This might be something to report the to FBI. Thanks for sharing. Very important to spread the word.

If you get a letter or a phone call concerning something you didn't ask for or don't want, put it in the trash or hang up, as appropriate, and move on with your day. I don't understand why some seem to want to dwell on or pursue these things. Ignore them.

There's nothing new about cons and scams, they're as old as the ages. What's new are some of the tactics they use. The tricksters are looking for people who are gullible or not smart enough to understand what's going on and they obviously find enough of them to warrant keeping up with their scams.

I got a postcard (from a delivery company I've never heard of) the other day that stated that there is a delivery for me and they haven't been able to reach me. Please call this number, I was instructed. I didn't bother to call. We are retired, mostly home, and I have not ordered anything that I haven't received. If they were not able to reach me, they were not trying. I tossed the card into the recycle basket.

If I respond to anything that smacks of phishing, I call the company's number, not the number supplied in letter or email form. I initiate.

We overlooked paying our Macy's charge and my Macy's credit card called me. We NEVER miss a payment, so it was rather out of the blue and shocked us. I immediately thought I was being scammed and told the person that I'd call back to give the requested info, which I did, using the number on the back of my credit card.

We were, in fact, overdue, but you can never be too careful.

Just like you never click on a link in an e-mail like that, always use the company's number(not one listed in the letter) to check it out or respond.

I got a recorded phone call for suspicious activity on my credit card. Did the same thing, did not respond other than to call the company directly. It did turn out to be legit and my card had been used illegally even though the call did not sound legit it at all.

The IRS has been threatening me a lot too. Along with Dell and Microsoft advising my computer needs repair based on online activity , lol.

Too many people these days seem to live their lives in fear, feeling the need to be suspicious and wary every day of every phone call, mail piece, or whatever. Life isn't that threatening, risks aren't that imminent. Perpetrators are usually clumsy and obvious, laugh them off and move on.

Unfortunately, the companies involved will advise you to be cautious, that the problem is widespread and they deal with illegal activity or attempts at it every day.

The banks have to check their automatic teller machines every morning to make sure a crook hasn't placed a card scanner on them. Scamming and hacking is a huge and costly force in the world and for companies to contend with.

Besides, once your accounts have been violated like that, you will be on alert for other possible attempts.

Occasionally you might receive bogus communication from someone claiming to be a company with which you are doing business. Never, ever call the number or go to the website mentioned/linked in their message. These can be phishing messages to see what information they can obtain. Also, remember no legitimate company would request your SS number. They might request the last 4 digits, but that's it.

Being vigilante and informed is far from living in fear. With today's technology, if you don't have your guard up you might just wind up a victim.

I'd say the "best defense is a good offense" is a posture of strength, not fear.

I agree...."A thread like this is a real service". Thank you for posting.

Thank you all for responding. I'm familiar with the phone scams, but thinking that someone might have been trying to open a credit card in my name might have made me a little less likely to suspect a scam by mail, until I was asked for my SS#. I can imagine an elderly person giving the #'s before thinking, trying to make sure that they were cancelling an unwanted credit card. Actually, that happened to my late aunt, once, by phone. After reflecting for a few minutes she realized that she might have given out too much info, and called her bank for advice.

The citi letter was well done, and probably is a copy of an actual form letter, with some scammy alterations. The phone number that was included is actually listed in a few sites on a google search as sounding like a legitimate way to check the status of a credit card application: 1-888-201-4523. Same with the # I was told to call: 866-771-3354 (I dug the letter out of the trash to retrieve those.)

My point is, this is a sophisticated scam, not obvious, like the ones who tell you that your computer is infected with a virus, when you don't even own a computer (my parents).

What was the postmark on this? It's often easy to tell sales and scams just from the postmark. I don't open bulk mail. I don't answer unknown numbers. Actually I like seeing them having to spend money on printing letters and paying postage. Then I toss it. Unopened. Never even look at the return if it's bulk mail. That's why I was very unpopular years back when I said I could solve most spam email. Simply charge a few cents to a nickel for each email. Wouldn't break many people but the ones sending out millions wouldn't be doing it for long! Especially on the low rate of return. But people are penny-wise and pound-foolish. You'd also cut the scam calls by outlawing unlimited phone service. But no, people have to yak on the phones 24/7. And so the Nigerian General and the computer "techs" are getting rich from the fools. One thing though, I haven't heard of anyone shipping their car and a check to Africa for a while now so that scam has died down!

I've actually had a similar idea to yours cynic, but with a slight change that might actually make the solution workable. Whenever a call is received, the recipient has the option of hanging up and dialing similar to *69 (I'll call it *96) which would cause some amount (say 50 cents) to be added to the callers bill, and that amount would be credited to the recipient's bill.

Think about it. You've just got a call from 'Bridget at card services" or from "Microsoft" or from some annoying survey or from the opposing political party regarding their reprehensible candidate, and rather than merely hanging up and walking away silently fuming (like I did moments ago in the middle of writing this message) Instead imagine hanging up, dialing *96 and walking away slightly smirking because you've actually affected the annoying caller, and your phone bill will be slightly smaller this month. Imagine the smile when you think, "Five more of them, and this month is free!"

The details of the plan would need some careful thought to avoid creating a new mode of abuse wherein some scammer calls you leaving a message saying "Its an emergency, call me back at this number ASAP" and then when you do, they *96 you and garner 50 cents from you. Maybe each caller gets a handful of *96 calls in a given month before they are debited. Or perhaps the caller is notified that the recipient has done a *96, and the caller has the option of dialing *97 and negating the charge back, but only a couple of times a month.

It would take decision at the Federal level to force the phone companies to implement this, since I'm sure they'll fight it tooth and nail. Furthermore the telemarketing industry will surely claim it would affect their business, and jobs of all the poor schlubs they employ, but ... duh, that's the entire point of the measure.

The one issue I see with the measure is that it would be so effective, that perhaps within a year of being implemented, the need for it and the use of it would drop to near zero.

(Note if a lawmaker reads this and wants to implement this scheme, I'll gladly license the design for a meager 1/100th of a cent per call that is *96'ed :-)

Cool idea, Bob.

I appreciate these 'warnings' -- have to wonder about the time and effort that goes into trying to game the rest of the world! Being 'aware' isn't the same as being alert as a meerkat.

Plus any letters you get should be reported the postmaster at your local post office. The postal inspectors are very interested in things like that

Therein lies the problem bob_cville, I'd rather deal with the issue *before* they call rather than after. Plus the obvious issues that you already mentioned. If tele-terrorists had to pay to try to scam you, I can't see how it would not significantly reduce the calls. As it is, with free calls and gullible labor force thinking they're going to get rich harassing people, it'll go on forever. Same with spam emails. Make them pay to send them and they're reduce significantly. It's a shame that 90% of email is spam. A good idea that's been damaged so significantly.