I once had a more unique experience. I was calling Amazon with a routine question and Googled their phone number, which I called. They answered, asked me to verify my account, which I did for two reasons: (1) I called THEM, that is, THEY did NOT call me; and (2) thus, I identified myself by my account number (about which I was calling). Anyway, the story gets much longer—and that will be a different thread that I'll start about the completely different responses by two banks with local branches, both of which we've had decades of relationships with. One supported me; the other blamed me, for exactly the same thing! Stay tuned....
This is one aspect of scamming that I would NEVER have thought of—a fake website with a fake phone number that not only looks like the real thing but comes up on the first page near the top of my Google search window! If these criminals are paying for advertising to get it to come up so close to the top, what they're doing must REALLY be profitable. Yes, given the technology and the expertise, they can do far more than we can even imagine. Thank you OBB and matandch for the best summary of suggestions I've seen on dealing with this growing and truly annoying issue.
The only suggestion that won't work for us is the one about hanging up on foreign accents. In my family I'm practically the DP; the rest of them are scattered all over the world--each with a unique accent!
Quote:
Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby
Every time you talk to them, you confirm that you are someone who is willing to engage with them. And every time you do that, your name, phone number, and sometimes even a recording of your voice is sold to thousands of other scammers via lists.
If it makes you feel better to know you are intentionally setting yourself up as a target for more nefarious scams than the ones you engage with, well - I guess whatever floats your boat.
For me, when a call comes in from a phone number I don't recognize, I answer (because sometimes it's someone I'm actually expecting to hear from and just don't know their number) "who dis?" I don't say hello. I don't say yes, I don't engage in conversation.
If I hear a click or a tone (as though a machine is connecting me to a voice on the other end) I disconnect and block the number.
If I hear a foreign accent, I disconnect and block the number. If I hear a machine I block the number.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by matandch
Never call phone numbers or follow links that come up unsolicited on your computer. Go separately to the the official website of the business claiming to need to contact you and only use links or phone numbers you find there.
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