, and of course they will need your credit card number. So, now I just tell them ‘Great! That program I downloaded for free called ’Stick it to Bill!’ is working!’ I tell them that Bill Gates got a lot of his money from stealing other people’s ideas, and this is just a little payback!
Naldrin 10 months ago
Good to see Tía Carmen learnt the lesson and now she doesn’t trust any scammer.