New Scam Alert--And I Think I Was Hit
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
June 9, 2008 3:13pm CST
Okay today a message was left on my machine, supposedly by a representative of Fed Ex and the phone number given was 1-876-471-6711..I'm given that phone number in case YOU are hit by it. The message indicated that a certified FedEx package was waiting for me and I needed to call back to verify some information from me.
Okie Dokie--I do call back. The person informed me that a package was waiting for me to be delivered from a Peter White of Montego Bay...Like huh? I'm not expecting anything from Fed Ex and certainly not Montego Bay, Jamaica. He further informs me that to release the package, I need to get a Western Union Money Transfer....as soon as he said Western Union, alarm bells rang as I'm aware that many scam artists want Western Money Transfers...I hung up
Then I go to my faithful computer and look up about 876 phone numbers in general..EKKKKKKKK!!! I should have looked this info up before I made that call, but like I said, since I really thought it was from FedEx thought nothing of it
Here's what I found
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/a/area809.htm
.."There have been scam artists, however, that operated out of the Caribbean by leaving messages for people who, when they returned the call, were unknowingly dialing a number that automatically billed them extremely high charges. That was the reason for the warning. Folks were charged anywhere from $10 to $100 per minute and were kept on the line as long as possible. ...
There's a lot of more "delightful" news on that website, and that unsuspecting people may be charged into the thousands PER MINUTE for making calls to these places.
So I called the legitimate FedEx number, and he smelled a scam as well, he said it seemed unusual too, that no tracking number was given..I thought that too.
I also just called my telephone service to block any charges made by any 876 phone number or any other "strange" numbers like this and will continue to dispute it should the charges still be made--but least I have it on record I called to complain about this obvious scam
Oh lovely, what a way to start the week...So have you had any similar experiences?
18 people like this
39 responses
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
10 Jun 08
I get check for $3994. They wanted to hire me as Mystery shopper. Part of my work was Western Union money transfer for $3200 plus Wester union fee $170....
The rest was for my "training "
Sounds familiar.
I get this last Friday.
I am about to call FBI to work on this scam.
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
10 Jun 08
I get real check and mail, not email or phone call.
Check is real and legal. I finished fraud prevention program, so I know how the real check can work as a scam.
In fact, I am also going to write about this check to Frank Abagnale (Catch Me If You Can)
As you may know Frank is running courses with certificates, and he is very helpful on catching scam systems.
It is very serious, because they are sending checks from legal company, just registered in May 2008.
4 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Jun 08
I get emails about being a Mystery shopper but never got a phone call about this. Were you able to check out where these people were from?
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Jun 08
Little confused then...if this check really is "real" then were is the scam element in it?
2 people like this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
10 Jun 08
Thanks Pye's mommy for the Heads up and so sorry for this mess you were hit with..I never answer phone calls from anyhting unless i know the number..i let the answering machine pick it up..if they really want me they will leave a message and then i can dig through and see who's legit or not..now that i have your warning this will help more!
4 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Jun 08
I have my answering machine on 24/7 and yes, hardly ever answer the phone either...but the call did sound legit since the message said it was from Fed Ex..that's the only reason I called back....like a jerk
2 people like this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
10 Jun 08
Now don't say like a jerk..you are not..i don't get anything from Fed Ex or i would have answered it too!Hopefully its all behind you now!
3 people like this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
10 Jun 08
Not on phone but thru the mail.
saying I am up for something like 1mill.400 thousand cash and prizes just have to send so much money to proccess stuff I try one FOr $20 then I found out later was a scam! wel it ws only $20 but I thought is was in wth access america contests and that I was entring them in contests, the othat on I go to day is getting sent back to sending with c=scam wrote in big letters
4 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Jun 08
I'll probably be getting some kind of scam through the mail too...people are sure busy thinking up all these scams though, aren't they?
2 people like this
@CraftyCorner (5600)
• United States
11 Jun 08
I was almost hit with a ride by a scamster who tried to get me to transfer funds to Nigeria when I tried selling something on eBay. She claimed she was from the UK but staying in Thailand, sounded like she was from an Asian country. The minute she asked me to rout $959 to Nigeria, I started asking other people questions and stopped the whole thing cold.
*
I changed my savings and checking accounts to new accounts.
*
From now on, whatever business I do on eBay gets to handle payments through PayPal!
*
You were right to call Fed Ex. The lack of the tracking number is your alarm bell...
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
11 Jun 08
Were you a new time seller on ebay? I had a scam too the first time I was trying to sell on ebay and it was about some guy wanting to buy one of my items I was selling on ebay, it was for a "cousin" in Russia and he wanted me to not only send that, but a Western Union Money Transfer all as a birthday gift, but he didn't want the person to know it was from him..he wanted this transaction to occur "off of ebay" and just between us...In the meantime, it would have been my name and address all over the place for this "scam" and I'd be the one in trouble
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Jun 08
I didn't even know it was a long distance phone call I was making...thought it was a toll free number until later when I looked the area code up
2 people like this
@tinkerick (1257)
• United States
9 Jun 08
I haven't gotten phone calls - but I've gotten emails with the subject "FedEx package awaiting clearance" or something to that effect. I just block them. After all, FedEx has toll-free numbers for all departments.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Jun 08
I was under the impression that this was a toll free number as most 800 type numbers are...like 800, 877, 888 and so forth.
2 people like this
@tinkerick (1257)
• United States
9 Jun 08
Be wary if it doesn't have a double digit area code. As far as I know, today there are only the following toll free area codes:
800, 888, 877, 866
3 people like this
@tinkerick (1257)
• United States
9 Jun 08
I want to add that a really good site to look up area codes, zip codes, phone numbers and addresses is:
http://www.melissadata.com/lookups
(Use the Free lookups)
3 people like this
@freedomg (1684)
• United States
10 Jun 08
I got caught a few years past by a thing where people in prison would call you (ans I answered to tell them they had the wrong number) and after they got you to answer they could call all over the place on your bill. I don't know how they did it but was very grateful that the phone company took off the over $300 in charges. Now if I don't know the number I don't answer and am very careful about the messages I do return.
Sorry to hear they got you and thanks for the heads up.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Jun 08
I got hit once before...and it made me realize to be careful on filling out any forms on-line especially ones where you need to fill your phone number..I started getting charges from this company that I KNEW I didn't sign up for...must have been one of the forms I filled out..I got reimbursed for the charges..it was a few hundred dollars also
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
12 Jun 08
OMG--that's actually funny...just like if I were to be charged for some male enhancers which I wouldn't need obviously since I'm female..LOL
@freedomg (1684)
• United States
11 Jun 08
Yeah I was ordering something online for mt dad once and had something similar happen. Some how he ended up signed up for a feminine hygiene discount thing. They gave him back his money though when I asked them to give me one good reason a 61 year old single man would need that.
1 person likes this
@avonrep1 (1862)
• United States
10 Jun 08
Because of scams like this, I don't return calls to any number or person I don't know. If I don't know you, then you must not be important for me to call. And if it is a legit call then I would be expecting it. If they feel they need to talk to me they can call me back.
Then I sales talk them into going to my own website and ordering something. LOL. I ask them their address and phone number to send them a brochure and a free sample. Then I say I will need your credit card number to send the brochure to you. They normally hang up right about then.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Jun 08
Hehehe...hey I'll have to remember that--I actually got a weird message not only a few days before this one indicating to remind me a payment was due the next day to avoid late fees..they left their number... I KNEW I didn't owe any payment for anything..so I looked up the area code...it was one in Canada..like WTF??? I sure as heck knew I didn't owe any money to anyone in Canada..it might have wound up being the same type of scam..glad I didn't call them back
2 people like this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
9 Jun 08
Thanks for the warning. That is a new one on me and I think I would have fallen for it and called back too. I sure hope you do not get charged for it.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Jun 08
Well if I do get charged I can dispute it, and it is on record that I called my phone company today
2 people like this
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
9 Jun 08
Wow this is an interesting scam. Thanks for the alert I definitely will put everyone on alert here and will check phone numbers from now on to see where they are coming from and caution everyone before they make any return phone calls.
I must say, we've never been hit with any phone calls or anything like that. At least not yet. We've usually been pretty good with avoiding those types of things but you just never know anymore when something can happen.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Jun 08
I could kick myself that I didn't think to look up that "scam" info before I called, but I really thought it was a legitimate thing...I mean wouldn't you if the person said they were from FedEx?
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
10 Jun 08
Wow! Thanks so much for the warning because I very likely may have fallen for it since I do get different things delivered here and I'd have probably thought nothing of it until I called them. Gee, I sure hope you don't get charged anything but since you called your phone company you should be OK since they know it's a scam. I've heard of similar scams like that, I once got a postcard saying I'd won a free trip but when I called the number they were very insistent on me giving them a credit card number just to "process" my prize and when I told them I'd prefer to send them a check or money order that wouldn't do at all, it had to be a "major credit card". The alarms in my brain went off then and I told them no thanks! It's awful, I'm sure they get a lot of people to bite.
Annie
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Jun 08
I'm glad you're alarm bells went off when they kept insisting on your credit card number...almost as bad if someone insists that you give your SS number...Yes as soon as the person mentioned the thing about a Western Union money transfer...bingo..the alarms went off. I never heard of fedex wanting a Western Union money transfer to release a package meant for me
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Jun 08
You're lucky then...hope you don't get scam calls
1 person likes this
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
10 Jun 08
Hi pyewacket! goodness, so many scams nowadays! Good thing you were able to recognized it is a scam before it was too late. Thank you for sharing this. I will be more aware of such scam. I just hope they will be caught so that there won;t be any more unsuspecting people who will fall in their trap.
Take care and God bless! 
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Jun 08
Yes it was good I was able to get the idea that this phone call was a scam thing...as soon as he mentioned about a Western Union money transfer then I really knew it was a scam
2 people like this
@alexwander (170)
• Canada
10 Jun 08
Thanks for sharing your experience. We then should be careful about receiving suspected Fed Ex's packages. Should verify the parcel's tracking number first. Some international call looks like long distance call (dial 1). Hope you won't be charged on that. If it is a scam, the phone company should shut that number down so scam artist can't take advantage on it.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Jun 08
I hope I won't be charged too. The phone number did look like a toll free number. I don't know how it works in your country but we have to dial "1" even for local calls first.
1 person likes this
@alexwander (170)
• Canada
11 Jun 08
US, Canada and some Caribbean countries all use 1 and area code. Other countries are 011 + country code. For example, dialing to England is 011 + 44 + (local number).
Dialing to Canada is similar to dialing a long distance (1+ area code) to other U.S. States. However, the calling rate is international.
The toll free area code are 800, 888, 877, 866. So scam artists take advantage of these number (876 instead of 877). Years ago I dialed a 1 801 and thought it was toll free. It's Utah's area code.
We can remember all these four toll free code to avoid future scam.
2 people like this
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
9 Jun 08
No, I haven't thank goodness, and I'm sorry that this happened to you and THANK YOU for sharing. My phone bill is high enough. I hope that everything works out and you don't have to have any out of pocket expense for this. I really hate scammers and wish they would just get a job! LOL Hope your week gets better!
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Jun 08
Well at least I reported this to my phone service right away..and they made note of it. The woman said if any charges do come on my phone bill I can further dispute it and I won't have to pay it...and believe me I tend to dispute it if I see any weird charges.
2 people like this
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
9 Jun 08
Good at least you are safe from the charges!
3 people like this
@dodoguy (1292)
• Australia
9 Jun 08
Hi pyewacket,
Well that sounds like a real bummer.
I hope you manage to stop the bill if there is one.
I'm wondering, though, seeing as you have their number, would you be able to call them back reverse charge (maybe from a pay-phone somewhere so there's no chance of them billing you)?
Regardless, I'd also be wondering if having their phone number is sufficient information to identify them and sic the FBI onto them. All those CSI cops seem to do such a good job in front of the TV cameras, why can't they track those SOBs down in real life?
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Jun 08
If any weird charges do crop up, I'll further dispute it, but at least I called my phone company to alert them about this so they do have a record of this scam
2 people like this
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
9 Jun 08
No, I haven't had this happen to me,....YET. I'm glad you clued into the scam. I hope more people know that fedex would never ask you for money to get your package. I'm afraid that some people are so curious as to what the package is, they send money. I'm also glad you called Fedex, might not be a bad idea to contact an organization that deals with fraud and scams. I don't know what you have there, but, we have something called "phonebusters".
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Jun 08
Well as I said my alarm bells went off as soon as that jerk told me I needed a Western Union Money Transfer to send them,as all scams usually insist on these.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Jun 08
I tried that website but it didn't work for me...it says I needed the caller id number which I didn't have..unless I was doing it wrong..LOL
2 people like this
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
9 Jun 08
oh wow-that's a new one.
i might as well block it now with mom around.
can't watch her every minute.
i can't say i'd gotten one before,but they did have a fake police charity warning around here.
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
10 Jun 08
yikes .
almost makes you want to block long distance entirely.2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Jun 08
Be careful of any phone numbers with an area code from Canada as well. There seems to be phone scams originating from Canada as well...sheesh
2 people like this
@irishmist (3814)
• United States
9 Jun 08
What will they think of next? I have not had this happen to be. Thanks for the heads up though. I really hope you don't get stuck with a bill for this, I shudder to think about it.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Jun 08
The woman at the phone company says I can further dispute the charges should they show up..and believe me I will...I also emailed my phone company too, so they have a written account of this scam
2 people like this
@Nana530 (286)
• United States
9 Jun 08
Oh my goodness, no I have never had anything like this happen to me. This is terrible. I'm so glad you are sharing this with all of us so we'll be aware that such a scam is going on. It makes me so mad that there are people out there who think up all these sleezy scams to try and get money. Hope this will be the end of such things happening to you. And thanks again for the warning.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Jun 08
Glad to share...I'm glad I called my phone company about this so at least it's on record I did make a complaint about this scam
2 people like this
