Some people are really evil :(

[Mortlives]

A couple of years ago I got an email purporting to be from a hitman who had been hired to kill me. He kindly offered to cancel the contract if I would improve the offer. I forwarded the email to the RCMP and went on with my life. But yeah, evil.

 

[eliza61]

What if you couldn't get in touch with your loved one?

Don't be so sure you're too savvy to fall for it. When someone is screaming at you on the phone that they've bashed your loved one over the head with a bat and have them unconscious in the trunk of their car, don't be so sure of how you'd react.

then it's 9-1-1. I do have experience not directly but like I said it happened to my dad and the person was on the phone screaming about how my baby brother was hurt. In the time it takes for you to get the screamer the cash you can usually get in touch with someone or at least start seeing the holes in the story.

I know one popular version was that your kid was stuck in Europe and being detained for hotel charges. Well if the so call person is calling for the money, how come my kid ain't calling?

If someone is screaming that they have my love one unconscious in the trunk my first question is "how'd you get my phone number then"????

Now I have had phone calls from my kids school when they got hurt but they have always, always been able to identify themselves.

I guess my thought is, first take a deep breathe and in the time it takes to take that breathe you can pretty much figure out it's a scam and see the holes.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

My FIL got a similar call twice (Mexican prison with the name of his grandchild). He actually paid the first time, was smarter the second time. Happened to my aunt, but she didn't fall for it. It's a pretty common scam.

Did they actually use the name first? My mom got called by someone crying so hard it was hard to understand, but she thinks they said "Mom, I need help". She said "Mickey'snewestfan, is that you?" and then they had the name. They said I'd gone up to Canada, and had been arrested for drunk driving, and I needed bail. There were so many things wrong with the story, like the fact that I don't drink, and the fact that Canada is hardly a terrifying country in which to be jailed. Also, my mom asked "Is DS with you", and the scammer replied yes, I can't remember the exact quote but to my ear it didn't sound like something you'd say about a child, but more like the scammer assumed it was the name of my boyfriend, husband or partner.

Despite all these cues, my mom said "I" sounded so scared that she went straight to the grocery store to wire the money.

 

[SC Minnie]

Did they actually use the name first? My mom got called by someone crying so hard it was hard to understand, but she thinks they said "Mom, I need help". She said "Mickey'snewestfan, is that you?" and then they had the name. They said I'd gone up to Canada, and had been arrested for drunk driving, and I needed bail. There were so many things wrong with the story, like the fact that I don't drink, and the fact that Canada is hardly a terrifying country in which to be jailed. Also, my mom asked "Is DS with you", and the scammer replied yes, I can't remember the exact quote but to my ear it didn't sound like something you'd say about a child, but more like the scammer assumed it was the name of my boyfriend, husband or partner.

Despite all these cues, my mom said "I" sounded so scared that she went straight to the grocery store to wire the money.

Similar thing happened to an older relative of mine. The caller begged him not to tell his mother (callers daughter) so he didn't. He sent money too.

The talked kind of low but crying just enough so the relative could hear a little bit. This made him ask questions like -Is that you xx?

These scammers prey on older people that trust and aren't as aware of these things.

 

[dinolounger]

A variant of this are bomb calls threat calls to schools or other institutions . They were pretty rampant when I was young. My favorite story about that came from one of the senior administrative people at my high school. She told me about answering a call one morning where the caller blurted out "I've put a bomb in the school basement and it's gonna go off in ten minutes." Her response before hanging up was "hey (obscene name,) this school doesn't have a basement."

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

This is a horrible scam, and as my parents are getting older, and my kids are getting more independently mobile, I think I'm going to try and set up a "password" type of situation. If the caller gives that password, then I'll know it's actually from my kids, same for my parents.

 

[NFLDERS]

Exactly. Rachel from Card Services has taken to calling me from my own number. Very weird to see you own name pop up on caller id. At least I know it is Rachel

We were told (by CRTC) this is called "Spoofing". We were getting calls from people who were getting calls from our number not us as well. This activity is of concern because people get irate that they'd received calls from our number; for instance a person thinking their partner is involved with someone.

 

[MickeySP]

What if you couldn't get in touch with your loved one?

Don't be so sure you're too savvy to fall for it. When someone is screaming at you on the phone that they've bashed your loved one over the head with a bat and have them unconscious in the trunk of their car, don't be so sure of how you'd react.

Well I would hope you would call the police. I would also ask for proof of life. If you bashed my loved one on the head with a bat, how do I know they aren't already dead.

Guess where they get lots of this info? Facebook. You post about that big trip, the kid going to college etc... Easy after that with Google & Spokeo to get most info.

 

[YoYoAurora]

This is a horrible scam, and as my parents are getting older, and my kids are getting more independently mobile, I think I'm going to try and set up a "password" type of situation. If the caller gives that password, then I'll know it's actually from my kids, same for my parents.

^^^^^Smart thinking! My eldest brother travels a lot, including overseas travel to places that aren't known for being friendly to travelers. We set up a pass phrase system a long time ago and go over it when we are face to face. And he keeps me apprised of his travel plans. (I am his emergency contact.) I've received scam calls about him, but no one has given me the correct phrase yet. All calls reported to local law enforcement. The best one was when he was visiting me. He was sitting at the table with me when a caller claimed that he was in a Mexican jail.

 

[3 MEN AND A BOAT]

question guys, I wonder though how people are falling for it. my dad had this happened to him, caller said that my brother had been arrested out of the country and they needed a bunch of dough to get him released. my dad said that was pretty interesting considering that my brother was currently sitting on the coach with a his leg in a cast from a motorcycle accident.

we never were able to get the call traced or anything but I think my first reaction would be to call the so called kidnapped victim not folk over cash.

I agree. I've never quite understood how so many people fall for this. It seems so obvious to me.