Fraud Season: stay alert

[Maximo]

I received 3 phone calls this weekend that were scams. All 3 left voice mail messages telling me that it was urgent that I call about my cable service, my credit card, and bank account. I knew they were fraud instantly because the phone calls came through on my business line, which is not connected to any of the services that the scammers were calling about.

NEVER give information to someone who calls you and asks for you to "verify" your social security number, account number, or credit card number. They might claim to be from your bank, your cable provider, or some other service provider. Don't trust them. They will tell you that the situation is urgent and that you need to respond quickly.

Take a name and number and tell them you will return their call in minutes. Look the phone number up on the internet and you will find that other people have received scam calls from the number.

If you think a call is legitimate, call back using a phone number that you are 100% certain belongs to the service/company in question. For instance, your credit card -- call the 800 number on the back of your card. Your cable company -- call the 800 number on your monthly statement.

Watch your bank statements and credit card statements closely this holiday season.

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Very good advice. Many people think it won't happen to me. Unfortunately, thieves don't care who you are.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by BabyGirl Rosie

Very good advice. Many people think it won't happen to me. Unfortunately, thieves don't care who you are.

Yes, thieves are equal-opportunity victimizers.

All it takes it one piece of information, and the thieves can do a lot of damage to you. Here is an interesting and scary example: How Apple and Amazon Security Flaws Led to My Epic Hacking | Gadget Lab | Wired.com

[jadabug]

They are now scamming through your cell phones too. We just had a customer come in to show us a text message she received over the weekend. It was informing her that her atm/debit card had been compromised and to send her account number and pin so they could stop if from being used.
BANKS NEVER SEND TEXTS ASKING FOR YOU TO SEND YOUR INFORMATION!!!! THEY DON'T CALL ASKING FOR YOUR INFORMATION EITHER.
Fraud alerts will contact you to let you know if something suspicious is going on with your account, but they never ask for your account number if it is legit.

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Yes, thieves are equal-opportunity victimizers.

All it takes it one piece of information, and the thieves can do a lot of damage to you. Here is an interesting and scary example: How Apple and Amazon Security Flaws Led to My Epic Hacking | Gadget Lab | Wired.com

Wow, just read that. A little scary that someone can just take over. This goes to show sometimes it is for different reasons.

This made me think of something that happened to me a few years ago. I had my health insurance information stolen. For three years, another lady was filing claims and getting scripts using my insurance. Not once was she questioned. I happen to get a list of scripts that I had used and that's when I found out. I called the pharmacy, who would not give me any info due to privacy laws. Called local authorities only to be told it was not in there jurisdiction. What it boiled down to was she got away with it. And here is the kicker, my health insurance increased $50 a month because of claims filed! Even though they were NOT mine! Talk about sucking. . So it isn't just credit cards and SS numbers. They will use anything and everything.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by jadabug

They are now scamming through your cell phones too. We just had a customer come in to show us a text message she received over the weekend. It was informing her that her atm/debit card had been compromised and to send her account number and pin so they could stop if from being used.
BANKS NEVER SEND TEXTS ASKING FOR YOU TO SEND YOUR INFORMATION!!!! THEY DON'T CALL ASKING FOR YOUR INFORMATION EITHER.
Fraud alerts will contact you to let you know if something suspicious is going on with your account, but they never ask for your account number if it is legit.

Another great and scary example.

These kinds of texts have been coming to us almost daily. They say our account is frozen and that we need to act quickly. The part that bothers me is, how do they know our bank name?? From our phone bill?

[sophias mommy]

Originally Posted by Maximo

I received 3 phone calls this weekend that were scams. All 3 left voice mail messages telling me that it was urgent that I call about my cable service, my credit card, and bank account. I knew they were fraud instantly because the phone calls came through on my business line, which is not connected to any of the services that the scammers were calling about.

NEVER give information to someone who calls you and asks for you to "verify" your social security number, account number, or credit card number. They might claim to be from your bank, your cable provider, or some other service provider. Don't trust them. They will tell you that the situation is urgent and that you need to respond quickly.

Take a name and number and tell them you will return their call in minutes. Look the phone number up on the internet and you will find that other people have received scam calls from the number.

If you think a call is legitimate, call back using a phone number that you are 100% certain belongs to the service/company in question. For instance, your credit card -- call the 800 number on the back of your card. Your cable company -- call the 800 number on your monthly statement.

Watch your bank statements and credit card statements closely this holiday season.

Great reminders Kristin. Three phone calls in one weekend?!?! That's insane! We had someone knocking on our door claiming to be from our electric company. They wanted to see our bill to make sure that we received the special rate. Really? The electric company would not go door to door doing that. If they did, they would at least have some sort of logo on one of their items of clothing!!

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by BabyGirl Rosie

Wow, just read that. A little scary that someone can just take over. This goes to show sometimes it is for different reasons.

This made me think of something that happened to me a few years ago. I had my health insurance information stolen. For three years, another lady was filing claims and getting scripts using my insurance. Not once was she questioned. I happen to get a list of scripts that I had used and that's when I found out. I called the pharmacy, who would not give me any info due to privacy laws. Called local authorities only to be told it was not in there jurisdiction. What it boiled down to was she got away with it. And here is the kicker, my health insurance increased $50 a month because of claims filed! Even though they were NOT mine! Talk about sucking. . So it isn't just credit cards and SS numbers. They will use anything and everything.

I would be furious! $50 a month is a lot of money. It's frustrating that the thieves seem to have the advantage.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by sophias mommy

Great reminders Kristin. Three phone calls in one weekend?!?! That's insane! We had someone knocking on our door claiming to be from our electric company. They wanted to see our bill to make sure that we received the special rate. Really? The electric company would not go door to door doing that. If they did, they would at least have some sort of logo on one of their items of clothing!!

That is really creepy! I finally convinced my father: never let anyone in the house!! He was letting in shady solicitors who asked to use the bathroom. I told him that this is a trick that some use to rob people or worse.

[Cha Cha]

Wow, I was not aware of all these. Thanks for the reminders. Definitely puts me on high alert, and I need to pass this info to my daughters. I think they are more vulnerable in situations like this. I never answer "unknown" numbers, and when I get a number from out of state, I google it before I answer it. If they can't leave a message on my VM, then I figure it's a scammer.

[Maximo]

Another one: I have received numerous text messages that I have won something from Best Buy and that I need to log into some website to claim the prize.

I rarely text, my phone isn't a smart phone....so it is highly unusual for me to receive spam like this.

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Originally Posted by Cha Cha

Wow, I was not aware of all these. Thanks for the reminders. Definitely puts me on high alert, and I need to pass this info to my daughters. I think they are more vulnerable in situations like this. I never answer "unknown" numbers, and when I get a number from out of state, I google it before I answer it. If they can't leave a message on my VM, then I figure it's a scammer.

I do the same thing. I get lots of calls that numbers show up as scams.

Originally Posted by Maximo

Another one: I have received numerous text messages that I have won something from Best Buy and that I need to log into some website to claim the prize.

I rarely text, my phone isn't a smart phone....so it is highly unusual for me to receive spam like this.

I have relieved these too.

[GuinnessStout]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Another one: I have received numerous text messages that I have won something from Best Buy and that I need to log into some website to claim the prize.

I rarely text, my phone isn't a smart phone....so it is highly unusual for me to receive spam like this.

Those are a big joke in our house because we always get the Best Buy ones so my husband will always forward it to me saying woohoo we are going shopping tonight lol

But yea these people are SICK these days... We just a big thing here where a group of people made fake income tax returns and were paying bank tellers $1,000 each to cash the checks.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by Maximo

I received 3 phone calls this weekend that were scams. All 3 left voice mail messages telling me that it was urgent that I call about my cable service, my credit card, and bank account. I knew they were fraud instantly because the phone calls came through on my business line, which is not connected to any of the services that the scammers were calling about.

NEVER give information to someone who calls you and asks for you to "verify" your social security number, account number, or credit card number. They might claim to be from your bank, your cable provider, or some other service provider. Don't trust them. They will tell you that the situation is urgent and that you need to respond quickly.

Take a name and number and tell them you will return their call in minutes. Look the phone number up on the internet and you will find that other people have received scam calls from the number.

If you think a call is legitimate, call back using a phone number that you are 100% certain belongs to the service/company in question. For instance, your credit card -- call the 800 number on the back of your card. Your cable company -- call the 800 number on your monthly statement. Watch your bank statements and credit card statements closely this holiday season.

Dont call any number THEY give you....

[Yorkiemom1]

A co-workers little elderly lady just fell for the "granddaughter in jail in Mexico" scam...tole her to wire $4800.00 immediately to get her released tonight or she was going to have to sit in jail for months before they could even get her court date set. THANK GOD the woman at Western Union, politely started a conversation with the little old lady and she found out what was going on....she told her it was a scam, that she used to work in fruad division and please do NOT send the money...go home and call the parents, even thought the "granddaughter" had begged her not to tell anyone.....fortunately, sh listened, and of course, it was indeed that same onl scam that has been going around for years. My co worker said her momma is NOT stupid, they got her so rattled and tore up with the sobbing and everything, she couldnt think!