Scams, Scams and More Scams
@DeborahDiane (40843)
Laguna Woods, California
May 21, 2016 11:18pm CST
When I attended the Senior Summit in our area, an Assistant District Attorney talked about all the different scams that are costing the American public billions of dollars a year. Sadly, the majority of victims are retirees.
When one of the other Assistant D.A.s in her office received a call from a scammer himself, he recorded it. He asked the scammer, who was in another country, why they target Americans. The scammer said, "because they are vegetables."
Nice description of us, isn't it?
Between the D.A.'s comments and other articles I have read, what are some of the scams that are perpetrated on us everyday?
1. Malware on our computers - They call, say they are with Microsoft, try to get us to turn the control of our computers over to them, and they download malware onto it. The malware can either be used as ransom wear, requiring us to pay a ransom to regain use of our computer, or the malware can secretly embed a virus that lets them see our accounts, passwords and everything else.
2. The Grandparents scam - A crying teenager calls, claiming to be a grandchild in need of money. Millions of dollars have been sent by Americans to scammers who used this trick. A friend of mine sent a scammer $5000 before she realized it was not her grandson on the phone.
3. The Dating site scam - The scammer infiltrates dating sites looking for lonely people. They become dear friends, online, communicating several times a day. Eventually, they begin to hint that they need money ... because of an illness, a business failure, etc. The victim offers to help and sends off thousands of dollars before they realize what is happening.
4. Fraudulent Investment Advisors - They tell people they can earn 10% to 12% interest and the whole things turns out to be a Ponzi scheme. The victim gets the interest for a while, but their principal is stolen. By the time they realize that, the interest stops, too. What Madoff did may have been the most famous investment scandal, but it has happened to investors all over the country many other times. 
Remember:
If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
Investigate everything. Do your research.
Get second opinions.
Remember:
If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
Investigate everything. Do your research.
Get second opinions.19 people like this
23 responses
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 May 16
@DianneN - You are right that there will always be someone who is a vegetable and falls for these scams. However, the scams can be very convincing. My friend who fell for the grandparent scam is a retired teacher who is married to a retired Orange County Deputy Sheriff ... and they were both convinced. They felt really embarrassed and humiliated when they lost $5000. However, she is the one who asked me to publicize what happened to them ... because she hopes she can prevent other people from falling for the same thing.
3 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
23 May 16
@DeborahDiane I guess they didn't have any secret code to use with their grandkids. I don't either, but my situation is different than most. I wouldn't believe that they were the ones on the line, because they rarely are.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
22 May 16
Yes, but even when we do extensive research we can still be fooled.
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
23 May 16
They do tend to target the people who are most vulnerable. I got an email supposedly from my pastor saying he was stranded in the Ukraine and need money to stay out of jail. I had just seen him in church so I knew it wasn't him but I had a lot of fun calling him about his foreign adventure. lol
My daughter's father in law fell for a ponzi type scam and they stole $20,000 from him and it was all he had!! He almost lost his home because of it and the FBI can't help and for the most part don't even want to know because you willingly turned over the money.
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
23 May 16
@DeborahDiane I think TV gives us a very false idea about what the FBI or any police agency is going to do to help. No one wants to know, they are not going to do a sting or try to catch these Jamaican scammers.It is disheartening.
1 person likes this
@jillybean1222 (6406)
•
23 May 16
I recently had a friend who had a couple things happen to them. Her husband's social security # was stolen. Then they filed a false tax return trying to get a refund with it. Then, the same time frame, they got a call from someone claiming to be from the IRS asking for their social... they didn't give it to them thankfully. And the REAL IRS contacted them about the second tax return filed....
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 May 16
I am so sorry to hear about your daughter-s father-in-law. I agree that it is very frustrating that the FBI cannot help. We have reported several attempted scams on us, but they do not go anywhere. The government just says there is nothing they can do. Gee ... you would think some police agency could help!
1 person likes this
@rebelann (117199)
• El Paso, Texas
22 May 16
This is really good to know.
Although no one has ever called me to try to gain access to my PC I have called McAfee when I had their security system on my other PC and they talked me into letting them take control so they could fight the Malware that had hijacked my browser, looking back it might not have been a bad thing but I'll not do that again. So far my credit information seems intact and untouched by strange fingers.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (117199)
• El Paso, Texas
23 May 16
Yeah, good point @DeborahDiane but I'm not lettin anymore bozo's gain access to this PC, even if it is a security site I use.
1 person likes this
@akalinus (44366)
• United States
23 May 16
Don't give anyone remote access to your computer. That is asking for trouble. I get those calls from MS all the time. What do they think I am stupid or something? I never answer the phone and just wipe everything off of message every evening.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 May 16
I also called McAfee and they worked with me to get Malware off my computer once. As long as you call them, and you are not dealing with a stranger that calls you, then you should be OK. So far, my credit information seems intact, too.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
22 May 16
It is sad that people fall for this stuff. I would ask the person saying he is my grandson identifying questions that are not known to the public. I also don't tell the world his real name, so it would be tough for a scammer to fool me this way.
I did fall prey to a large crooked business organization. I knew the business and people for six years before I followed their advice, moved to South Africa and built up an enormous business there. I was supposed to get 6% of the profits we earned, but did not. I am a terrible judge of character, so I have learned to trust no one. Sigh.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 May 16
@ElizabethWallace - I can understand why you would be distrustful of people. I have told my own children not to have their feelings hurt if they call me in an emergency and I don't believe what they are saying until I check it out with a third party. It is a shame to have to be that way, but the scammers have made us all more cautious.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
23 May 16
@DeborahDiane This is true. Conmen and scammers have always been around. I guess they always will. Sad.
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
22 May 16
I almost fell for the Microsoft one the first time. I really thought there was something wrong with my computer especially since it was blaring a warning and that it would self destruct. I almost fell for the dating site scam too. The sob story was pathetic. However, once was enough to show me who and what they are. "MIcrosoft' called me a couple months ago, and the 'IRS' called me a couple weeks ago. I slammed the phone down on them both.
1 person likes this
@akalinus (44366)
• United States
23 May 16
@DeborahDiane It is preying on the helpless and lonely.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 May 16
I have to admit that I am appalled that the governments of the U.S., Canada and other countries are helpless to prevent these scams. Think of the really elderly, lonely people who fall for them all the time!
2 people like this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
23 May 16
Very good info Deborah and yes I learned my lesson too- Ordered something on-line that wasn't a regular 'kosher" site and it was a scam. Am still in the process of getting that charge off my credit card. Bad news!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
24 May 16
@Marymargll - Oh, yes, that phony websites are another scam. They just showed one on TV tonight where people were selling a car ... except the buyers sent in money for the car and then the website suddenly disappeared. So terrible.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
25 May 16
@MarymargII - I have heard of these companies that sell people something that is relatively affordable, when it is purchased once. However, then they keep charging the victim's credit card over and over again.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
24 May 16
@DeborahDiane This was for a face cream and thankfully wasn't too much money but they were all ready to charge my credit card every month!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 May 16
It's good to research sites. We also need to research people. It is sad.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
22 May 16
@DeborahDiane This doesn't work, though. I have been lied to by professionals. Their friends, family members and business associates lied too. It is sad.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 May 16
@ElizabethWallace - Yes, it can be hard to investigate people. I hate to be so skeptical of things that people say to me, but I find that is the only way to protect myself. I find that it takes me awhile to trust people ... especially with my money or my health.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
24 May 16
@wiLLmaH - I don't know why people fall for these tricks, but they do. That's why scammers do it over and over again!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 May 16
You are absolutely right that they are always from another country ... which makes it very hard to catch them!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 May 16
@marlina - I have started politely telling EVERY business that calls me, unsolicited, that I do NOT do any type of business over the phone. Then I hang up. That has become the easiest way for me to protect myself.
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 May 16
@LadyDuck - I agree that we must be very vigilant to protect ourselves. The scammers are so creative and we never know what the next scam will be.
1 person likes this
@jillybean1222 (6406)
•
23 May 16
I hate that people prey upon gullible people, people who need their money! I just do not understand these evil people who do it.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
24 May 16
@jillybean1222 - I do not understand how people can be so cruel that they would prey on gullible people. It is just awful!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
24 May 16
@Lucky15 - Yes, it is insane how they try to convince people that they are inheriting something. They should be ashamed to give people so much false hope ... and then take their money.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 May 16
Oh, yes, the phony inheritances are another major scam. Terrible.
1 person likes this
@Lucky15 (37391)
• Philippines
23 May 16
@DeborahDiane how come i inherit.something when.i know i am pure Filipino and no immediate family are immigrants. Haha
1 person likes this
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
23 May 16
We get the microsoft one all the time. Yesterday my husband hung up and the person called right back and said, "Why did you hang up on me!"
He also got the one from Canada Revenue Agency. They kept him on the line for a while. When they asked him to meet them at the grocery store with a check or cash or he clued in and hung up..
I get the ones that I won a contest a lot. If I ever reallly win a contest I will just hang up on them.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 May 16
Wow! I had no idea that Canadians were getting as many calls as people in the U.S. I don't know if I should be glad that we are not the only "vegetables" or sad that people in even more countries are being victimized by these scams!
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
24 May 16
@paigea - I know that I hear warning about scammers all the time ... and people still fall for it.
1 person likes this
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
23 May 16
Sad. There are warnings on the radio all of the time. @DeborahDiane
1 person likes this
@psanasangma (7910)
• India
11 Jul 16
Online scammers are everywhere. There are many emails been forwarded by scammers and sought that you win this much amount of money and gift and if you response they will ask for personal information informing you that don't share the information this with others...
So, from here itself is started besides this for getting the amount you need to deposit some amount ....
Even one of my friends from my colony happen to fall in this trap I think she has spent pretty amount of money for scammer thinking that the person is really going to send.....
I do not understand how people are easily fall into this trap especially a ladies happen to be a victim...
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 May 16
@jaboUK - Yes, it is hard to believe that anyone would fall for those scams, but they do. The statistics for the number of people who are cheated every year is overwhelming. A lot of the time, but not always, the victims are elderly and lonely. Often they are embarrassed to tell their family what happened.
1 person likes this
@akalinus (44366)
• United States
23 May 16
I have a friend who fell for the grandson scam. He got a call that the grandson was in trouble in Canada and needed money to get out of jail and come home. He lost $5000 on that scam. The grandson was safe in Colorado. The caller had a lot of information about the grandson and my friend was convinced it was real.
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
30 May 16
I have heard of most of these schemes, but have not (yet) been targeted. Good information for people.
