ALERT New phone scam, and it’s VERY slick

[Dennis Olson]

I just got a call from someone claiming to be from an organization that had been trying to get “legal documentation” to me via “certified mail.” The representative claimed that they had already tried twice and failed (bullsh*t), and if it failed a third time, there would be a serious legal problem for me. He was going to give me a phone number to call. I told him it was a scam and hung up. He called right back and said that if I didn’t “take care of this matter,” he would be forced to reach out to “friends and relatives” for satisfaction. I told him (yelled at him actually), “You go right ahead, and God bless ya!” and hung up again.

This guy was very polished and DID NOT HAVE AN ACCENT. So the scammers are hiring Americans now.

I wanted to put this out there because of how polished this “presentation” and delivery was. DON’T BE FOOLED. Any missed attempt to deliver certified mail results in a card being left in your mailbox. You go to the post office and pick it up. Also, I have absolutely no legal entanglements or unpaid debt, thus it’s completely illegitimate.

BE FOREWARNED.

 

[Macgyver]

You should have given him your correct address of the police department.

 

[Wiley]

Next time he or another one calls, start making grunting sounds like you're on the toilet. I like to see how long they can last before cracking up.

 

[Dennis Olson]

I don’t play with them. I just end the call. Remember, if you say “yes” to some of these scammers, they can use that recorded “yes” to take control of your cell phone service, and once they have that, they can completely take control of your identity. NEVER SAY THE WORD “YES” TO SOMEONE YOU’RE NOT EXPECTING A CALL FROM. In my case today, he asked, “Is this Dennis Olson?” It’s almost impossible to think fast enough to NOT say yes automatically. I said by way of reply, “Who are you and what do you want?”

 

[Blacknarwhal]

That's why I don't answer any call from a number I don't immediately recognize. Caller ID is a great thing. The answering machine picks up, and says "Hello. Please leave a message after the tone." Nothing there can be used against me even with the best audio cut-and-paste job.

 

[Dozdoats]

Good advice all round.

So far my millions of friends in India have not weighed in on this one ...

 

[kyrsyan]

There is another one where they try to get you to sign paperwork regarding your home. Or to take responsibility for property "in your name" which you don't actually own but they want to hang on you. Lots of scams lately.

 

[Dennis Olson]

That's why I don't answer any call from a number I don't immediately recognize. Caller ID is a great thing. The answering machine picks up, and says "Hello. Please leave a message after the tone." Nothing there can be used against me even with the best audio cut-and-paste job.

I can’t do that right now. I’m having multiple medical issues addressed by the VA. They call from a dozen different numbers. It’s crazy.

 

[West]

Second the YES word is a big no no. Never say yes, or I except the contract. Or alike. Excellent advice Dennis!

Hopefully someone didn't steal your identity.

 

[Meemur]

I figured that's why you were answering your phone, Dennis.
Unfortunately, the scammers are working full-tilt right now.

 

[Blacknarwhal]

I can’t do that right now. I’m having multiple medical issues addressed by the VA. They call from a dozen different numbers. It’s crazy.

Fair enough. I apologize; I had no idea that was the case.

It's usually good practice to just call people back, but that's not so in your case.

 

[Dennis Olson]

The VA will log it as a “non-response.” Get too many of those and you’re out.

 

[WalknTrot]

I usually avoid answering, but if I do, always first ask "Who's calling please?"

A timely reminder. As people get more financially desperate, there will be more scammers, and more people getting scammed.

 

[subnet]

I don’t play with them. I just end the call. Remember, if you say “yes” to some of these scammers, they can use that recorded “yes” to take control of your cell phone service, and once they have that, they can completely take control of your identity. NEVER SAY THE WORD “YES” TO SOMEONE YOU’RE NOT EXPECTING A CALL FROM. In my case today, he asked, “Is this Dennis Olson?” It’s almost impossible to think fast enough to NOT say yes automatically. I said by way of reply, “Who are you and what do you want?”

I always ask, "who's this" in reply to that question, if I even answer the phone...lol

 

[Dennis Olson]

I’ll never forget our member whose significant other got a call from a scammer posing as the IRS, and if he didn’t cough up $1400 (or some such), the police would arrive in two hours to take him to prison. He was so traumatized by that call (and he believed every word) that he drove out in the woods with his dog, then killed the dog and himself.

These are NOT victimless crimes.

 

[nomifyle]

The sure can interpret a yes out of what I tell them, short and sweet. I wasn't a drunken sailor for nothing.

 

[The Hammer]

But if you don't hear them out, you may miss that large sum of money that that Nigerian prince just HAS to deliver to you...

 

[Dennis Olson]

Can or cannot?

 

[Dennis Olson]

But if you don't hear them out, you may miss that large sum of money that that Nigerian prince just HAS to deliver to you...

If you re-read what I said in my OP, there was no barely understandable foreigner on the phone. This was an American, no doubt about it.

 

[phloydius]

“Is this Dennis Olson?” It’s almost impossible to think fast enough to NOT say yes automatically.

I've been working for a few years to develop the habit of replying "This is he/she" (even for calls that I know are legitimate although on the phone with an unknown number I try to answer questions with questions (Such as "Whom may I say is calling?") if I can think that fast.


---

The slickest scam I have had was a scammer that setup a pretty decent website for a law firm. Then they called and left a voicemail asking you to call them, without a lot of information. When you looked up the phone number from the caller ID or voicemail, it brought up the (fake) law firm's website on google page 1.

When you call them, they ask a couple of mostly innocent sounding questions, and they give you some details about your life (such as places you have lived, name of your parents, kids, etc.) to validate they are talking to the right person. Then they ask if you ever owned some random car (that they say was involved in an accident). When you say "no", they say sorry, they suspected that it may be a fraudulent car registration. Then they ask you to answer a few questions to help verify that you are who you say you are, and so they can start the process of eliminating you as a suspected owner. The questions will be for you to tell them if you ever lived on XYZ street, worked at ABC company, had a credit card with XYZ company, etc. If you say you don't want to answer them, you get a gentle threat about expensive legal fees or "we can take care of it easily right now and it won't cost you anything".

In reality, what they are doing is trying to validate that they are actually you and get control of your credit report (or something that uses the credit reporting system to validate identity).

 

[Ordinary Girl]

Thanks Dennis

 

[Meemur]

I appreciate reading about all these scams. I get tired and do dumb things, like answer my front door or an unknown number.

I need to tighten up my personal security routines.

 

[wintery_storm]

I’ll never forget our member whose significant other got a call from a scammer posing as the IRS, and if he didn’t cough up $1400 (or some such), the police would arrive in two hours to take him to prison. He was so traumatized by that call (and he believed every word) that he drove out in the woods with his dog, then killed the dog and himself.

These are NOT victimless crimes.

I did not know this happened. Dear God we need everyone to keep each other vigilant. Dennis thank you.
We have been getting cards and letters in our mail about a recent mortgage and paper work we did not complete. The one card is a green postcard it doe snot even say what company it is just gives a number to call.

We did get a new mortgage but that was 2 years ago. And the amount they list is what we got our mortgage for so these scammers or companies trying to sell you something can easily find this info out.

 

[Sherrynboo]

I rarely answer an unknown number but if I do I ask very rudely "what do you want?"

 

[Meemur]

I rarely answer an unknown number but if I do I ask very rudely "what do you want?"

"What fresh hell is this?" (Dorothy Parker)

 

[Yogizorch]

If they ask is this so and so, I just say speaking.

 

[anna43]

My phone has been messed up for a week (landline) so I have had no incoming calls. Rather pleasant in a way, however my dd and grandson got panicked and sent police for wellness check.

My last scam call purported to be from Sheriff's department inquiring about my son. When I informed them where they could find him i.e. halfway house, they hung up on me. Similar call saying grandson was in jail in Mexico and I needed to bail him out, I'd just gotten off the phone with said grandson. They really need to improve their timing.

 

[night driver]

I use "Speaking" as my answer to "Is this______________?"

Anyone tries the "Friends and family" thing I make sure to have them call my brother (no name given) who is the Deputy Atty General in another state.

The silence on the other end of the phone is DEAFENING!!!!

 

[kyrsyan]

If I have reason to believe it is a scam/telemarketer, I don't say anything until they start talking. Otherwise I answer with "Hello." And that's it until I know who it is.

 

[hiwall]

We should all take heed on this warning and many others.
Scammers are Everywhere. And often we all have many things on our minds right now and might not be a vigilant as we normally would be.

 

[raven]

Train yourself.

Question: Is this Dennis Olsen?
Answer if you want to be an INTJ you could say:
"This is my phone and I ask the questions - who the President of the United States?"
and if they say anything other than Trump, hang up.

 

[Dystonic]

Answer and then act as if they caught you in the middle of something. “Just give me quick moment” and then set down the phone. This was really fun back when telemarketers were told never hang up on a call and would stay on for several minutes.

 

[Publius]

We just got home and there was a few calls on the answering machine one was saying they were from AT&T and they were going to disconnect our internet service in the next 24 hours if we did not call them back at the provided number.
Yeah right we do not use AT&T but Frontier and it a DSL phone line service and its all we can get without going to satellite service and the last time we checked (2007) they wanted well over a $120 a month and you get the TV to go with it like it or not.

 

[Texican]

I have gotten several calls wanting to know if I am (name). I always say what do you want and who are you with and then lay the phone down with the phone on speaker.

They keep asking and I keep asking what do you want and who are you with and let me talk to your manger and they finally give up and disconnect.

Never give up your name on the phone.

Texican....

 

[Gingergirl]

Though I don't answer calls from people I don't know, my 4 year old is quick to answer when he is on my iPad.
Everyone finds it very entertaining.

 

[Nich1]

A recent call here (NC) said, "This is your energy company. You are due a refund..."
I didn't listen to the rest of it but I could see some people jumping on that and giving
info. PT Barnum was right..."There's a sucker born every minute and every second, there's one to sell."

 

[packyderms_wife]

“Is this Dennis Olson?” It’s almost impossible to think fast enough to NOT say yes automatically. I said by way of reply, “Who are you and what do you want?”

I always respond with "who is asking and why".

 

[Dennis Olson]

They’ve already reached out to my oldest and my ex-wife! D’Anne messaged me about it, and I filled her in. I also messaged my younger boy and let him know what to expect.

 

[Dennis Olson]

I always respond with "who is asking and why".

That’s what I did.

 

[Jeff B.]

Vey helpful!

Jeff B.