Beware Of Holiday Scammers Lurking Under the Mistletoe

[Sentry18]

https://misanthrope.today/2019/12/10/beware-of-holiday-scammers-lurking-under-the-mistletoe/

Author: Robert A - December 10, 2019

Beware Of Holiday Scammers Lurking Under the Mistletoe


Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone, however, if you’re like the 47% of last-minute shoppers, during the 2018 Yuletide season, listen up.

Cyber-scammers are lurking just a click away from your on-line shopping experience. This year, thanks to a robust economy along with a sizable uptick in consumer confidence, shoppers have thus far spent a record $9.4 billion dollars online, that’s $1.5 billion dollars more than last holiday season, and we still have approximately three weeks left before Santa makes his journey from the North Pole.


For those mathematicians who like to impress others by crunching the numbers, that astounding figure comes to $12 million dollars per minute, and “yes” that’s every single minute, of every day.

Which no doubt is the reason why every scammer, hacker and simple thief is out there, figuring ingenious ways to separate shoppers from their money.

Especially when last-minute shoppers begin to feel the pressure in getting their holiday shopping done – mistakes along and not paying attention becomes the scammers’ way in.

The most common scam cyber-criminals favor is “phishing” disguising a well-known email from a trusted source for the holidays.

For example, a well respected online retailer like Amazon or Apple, in the hands of savvy hackers and scammers becomes a shopper’s nightmare. The hackers cleverly create their own email by using the trade-name Amazon somewhere within the fake email, and then inform the unsuspecting shopper that their account has been “disabled”. They then provide a link so that the shopper can “reset your password.”

However once the unsuspecting shopper clicks on the email, they’re taken to a website that mirrors the real thing, where they’re required to enter their password and additional security information, which is now in the hands of hackers.

The easiest way to decipher the real Amazon email from a phony is to simply pay attention, take a few moments to actually “look over” the email before opening it, and “NEVER” open a link you aren’t sure about.

As stated “phishing email addresses” may contain pieces of a real name like Amazon, the spelling may be off by one character, or perhaps the email may be much longer than usual, with some complex keyboard symbols attached.

However, the best insurance from becoming a victim of identity theft this holiday season, if you’re contacted by email from an online retailer, is to simply pick up a phone and call their customer service line direct, and speak to a real person.

Another scam that makes use of your inbox includes shipping notifications, which present themselves as Amazon, UPS or FedEx messages. These emails contain text about an issue with “your order” and how you must verify your identity to save your item from being seized or canceled.

Scammers, of course, are playing the odds that the shopper has an order “in-process”, especially during the holiday season, from one of these companies.

Again, do not open the email, better still “delete it” and if concerned, call the carrier direct.

Facebook is also a breeding ground for scam-artist, the cost of buying a Facebook ad is peanuts, considering the millions of potential victims reached, especially during the holiday season.

The biggest red flag for a scam attack comes in the form of direct messages from Facebook marketplace merchants. When a professional con artist is able to talk with you directly, they can deploy all their social engineering skills to trick you into paying them or giving them information.

 

[Terri9630]

Someone mixed up their scam phone calls this morning. It was a Texas # but the recording was in Chinese or one of the Asian languages that I don't understand.

 

[Amish Heart]

Had a fun one last night. A lady calling that I really had a hard time understanding. Wanting to do a survey about what I think. About "things". Said it would be confidential.

 

[Weedygarden]

Someone mixed up their scam phone calls this morning. It was a Texas # but the recording was in Chinese or one of the Asian languages that I don't understand.

I have gotten the Chinese calls. I get so many that I don't usually answer the phone if I do not recognize the number. I think if it is important, they can leave a message and I will call them back. My recording says so.

 

[Sentry18]

I avoid this, for the most part, but using a Google voice number for every online purchase, forms, etc. That number gets tons of scam calls, telemarketer calls, polling calls, etc. but they never actually ring through to me. We use our home phone only for local businesses & medical appointments and our cell phones for work and close family.

 

[Supervisor42]

Had a fun one last night. A lady calling that I really had a hard time understanding. Wanting to do a survey about what I think. About "things". Said it would be confidential.

Nobody loves me.
I only get about 2 spam calls per week and those are only from 'bots.
There are probably a lot of call lists out there with this next to my number:

*Warning, an AH answers this one!*

 

[Weedygarden]

Nobody loves me.
I only get about 2 spam calls per week and those are only from 'bots.
There are probably a lot of call lists out there with this next to my number:

*Warning, an AH answers this one!*

Maybe you are not ordering much stuff online or signing up for stuff.

Just a little off topic:

I have a situation. When I got my cell phone maybe 15 years ago, I was given a phone number that had been used by someone who bailed and owes debts. I still get phone calls for him. These calls come from unknown numbers. Once in a while, I get a call from a bill collector for him that I decide to answer because they have called six times that day. When I hear, "May I speak to William Blah blah?" I have answered in many different ways. I have said, "This is William." I usually ask, "Who is calling?" Of course, I never get far, but I keep them busy, and I have kept them busy for up to half an hour, giving them a hard time. I know the people who are calling have little control. I ask them, "What does the record say about this number and William?" Then they scroll down and say, "Oh." They never want to show their hand. They are still under the belief that I know William and maybe he and I have changed numbers or something. Right!

One time, a woman called and I gave her all kinds of grief. She finally hung up on me. I kept calling back until I got her supervisor. Love it! I said to him, "Repeat after me. This number is not Williams. You have had this number for more than 15 years. We will not call you again. Every time we call you, we are actually harassing you, and you are innocent in this." I break it down into pieces. What they will not say is, "We will never call you again." Why? Because they believe I know William! I have never met the guy. I have no idea who he is or where he is. I have no idea who he is.

After one of these calls where I get into it with them, they will leave me alone for a while, until his file gets sold off to someone else who then goes through the same motions. But the last time I answered one of their calls, I put them through enough stuff, that I have not heard from them again. I also have a notebook where I make notes about these calls, and I tell them that I am documenting their harassment. I wish I knew how to record these calls for evidence.

And William? I believe he has a phone that is under someone else's name. He will never be getting any of these calls, unless or until I find him! Then I am going to let the collectors know how to get ahold of him!

 

[Supervisor42]

...Of course, I never get far, but I keep them busy, and I have kept them busy for up to half an hour, giving them a hard time. I know the people who are calling have little control. I ask them, "What does the record say about this number and William?" Then they scroll down and say, "Oh." They never want to show their hand. They are still under the belief that I know William and maybe he and I have changed numbers or something. Right!

Oh, you are far too nice!
Remember, they CALLED US. They get what they get.
I dig deep and pull out the most deviant and perverse sexual terms to ask them which their spouse prefers.
Success is when they hang up on me.
I'm sure more than one respectable Hindu in India has said:
"I called this guy and my phone burst into flames!"

Guess why nobody calls me?

 

[Amish Heart]

OK, Supervisor42. Give us your number, and Weedy will tell them it's William's number.
And I can forward all my "surveys" to you. They are confidential, after all.
When you are digging deep and asking perverse questions, you will qualify for a CPS job.
Husband was asked today to submit an essay describing how he felt when his dad died.

 

[Weedygarden]

OK, Supervisor42. Give us your number, and Weedy will tell them it's William's number.
And I can forward all my "surveys" to you. They are confidential, after all.
When you are digging deep and asking perverse questions, you will qualify for a CPS job.
Husband was asked today to submit an essay describing how he felt when his dad died.

Amish, it just keeps going on and on. What will be next?

It sounds like working for Denver Public Schools. If people expressed concern about something, then hours and hours of meetings happened with no resolution until people finally threw up their hands and walked away.

 

[Amish Heart]

Don't know. Little granddaughter will be arriving again in 10 days. Was hoping we could keep her at that point. I thought they did enough digging at our 3 hr meeting at our house last Friday.
Questions: what drugs have you used? Answer: None. CPS: Oh, come on, you were in California in the 70's, had to of. Nope.
Questions: Do you watch porn? Answer: no. Question: Do you keep your sex toys in a safe place?
What the heck, CPS? No sex toys. Creeper pervs. These questions are typed on a questionnaire. OMG.
Remark from CPS: I know you have guns. Read the rule sheet about guns and sign it. I'll put down you have two pistols and a rifle.
Me: OK

 

[Weedygarden]

Don't know. Little granddaughter will be arriving again in 10 days. Was hoping we could keep her at that point. I thought they did enough digging at our 3 hr meeting at our house last Friday.
Questions: what drugs have you used? Answer: None. CPS: Oh, come on, you were in California in the 70's, had to of. Nope.
Questions: Do you watch porn? Answer: no. Question: Do you keep your sex toys in a safe place?
What the heck, CPS? No sex toys. Creeper pervs. These questions are typed on a questionnaire. OMG.
Remark from CPS: I know you have guns. Read the rule sheet about guns and sign it. I'll put down you have two pistols and a rifle.
Me: OK

It just seems so ridiculous that this is the norm!

 

[Supervisor42]

OK, Supervisor42. Give us your number, and Weedy will tell them it's William's number.
And I can forward all my "surveys" to you. They are confidential, after all.
When you are digging deep and asking perverse questions, you will qualify for a CPS job.
.

I'd be glad to but they would just say "oh, no, no,no, not that one!!".
Besides, I think I already have a job offer for the 'Friends of Epstein' helpline.

 

[Amish Heart]

Husband pointed out that security clearances do not require answers to "social questions" like that anymore. I am annoyed at the new essay requested. I didn't get any additional requests today. That'll be a hard one for husband to write. And it's not their business.

Ha Ha Supervisor. Friends of Epstein. Just have an endless loop: Stay away from the Clintons and he didn't kill himself.
And we still need your phone number for William's bill collectors.

 

[Supervisor42]

Husband pointed out that security clearances do not require answers to "social questions" like that anymore. I am annoyed at the new essay requested. I didn't get any additional requests today. That'll be a hard one for husband to write. And it's not their business.

Ha Ha Supervisor. Friends of Epstein. Just have an endless loop: Stay away from the Clintons and he didn't kill himself.
And we still need your phone number for William's bill collectors.

William's new phone number: (any area code) 555-1212.
Edit: And I don't know if I got the job yet, they told me to (wait for it) 'just hang loose'

 

[DrPrepper]

I heard William's new phone number was BR5-49........

 

[Amish Heart]

867-5309

 

[Amish Heart]

What's Hillary's phone number?

 

[Morgan101]

Someone mixed up their scam phone calls this morning. It was a Texas # but the recording was in Chinese or one of the Asian languages that I don't understand.

I have been getting them as well, but mine are coming out of Chicago; 312 area code. First one I answered and heard the gibberish in whatever language. I just hung up. I have gotten several more, but I don't even answer.

 

[Weedygarden]

What's Hillary's phone number?

There is a restaurant on the west end of the Plaza in Santa Fe that used to have a board up with all kinds of people's numbers to call, like the President, Governor, etc. I thought it was great that they had all of those numbers up there. I doubt they had her number there, but it would be great if they did! I am sure I took a photo of it at some point in time. I have eaten there a number of times. Maybe The Plaza Cafe? They had a fire that destroyed the place a number of years ago and it has since reopened. I don't remember if they replaced that board with the numbers or not.

 

[Supervisor42]

What's Hillary's phone number?

Who would want to call her?
If you really need to hear that, I can post a video of a sawblade screeching thru sheetmetal.
Same thing.

 

[Amish Heart]

William's bill collectors can call her.

 

[Supervisor42]

William's bill collectors can call her.

I'm pretty sure she's on that "never-call" list... along with me.

 

[Weedygarden]

William's bill collectors can call her.

Oh how I would love to give the bill collectors her number to call! But I would really like to give them William's current number! I have looked for him online. Someone with his name is in prison for some sex offense. Another person with his name died last year, well after the calls started.

 

[Terri9630]

867-5309

Hey! That's my number. I don't want Williams calls!!

 

[Amish Heart]

Ha Ha

 

[Supervisor42]

I have looked for him online. Someone with his name is in prison for some sex offense. Another person with his name died last year, well after the calls started.

Well, either one would explain why he would be behind in his payments and not answering his calls.
Phones are prohibited in prison and the cemetery.