Major Mayday! I'm not sure what to think of this

[Cloud23465]

Someone called me today saying that I enquired about a surround sound system that I had no intrest in buying. They obviously Dont have SSN #s or CC #'s but its just disturbing... should I still be worried?

[Commander Argus]

Someone called me today saying that I enquired about a surround sound system that I had no intrest in buying. They obviously Dont have SSN #s or CC #'s but its just disturbing... should I still be worried?

That sounds almost identical to a common SPAM tactic. I love Caller ID!

[jeriddian]

Yep, I agree,

It was one of two things. One, as the Commander noted, it was like a SPAM tactic and someone was was tryign to pull a fast one and trying to sell you something. Two, it was a scam to do exactly as you feared and someone was trying to get your vital information such SSN or credit card number, etc., in an identity theft scam. If you caught the number they called from, you might consider reporting it to the police identity theft unit.

[Cloud23465]

Someone called me today saying that I enquired about a surround sound system that I had no intrest in buying. They obviously Dont have SSN #s or CC #'s but its just disturbing... should I still be worried?

That sounds almost identical to a common SPAM tactic. I love Caller ID!

I wasn't here to answer the phone because I wasn't home at the time but I do screen calls with caller id. I called the guy that said I enquired about the surround sound system and he said something about an Alibaba.com website. I'm on the FTC website and just checked my credit cards and credit scores and everything seems fine. I must say that it just is a bit scary when something like this happens.

[Cloud23465]

Oh and here's the information on the surround sound system I "was intrested in" harman kardon 5.1 HTS (http://www.alibaba.com/catalog/12288962/5_1_Home_Theater_System.html)
only $851... wow I have expensive taste and didn't even know it... Why not get the Bose though? shesh :confused:

[lunchmeat]

See, they heard about your private disco and are trying to get you set up.

There have been a lot of phishing scams going around lately. I keep getting stuff that I assume comes from the Monster/USAJobs hack. That and there seem to be a number of people who think I have some rather singular health problems and are eager to sell me medications for them.

I haven't heard from my old buddy Dr. Mkumba in a while, he used to email me pretty regularly wanting to deposit his country's treasury in my bank account, for safekeeping. Hope the revolution is proceeding apace over there and he found somewhere to deposit the money.

[canuck31003]

FYI, at annualcreditreport.com (https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp) you can get a free copy of your credit report online, annually from each agency, and see if there's anything unusual going on. Since there's three credit agencies, I've been requesting a credit report every 4 months or so.

[Cloud23465]

See, they heard about your private disco and are trying to get you set up.

There have been a lot of phishing scams going around lately. I keep getting stuff that I assume comes from the Monster/USAJobs hack. That and there seem to be a number of people who think I have some rather singular health problems and are eager to sell me medications for them.

I haven't heard from my old buddy Dr. Mkumba in a while, he used to email me pretty regularly wanting to deposit his country's treasury in my bank account, for safekeeping. Hope the revolution is proceeding apace over there and he found somewhere to deposit the money.

Great the words out.... Oh well... House party!

FYI, at annualcreditreport.com (https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp) you can get a free copy of your credit report online, annually from each agency, and see if there's anything unusual going on. Since there's three credit agencies, I've been requesting a credit report every 4 months or so.

Yeah, Edit: thats actually the same site that the FTC linked me to to check it. but I'm going to keep a major eye on my credit now just incase... every week or so till i feel that nothings wrong and ill probably go to a 3 month plan. The FTC offers a site that you can check your credit activities... I've dont the thing with freecreditreport.com... but they are cheap and a pain to quit once your trials up.

[canuck31003]

I've dont the thing with freecreditreport.com... but they are cheap and a pain to quit once your trials up.

annualcreditreport.com is different from freecreditreport--the former there's no trial membership and is still free, but no credit score; the latter as you say has the hassle of a trial membership but you get a credit score in addition to the report.

[TransWarpDrive]

Checking your credit report is a good idea, but I think that salesperson just got your name and phone number off a list and was trying to bamboozle you into buying a stereo you didn't really order. In other words, it sounds to me like a rather presumptuous and pushy sales call. When I get sales calls, I simply cut them off in mid-spiel by saying v-e-r-y firmly that I'm not interested, and they should take my name off their list. I then hang up - v-e-r-y firmly. :thumbup:

[Cloud23465]

Checking your credit report is a good idea, but I think that salesperson just got your name and phone number off a list and was trying to bamboozle you into buying a stereo you didn't really order. In other words, it sounds to me like a rather presumptuous and pushy sales call. When I get sales calls, I simply cut them off in mid-spiel by saying v-e-r-y firmly that I'm not interested, and they should take my name off their list. I then hang up - v-e-r-y firmly. :thumbup:

Yea, that could be it or maybe is someone from Nigeria? I watched a special on MS-NBC about people that get their Identities stolen... way worse then mine and theres not to much you can do about it...:dubiety:

[TransWarpDrive]

Checking your credit report is a good idea, but I think that salesperson just got your name and phone number off a list and was trying to bamboozle you into buying a stereo you didn't really order. In other words, it sounds to me like a rather presumptuous and pushy sales call. When I get sales calls, I simply cut them off in mid-spiel by saying v-e-r-y firmly that I'm not interested, and they should take my name off their list. I then hang up - v-e-r-y firmly. :thumbup:

Yea, that could be it or maybe is someone from Nigeria? I watched a special on MS-NBC about people that get their Identities stolen... way worse then mine and theres not to much you can do about it...:dubiety:

While it's possibly a case of a fraudulent purchase made with your stolen personal info, I think the scenario I outlined of a pushy phone salesman far more likely. Either that, or the phone caller was going to try and get you to give your credit card or bank account number to him over the phone - phone scams like that have been perpetrated before.

[Ultimate Naco Topping]

Ultimate Naco Topping's Guide to Dealing with Telemarketers/Scam Artists

1. Acquire phone.
2. Acquire phone number.
3. Wait for phone to ring.
4. Answer phone with standard greeting.
5. a. If person on the other end is someone you know (i.e. not a telemarketer/scam artist), go back to step 3.
b. If person on the other end is a telemarketer/scam artist, proceed to step 6.
6. Allow telemarketer/scam artist to introduce themselves, product, and/or scheme.
7. Ask if they would hold for one moment.
8. Walk into bathroom with phone.
9. Pretend to use bathroom.
10. Flush toilet.
11. Do not pretend to wash hands.
12. a. If telemarketer/scam artist is still on the phone, thank them for waiting and proceed to step 13.
b. If telemarketer/scam artist is no longer on the phone, go back to step 3.
13. Ask them if they would like to buy/participate in the product or scheme they initially offered.
14. When telemarketer/scam artist states that they are the one selling the product or scheme, exclaim what a coincidence it is and how embarrassing it must be for them.
15. Follow up by stating that you must now get ready for the Elvis convention and that your hair will not blow dry itself.
16. Pick up and turn on hair drier while shouting the lyrics to 'Holla Back Girl' for 20 seconds.
17. a. If telemarketer/scam artist is no longer on the phone, go back to step 3.
b. If telemarketer/scam artist is on the phone, thank them for holding and ask them if they would like to purchase the hair drier.

[Monstrorrendinformingens]

:laugh:
I just remembered how my father got rid of one of those telephone pains. Can't translate it but the guy on the other end must have been pretty confused afterwards.
If you're sure there is something totally wrong with the caller just hang up. Normally they don't call twice - maybe because there are so many others they can try to fool.:angry:

(All assuming that they aren't more aggressive there than here.)

[campy]

Most of my calls come from auto-dialers, so when I pick up and say "Hello" there's silence for a second or two before the system brings in a person. I now simply hang up if my greeting isn't returned immediately. If a marketer does manage to slip in, I just say "Not interested, goodbye" and hang up.

[Cloud23465]

It wasn't Telemarketers or a scamer thats for sure. Though the guy did still try to offer to sell me the system... I really think he was joking. The guy was very helpful as far as answering my questions and he was and sound sincerly shocked that this happened. I looked up the number for this guys bussiness call back number and it was a cell phone # out of Arizona and it check out with his business on that website. He never tried to get any information from me (and trust me... he wasn't going to get it.)

I had a problem with Ebay a long time ago though. I got an email that I though was from ebay requesting information... It was fake and they got my password for my user name... The idiots had the nerve to list items under my name... The damage was minimal... actually there wasnt any. I contacted ebay and they reset my password, I changed and got a new email address, Though I did end up calling the credit card company that i had filed under ebay and had them put a freeze on the account and they sent me a new card.

I have got fake emails from paypal and If they got that information... thats pretty much it... they could drain out my bank account no problem and screw my credit up too. I informed paypal that if i have a problem with something on my account to call me personally because I will not respond to email from them. If they have to close my acount because I wont respond... so be it. I think I stressed and made a bigger deal about nothing. But thanks for the support and information. I'll review it and if i see something I haven't though of before... I put that idea to good use.

[canuck31003]

I have got fake emails from paypal
I've received those, too. I just forward them to paypal support and ask if it's legitimate or not.

[Cloud23465]

I have got fake emails from paypal
I've received those, too. I just forward them to paypal support and ask if it's legitimate or not.

I've clicked on the links and check them out... the web address is a dead give away that it's not real. But as far as the rest goes... they really go all out to make it look like the real deal and it's scary... and at the same time sad for all those who have fell for the scam..:dubiety:

[kyojikasshu]

As far as telephones go, I never actually use my home phone anymore, except to dial out to the Internet. (Yeah, yeah, I know, I know...) Anybody who would have a legitimate reason to call me has my cell phone number, so they just use that. And that has caller ID.

When a call comes in on my cell phone that's unfamiliar, I just let it go to voice mail. Half the time, there's no message left, or the message is half-over as they start playing it after the VM system picks up.

Of course, there's always the option to do this - a variation of UNT's process, although a bit simplified:

1. Acquire phone.
2. Acquire phone number.
3. Wait for phone to ring.
4. Answer phone with standard greeting.
5. a. If person on the other end is someone you know (i.e. not a telemarketer/scam artist), go back to step 3.
b. If person on the other end is a telemarketer/scam artist, proceed to step 6.
6. Allow telemarketer/scam artist to introduce themselves, product, and/or scheme.
7. Drop the manual buzzer (http://www.manualbuzzer.com/) on them.
8. Hang up the phone, and go back to step 3.

The concept of the "manual buzzer" comes from one of Jim Rome (http://www.jimrome.com)'s rants last year about telemarketers. On the show itself, bad callers are sent off with a "buzzer", originating from basketball (the sound that's made when the shot clock expires). One day, he referenced that he began dropping a "manual buzzer" on telemarketers, by making the sound himself. The whole thing took on a life of its own, and the "automatic" buzzer was soon replaced by a tape of Jim's "manual" buzzer.

I won't even get into details on how the manual buzzer, combined with a caller's "OORF!" sound, became "Wacko Jacko's Adult Alarm"...

Anyway, I've never dropped the manual buzzer on a caller myself... mainly because I don't want to bother taking those calls in the first place!

[Cloud23465]

I know telemarketers used to be about 95% of the calls we'd get.... I put our number on that do not call government registry list and it went to about 15 a day to hardly ever.. Its so nice not having the phone ring off the hook like it used to.

[AinoMinako]

As far as telephones go, I never actually use my home phone anymore, except to dial out to the Internet. (Yeah, yeah, I know, I know...) Anybody who would have a legitimate reason to call me has my cell phone number, so they just use that. And that has caller ID.

When a call comes in on my cell phone that's unfamiliar, I just let it go to voice mail. Half the time, there's no message left, or the message is half-over as they start playing it after the VM system picks up.


I'm pretty much the same. My family still gets calls on the landline but I don't think any of my friends even have my house number.

I do tend to get calls from creditors asking for someone named Denisha. Which is odd, as I've had my number over two years. So either she made up my number to give out or she used to have the number, never updated it, and never paid the bill.

[campy]

I go through periods where I get weird calls on my cell phone. Either "Unknown" or a number ending in a long string of zeros, which doesn't look at all like a US phone #. I never answer, and they never leave a message except once. That one seemed to be in Spanish. :confused:

[TransWarpDrive]

I know telemarketers used to be about 95% of the calls we'd get.... I put our number on that do not call government registry list and it went to about 15 a day to hardly ever.. Its so nice not having the phone ring off the hook like it used to.
We want to get on that list, but my mom, for some reason, won't let us. I don't know about her; stubbornness, and pride, run in the family (it's a long story)...:ohwell:

[lunchmeat]

I go through periods where I get weird calls on my cell phone. Either "Unknown" or a number ending in a long string of zeros, which doesn't look at all like a US phone #. I never answer, and they never leave a message except once. That one seemed to be in Spanish. :confused:


Might be able to figure it out from here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_call_prefixes


I do tend to get calls from creditors asking for someone named Denisha. Which is odd, as I've had my number over two years. So either she made up my number to give out or she used to have the number, never updated it, and never paid the bill.

I was at my fishing buddy's house (oddly enough, this was the same weekend that I discovered KP) and answered the phone while he was on a beer run. It was a call similar to the one you had, from some guy claiming to be a lawyer, looking for someone and insisting that this was her number. He called back several times, getting more agressive and abusive each time. I finally told him that he could either quit calling or I was going to file a complaint with the bar association. Haven't heard from him since.

And a fine International Talk Like A Pirate Day to ye all, ye scurvey bilge dogs.

[Cloud23465]

I know telemarketers used to be about 95% of the calls we'd get.... I put our number on that do not call government registry list and it went to about 15 a day to hardly ever.. Its so nice not having the phone ring off the hook like it used to.
We want to get on that list, but my mom, for some reason, won't let us. I don't know about her; stubbornness, and pride, run in the family (it's a long story)...:ohwell:

That's painful but I know what your talking about.... I have alot of them in my family too. I know I enjoy the phone silence...the phone used to ring all day and the answering machine kicking on case no one answered it.... I dont miss it what so ever.

[jeriddian]

I know telemarketers used to be about 95% of the calls we'd get.... I put our number on that do not call government registry list and it went to about 15 a day to hardly ever.. Its so nice not having the phone ring off the hook like it used to.
We want to get on that list, but my mom, for some reason, won't let us. I don't know about her; stubbornness, and pride, run in the family (it's a long story)...:ohwell:

That's painful but I know what your talking about.... I have alot of them in my family too. I know I enjoy the phone silence...the phone used to ring all day and the answering machine kicking on case no one answered it.... I dont miss it what so ever.

I'm on the Do not call list too, but there are some types of callers that are exempt from it. I have two home phone lines. One is for my fax. The other is my home phone number which I never answer as that one is for the telemarketers. I always let it go to voice mail. every now and then a real message gets through and I will call back on those. My phoning is always thorugh my cell.

[TransWarpDrive]

I know telemarketers used to be about 95% of the calls we'd get.... I put our number on that do not call government registry list and it went to about 15 a day to hardly ever.. Its so nice not having the phone ring off the hook like it used to.
We want to get on that list, but my mom, for some reason, won't let us. I don't know about her; stubbornness, and pride, run in the family (it's a long story)...:ohwell:

That's painful but I know what your talking about.... I have alot of them in my family too. I know I enjoy the phone silence...the phone used to ring all day and the answering machine kicking on case no one answered it.... I dont miss it what so ever.

I'm on the Do not call list too, but there are some types of callers that are exempt from it. I have two home phone lines. One is for my fax. The other is my home phone number which I never answer as that one is for the telemarketers. I always let it go to voice mail. every now and then a real message gets through and I will call back on those. My phoning is always thorugh my cell.

:huh:
You realize that our lives are getting a lot more complicated in some ways due to technology... :errr:
Just thought I'd point that out.

[Cloud23465]

:huh:
You realize that our lives are getting a lot more complicated in some ways due to technology... :errr:
Just thought I'd point that out.

That's an unexpected twist... seeing that everyone says that technology is supposed to make our lives easier...I know i'm not one of them that enjoys the easy part.:rolleyes:

[Cloud23465]

Yeah, Someone esle called me today... someone from Georga... I'm not calling this one back... I hope who ever's doing this is having fun.

[Monstrorrendinformingens]

Well, if fun equals money...:rolleyes:

[Cloud23465]

I've alearted the credit companys... I am really careful to who and what I give my information out. For all I know I could of had a piece of mail stolen, But so far the credit sitch is fine... for now:dubiety:

[GoTeamGirl]

Oddly, today my friend's mother had money taken from her credit card and they had to shut it down, along with a ton of others. They think someone was attempting identity theft, and the purchase came from Switzerland. Scary.

[Cloud23465]

Oddly, today my friend's mother had money taken from her credit card and they had to shut it down, along with a ton of others. They think someone was attempting identity theft, and the purchase came from Switzerland. Scary.

I know most of the scams come from over seas... where the US government and their agencies are powerless to do anything.

[Cloud23465]

Numbers placed on the registry, begun in June 2003, are valid for five years. For the millions of people who signed onto the list in its early days, their numbers will automatically drop off beginning next June 2008 if they do not enroll again
So just visit the website and put the numbers down again and you'll be covered till 2012.
https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

[lunchmeat]

Oddly, today my friend's mother had money taken from her credit card and they had to shut it down, along with a ton of others. They think someone was attempting identity theft, and the purchase came from Switzerland. Scary.

Not surprising, money is the official and unoffical religion of Switzerland.

[TransWarpDrive]

Oddly, today my friend's mother had money taken from her credit card and they had to shut it down, along with a ton of others. They think someone was attempting identity theft, and the purchase came from Switzerland. Scary.

Not surprising, money is the official and unoffical religion of Switzerland.
:laugh:
Indeed! Why else do you think so many people take their ill-gotten cash gains and deposit them in numbered Swiss bank accounts? :P