just got a call from "social security"...

[Jeff N.]

Originally Posted by chrismoustache

Lots of good points FOR landlines!

After hearing a co-workers cell phone ringtone recently, I realized that maybe it's not the phone configuration but the tone that gets me. I'd be content if every time a phone rang it just played the girl from ipanema or something similarly inviting.

Mine plays, "Back Door Man" (The Doors).

[fiamme red]

Originally Posted by parris

I just got a call from Social Security! I'd better call them right back and give em all my info so they can confirm that my SSN doesn't get "suspended"...

The same thing just happened to me. I wonder how anyone could be taken in by such an idiotic scam...

[parris]

Fiamme I've seen many generally smart people get scammed. Many people in general are simply to trusting when they hear official sounding titles. It also depends on the age as well as where people live. Smaller "nice" places combined with an older called party tend to get sxammed more than younger more aware people.

[kohagen]

I often just tell the caller to stop making these scam calls and get a real job, with some more adult language added here and there.

[Keith A]

I had a new one last week, that was pretty slick. They tried to reset my password on Netflix, and so I got a legitimate from Netflix. I scrutinized the email pretty carefully, and determined it was real. So I logged in my account and everything seemed fine. Then a few hours later, I got their fake email which looked almost identical to the one I got from Netflix. This time, they were saying my payment method was no longer valid. I didn't look at this email closely and assumed it was real. I logged back into Netflix directly, not using one of the links in the email, and my payment info was good. Then I went back and examined the second email -- sure enough, all the links went the scammer's website which I'm sure wanted my CC info.

I must admit, that was pretty good.

[Ozz]

Originally Posted by Jeff N.

Mine plays, "Back Door Man" (The Doors).

"Lawyers, Guns and Money" for me.

[mulp]

I can't even answer calls anymore due to how often i get these scam calls

[makoti]

Originally Posted by mulp

I can't even answer calls anymore due to how often i get these scam calls

You'd think my phone was always on Tinder, as often as I swipe left to hang up.

[Mark McM]

Originally Posted by Keith A

I had a new one last week, that was pretty slick. They tried to reset my password on Netflix, and so I got a legitimate from Netflix. I scrutinized the email pretty carefully, and determined it was real. So I logged in my account and everything seemed fine. Then a few hours later, I got their fake email which looked almost identical to the one I got from Netflix. This time, they were saying my payment method was no longer valid. I didn't look at this email closely and assumed it was real. I logged back into Netflix directly, not using one of the links in the email, and my payment info was good. Then I went back and examined the second email -- sure enough, all the links went the scammer's website which I'm sure wanted my CC info.

I must admit, that was pretty good.

This highlights an important point - never click on a link in an email (unless you were explicitly expecting to be sent a link). Even if an email looks legitimate, go to the web site directly, using a known legitimate web address.

[dsimon]

But I try to keep them on the phone and speak another language Bits and pieces of Spanish/Chinese/ and of course some Latin. I was tole to F$ck off and they hung up on me I make it a game

[Veloo]

My wife got a threatening email from what appeared to be her own email address.
Turned out to be a common scam as well but it did have me scratching my head. I got the tech support guys on the line and they showed me how to ID it as a fake.
Expand on the details of the sender info - this may require you to view the email in raw format. If the server that the email came from is not legit then you know the email is fake.

[kiwisimon]

We had trained our mother in her eighties to say "hang on a second I need to get my glasses" and put the phone down to anyone she didn't know. She'd walk away and hang up the phone about 5 minutes later.
She loved the idea that someone trying to steal from her was wasting time listening to her making scones. She also never had a computer so that was a good signal they were conmen.
Phones are important for people living alone to feel connected. They do need to be careful however.

[Keith A]

Originally Posted by Mark McM

This highlights an important point - never click on a link in an email (unless you were explicitly expecting to be sent a link). Even if an email looks legitimate, go to the web site directly, using a known legitimate web address.

You are so correct, never ever click on a link in an email unless you were expecting something. Even then, make sure you check where the link is pointing and make sure it's legit.

[Elefantino]

Originally Posted by Ozz

"Lawyers, Guns and Money" for me.

Mine's "Who Are You?"

[buddybikes]

If a candidate took on this issue seriously and hired some big time IT/security people for a plan, they would be guaranteed to win.