FRAUD ALERT!!!

I'm not sure if this belongs here or not but my wife got a call earlier this evening from someone who said they were calling from Verizon. This person said they were going to shut my phone off if I didn't pay the $22.50 I owed (which sounded suspicious... I WISH I only owed them $22.50 ) So I took the phone and he said he needed my Social Security number, Bank Account information, blah, blah, blah... Fraud, Fraud, Fraud... So I told him to note my account that I will call Verizon back and give them that information but he persisted on getting that info. So I told him again that I would call Verizon and he hung up on me.

Red Flag #1: They called my wifes phone and not the main number (my phone)
Red Flag #2: 'Private Number' came up as the caller ID
Red Flag #3: They asked me for private information. Verizon told me they do not ask for that kind of information over the phone

PLEASE be careful everyone! There are people out there trying to get our information and I don't want anyone to slip up and accidently give out any information.

I should have gave them bogus information.

I wonder if we should make this a general fraud alert thread?

http://www.wlwt.com …unds-on-facebook/33594448

First clue is when they said Verizon is calling you. Verizon never calls. They just cut off your service and wait for you to call them.

voice on phone: "this is (mumble) from Microsoft, we are noticing your computer is infected with some sort of virus, can we get you to log on to our website please for testing"
me: "really? I don't think there is any issues at all with with my computer"
voice on phone: "yes sir, we are detecting major traffic from your machine, can you log on to <website> and download the virus scanner and we'll have it fixed in no time at all"
me: "are you 100% sure it's my machine?"
voice on phone: "yes sir, it's definately yours"
me: "well that's just B.S. as I'm on holiday 680Km away from home & my machine has been unplugged for 3 weeks!! You've called my mother-in-laws house, shall I put her on so you can get an earbashing?"
[click....]

PhotosGuy wrote in post #17609712
I wonder if we should make this a general fraud alert thread?

http://www.wlwt.com …unds-on-facebook/33594448

Sounds good. If the mods are ok with that. Make it a sticky.

CameraMan wrote in post #17610204
Sounds good. If the mods are ok with that. Make it a sticky.

We'll see on the Sticky part. Personally, I'd want to see more participation first.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #17610214
We'll see on the Sticky part. Personally, I'd want to see more participation first.

Not worth making a sticky as the problem isn't related to photography and scams and phishing like this are so common that I would have thought almost everyone would be aware by now. I often get calls (usually the caller has a foreign accent) like that re "your computer" or "Windows security" or "doing a survey" about something or other. Don't waste time on them, just hang up.

This was my first ever and they didn't even call me. I'm just glad I was home. No telling what the wife would have told them.

Yeah, we get a lot of " There is something wrong with your computer " crap. It's a lot of fun playing a Mind F#@* game with them...............

The one I have fun with is the twits who come to the door "hinting" they represent the local gas company and have been sent to read the "stand alone" heat source equipment meters. They are actually another 3rd party billing provider looking to steal your business and sign up long term, usurious contracts.

I make them run through the whole story, the reasons for the visit while continuously hinting they are official representatives of the supplier.

I then ask " If you're an official representative of the gas company, why don't you know that I don't have gas in my house?" I heat with oil.

It just goes worse from there, usually ends when I ask if their Mother knows what they do for a living.