Another Telephone Scam

9 years ago

I got a call last week. It was a bit unnerving because the called had my whole name almost right, and my age. He'd called to inform me that I had won a merchants award. He claimed that if I had shopped any of the 4 stores he named in the past 6 months that my name ha been entered automatically each time I made a purchase. He then says i have won 2.5 million dollars and that his company will be paying the income tax. The prize also included a Mercedes Benz convertible and had me choose a color. He tries to collect as much personal information as he can - says its needed to complete the paper work. At last, the hook came. He tried to get me to go to Walmart and purchase a $780 money order to be sent to a particular address. Says its processing fee that I will get back. The receipt is needed to verify who I am on delivery of the prize. He also noted my reluctance to cooperate and suggested that I call one of two 877 numbers to speak with one of their corporate lawyers. I told him that I was terminated the call and hung up.

A quick check showed that the 2 phone numbers were Jamaican.

Guess what, he's persistent. The phone rang again. He trying very hard. I said no, Teen minutes later, he calls again. I let the answering machine answer and he hangs up immediately. No recording for him! The messages stopped.

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susanjf_gw

9 years ago

omg..at least my phone says jamaica...and I know not to answer...finally did last year and pretended to cry and that my fil (who they ask for) was dead....they actually left me alone for over 6 months...but now they're back, and he really did pass...

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Comments (9)

hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
9 years ago
I hope you did not give him any personal information.
cynic
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
You seriously didn't get that it was a scam right from the first line out of his mouth? Stores automatically entering you in a multi-million dollar sweepstakes with a bonus car on top of it and they don't even advertise it? Wow. Although I would not have answered the phone most likely, and I'd have been falling down laughing when he told me something like that. And I'd be choosing a mauve/eggplant plaid convertible. See what he said.

Actually, what most people don't realize is that in a situation like they they did give the caller at least several pieces of personal information all of which are highly prized by scammers. First a confirmation that the phone number was active. That just raised the value of the number when it's sold to other scammers. Secondly, that they phone is answered by a person. Third that the names associated to the number are accurate. Beyond that I'm not sure what was given whether willingly or inadvertently but rest assured this number will get called again and the information sold over and over again.

If I get a call from an unknown number, well first I seldom would answer it unless I was expecting something and it was an area code I recognized, but had I answered and they ask the name I never give it without knowing who is calling. Never confirm your identity without knowing who's calling. There's a lot of ways to get your info but confirming it is their first objective.
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Marilyn Sue
9 years ago
I no longer have an answering machine hooked to my home phone and do not answer it unless I recognize the number.

Sue
User
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
You were too kind to let him ramble on for so long in the first call!

Truly, I've gotten to the point where I don't answer any number I don't know or isn't a name I want to pick up and talk to on my Caller #ID.

I have an answering machine. If it's so important, they know what to do.

Usually, they don't.
User
9 years ago
Phone scams have become epidemic , especially targeting the elderly. Like mimi, I seldom answer the phone unless the caller ID identifies the caller, and if it ends up being someone I do know, then my voice mail will pick it up and I can all them back
User
9 years ago
Isn't it sad we've come to that, Roseberry?

Once bitten, twice shy now.
sjerin
9 years ago
And it irritates me no end that I get them on my cell now. I block and clear numbers but they just keep coming. There are no teeth at all in the law, so no point to the law.
FlamingO in AR
9 years ago
Good job, jemdandy! And thanks for the heads up. Obviously some people fall for these scams or they wouldn't keep trying them.

Another Telephone Scam

susanjf_gw

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cynic

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