Scam warning to all.

[DJC]

Mrs DJC and I were in the local post office agency to renew our passports several years ago.  A little old lady in front of us had a wad of $100 bills that she wanted to post.  The PO lady, bless her, asked why did she want to post the money and the little old lady replied "The man on the phone told me to."  The PO lady said that she wouldn't let her post the money and asked if she had a family member she could talk to about it.

There really are some scumbags out there but plenty of good folk too.

[Professer E]

People that prey on old people should be tied to a post and flogged.  That may not be a socially acceptable attitude but I'm over scumbags,  scammers and other assorted  parasites.

[Baggers]

People that prey on old people should be tied to a post and flogged.  That may not be a socially acceptable attitude but I'm over scumbags,  scammers and other assorted  parasites.

As socially unacceptable as it may seem, Profissory, I feel exactly the same way. Opportunistic, immoral slime.

[Baggers]

We get the Internet disconnection threat, the robo tax call but using American tax terminology lol and my fav is the Indian voice with you have a virus on your computer, we will need you to download an app and we will take control of your computer and fix the problem. Had that one about ten times, always the same script... Different random number with 08 Prefix.
We have caller ID so I know its them and answer Victoria Police.. Sgt Elwood speaking how can i help you?... Phones Hangs up straight away and after three of those responses they seemed to have lost interest in bothering me.
I also enjoyed putting on an Indian accent and trying to talk cricket with the fake Telstra Internet disconnectors who started swearing at me..

We have a similar sense of humour, EB1. My demanding the return of my goat before discussing anything has triggered many a hang-up.

[ElwoodBlues1]

We have a similar sense of humour, EB1. My demanding the return of my goat before discussing anything has triggered many a hang-up.

Love it  ;D

[tonyo]

We have a similar sense of humour, EB1. My demanding the return of my goat before discussing anything has triggered many a hang-up.

I have on several occasions followed their line of questioning as if they had me on the hook - and then I would ask a final question, 'Can you tell me, what is the food like in a Mumbai prison?'.

Their instructions then turn to various things I should do with my mother, some of which I do not believe are physically possible. 

But the phone call does provide 10-15 minutes of fun on a lockdown weekend.


On the serious side, sorry about your loss Mantis - these mobs are getting more sophisticated.  My only advice is if there is the slightest smell of fish in the air, bail out immediately - if the caller you are dealing with is real, they will try to contact you again, but scammers will just move on to the next victim.

[Thryleon]

I can echo the sentiment with most on here.

Its absolutely difficult to know who is or isnt a scammer these days, so the rule of thumb is as follows to keep everyone safe here.

Unless you are expecting that phone call, if they say they are from somewhere, simply refuse to divulge any information and make them tell you all about you, because then you can work out if you are vulnerable, and where you are vulnerable.  Beyond that, irrespective of whom they state they are, tell them you dont field inbound marketing, and simply call the company they say they are from.

its the only way to stay safe, and to be honest, review all your passwords, usernames, etc.  They can get a lot of things from you before you know it!!

[capcom]

I can echo the sentiment with most on here.

Its absolutely difficult to know who is or isnt a scammer these days, so the rule of thumb is as follows to keep everyone safe here.

Unless you are expecting that phone call, if they say they are from somewhere, simply refuse to divulge any information and make them tell you all about you, because then you can work out if you are vulnerable, and where you are vulnerable.  Beyond that, irrespective of whom they state they are, tell them you dont field inbound marketing, and simply call the company they say they are from.

its the only way to stay safe, and to be honest, review all your passwords, usernames, etc.  They can get a lot of things from you before you know it!!

I always ask if them if they have a goat tied up in their backyard ... you can guess the rest

[Bluesers]

I can echo the sentiment with most on here.

Its absolutely difficult to know who is or isnt a scammer these days, so the rule of thumb is as follows to keep everyone safe here.

Unless you are expecting that phone call, if they say they are from somewhere, simply refuse to divulge any information and make them tell you all about you, because then you can work out if you are vulnerable, and where you are vulnerable.  Beyond that, irrespective of whom they state they are, tell them you dont field inbound marketing, and simply call the company they say they are from.

its the only way to stay safe, and to be honest, review all your passwords, usernames, etc.  They can get a lot of things from you before you know it!!

Good advice.
I've never been scammed, and doubt I ever  will.    My career choices have taught me to be ultra cautious.

1.    I never answer calls from unfamiliar numbers -  or 'private' callers.
2.    I never open emails from unexpected or unfamiliar sources  -  if it appears to be from a sender that I may have dealings with in the past  eg Amazon,  it's very easy to see the legitimacy by mousing over the senders details and it will confirm the email address is not from who they allege to be,  eg it will probably say something like [email protected],  which obviously makes no connection to Amazon
3.    ATO,  Banks etc will never call  or email you unexpectedly and ask you for personal information  (If you're suspicious then ask them for a number to call them back on)
But refer to point 1. and just don't answer in the first place...
4.    Be suspicious of everyone,  and trust nobody!

Follow these rules, live long, and prosper.            C:-)  )  C:-) 

[northernblue]

Good advice.
I've never been scammed, and doubt I ever  will.    My career choices have taught me to be ultra cautious.

1.    I never answer calls from unfamiliar numbers -  or 'private' callers.
2.    I never open emails from unexpected or unfamiliar sources  -  if it appears to be from a sender that I may have dealings with in the past  eg Amazon,  it's very easy to see the legitimacy by mousing over the senders details and it will confirm the email address is not from who they allege to be,  eg it will probably say something like [email protected],  which obviously makes no connection to Amazon
3.    ATO,  Banks etc will never call  or email you unexpectedly and ask you for personal information  (If you're suspicious then ask them for a number to call them back on)
But refer to point 1. and just don't answer in the first place...
4.    Be suspicious of everyone,  and trust nobody!

Follow these rules, live long, and prosper.            C:-)  )  C:-) 

Wonderful advice unless you’re a self employed tradie…
You are correct about the email addresses, I’ve been getting quite good emails from very keen SEO workers wanting to help me with my web presence, but yeah, joebloggs@gmail… delete, delete, delete…
Currently there’s the parcel delivery text scams just raging along…
I get a lot of calls apparently from Clayton and various other locations in australia and overseas ?

I did once get a legitimate enquiry from a woman who gave me a slightly vague street address for me to quote “24 X street, opposite Z’s supermarket” I pondered for a couple of seconds and asked her if she lived in Alice Springs ? “I’m sorry !” “I’ve called Darwin haven’t I ?”
Only 1500km… ??