NFR Phishing is Getting Better!

Non-fishing related
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MELinOre

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I received an email just after noon today. The subject line has my correct first and last name. Included in the body of the email is my correct home address. They suggest that I am eligible to receive money regarding a student loan I took out.
1) I have never applied for or taken a student loan.
2) College was over more than 50 years ago.
3) I didn't open any hyperlinks or reply to the email.
4) The senders name is not anyone I know.

As Sgt. Phil Esterhaus(Hill Street Blues TV show) always concluded morning roll call with his signature line: "Let's be careful out there."
 
Most reliable way to tell if an email you received is a scam, check the email address it was sent from. If it's from some randomized name @gmail or something, then it's likely not legit. If it's something like info @ totallylegitcompany. com - then the likelihood it's legit is much higher.
 
I get several spurious Paypal crypto purchase emails a week. Extremely easy to spot...and the 'customer service' personnel names are truly hilarious.

As for phone calls...I don't even answer unless it's someone on my contact list.

Prior to retirement I would occasionally get threatening calls on my work phone from gentlemen with heavy foreign accents claiming to be IRS agents. I would let them talk away, asking all sorts of inane questions and eventually tell them to GFYourself. They'd call back even more angry...rinse, repeat several more times ...until they'd finally curse and hangup.

Then I'd start calling them at their number repeatedly, and they'd go absolutely ballistic...and eventually block my calls.
 
There have been a lot of massive data breaches lately. One can expect more and more nefarious emails, texts and calls that look/sound very real.

When in doubt ---> do not open, delete and block.

Like wearing a PFD, safety first...
 
krusty said:
I get several spurious Paypal crypto purchase emails a week. Extremely easy to spot...and the 'customer service' personnel names are truly hilarious.

As for phone calls...I don't even answer unless it's someone on my contact list.

Prior to retirement I would occasionally get threatening calls on my work phone from gentlemen with heavy foreign accents claiming to be IRS agents. I would let them talk away, asking all sorts of inane questions and eventually tell them to GFYourself. They'd call back even more angry...rinse, repeat several more times ...until they'd finally curse and hangup.

Then I'd start calling them at their number repeatedly, and they'd go absolutely ballistic...and eventually block my calls.
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I prefer to answer with either “Pizza Hut” or “Papa John’s Pizza.”
 
I dunno Mel. Maybe you should go for it! I responded to one of those random, “You're eligible to participate in a class action lawsuit…”, emails last year and damned if I didn't receive a settlement check in last week's mail! The missus and I have been spending hours dreaming of the things we can do with all that money, but we don't want to blow it all in one frivolous spending orgy. Maybe we'll just invest it.

The cash is from some Google court case and my share came in a check. For twelve cents. Really! Point one two.
 
My best response ever to a guy with a thick foreign accent who was demanding money that I allegedly owed:

me: "You are a scammer and I owe you nothing! But if you give me your address I will send you $5."

him: "That not enough, I need full amount!"

me: "That's enough for you to buy a pack of condoms and go fuck yourself!"

click
 
iveofione said:
My best response ever to a guy with a thick foreign accent who was demanding money that I allegedly owed:

me: "You are a scammer and I owe you nothing! But if you give me your address I will send you $5."

him: "That not enough, I need full amount!"

me: "That's enough for you to buy a pack of condoms and go fuck yourself!"

click
Click to expand...
You might need to send him $17.35
 
The best response is to simply never answer the phone unless you recognize the source as listed in your contacts.

If it's important they'll leave a message, and I'd be suspicious of those as well. I've had messages (and texts/emails) from banks for which I have no accounts, and warnings that my discounts for cell service and internet will be ending unless I contact them immediately.

In all of these cases it is crucial that you DO NOT use the links or phone numbers provided by the message, text, or email. They want to create a sense of panic so you respond with the information they need to steal your money..

Simply contact the entity via the info provided by a secure business webpage, or from a paper billing document.

As for IRS, Social Security, or Medicare...legitimate consequential information (like benefit changes, disputes, audit notification) from those agencies is always transmitted to recipients via snail mail.

The sad part is that people, especially old people who've spent their whole lives trying to live responsibly, regularly get ripped off with disastrous consequences by these scumbags.
 
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Lately been getting the calls saying I owe back taxes and to call whoever back. I always want to call back and threaten them with my team of lawyers and a mega lawsuit, but don' think that would work to stop them.

Also been getting letters saying my home warranty is about to expire (of course, I don't have one) - from some outfit that had to pay millions in California for this scam - they just don't quit.
 
I don't answer any phone calls, unless my display shows a caller who I'm expecting. I don't pick up for any other number, because the criminals can use software that displays a false number; maybe a bank, government agency, or even a friend or family of yours. One time, my display showed my own number! Some criminals are not the sharpest knives in the drawer.

Most phone scam calls I get nowadays are automated, so there's no live person who I could give a piece of my mind. Too bad, because I can think of a few things I'd like to say, such as:

"Were you born an asshole, or did you take a special course for that?"
"You need to see a doctor for corrective surgery, because shit is coming out of your mouth."
"Your ancestors are watching you dishonour your family, and they are waiting for a chance to end you."
"Did your mother take drugs while she was pregnant with you?"
"Let me get this straight: you steal all the money that little old ladies have, so they end up in poverty, starving, and homeless? Have you considered suicide?"

In the days when all we had was a landline phone, I kept an air horn beside my phone. There were no scammers like today, only telemarketers, but they were an enemy, too. I'd speak quietly, then blast my air horn into the phone. Or if I was feeling less nasty, I'd just say, "Just a moment", put the phone down, and just walk away from the phone for awhile.
 
My memory must be getting bad because I have numerous emails, phone calls, and even a couple texts about all these packages that are due but are being upheld for various reasons. I don’t remember buying all of things but they leave messages saying they can’t deliver, they need more information and please call this number or click this link to continue and I can get my packages delivered.
 
MELinOre said:
As Sgt. Phil Esterhaus(Hill Street Blues TV show) always concluded morning roll call with his signature line: "Let's be careful out there."
Click to expand...
First off. I loved that show.

I’ve been getting emails from Nigerian national recently needing help transferring funds out of the country. I remember getting them in snail mail send through the international mail channels. 30 years now, same scam.
 
If you're getting unsolicited phone calls, that's illegal. You can buy the software WW wrote about and track the bastards down, threaten to sue, and get them to pay up. It works; he funds his fishing trips by using this.
 
Got an email from my dead brothers yahoo account once.

Also had a phone call from my late parents' phone number " Dad, I didn't know you could call from the grave".....
 
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