Scamming sure must be profitable -- latest call. Anybody else getting these?

[Boomer]

A couple of times lately, my cell has rung with a recording supposedly from Amazon saying they have spotted suspicious activity of a $700+ charge for an iPhone, and I need to press buttons to talk to someone who can verify or stop the purchase.

This is the second time this has happened with a slight variation in the message. I think the first time, the recording might have said it was Apple calling. (Besides -- do people buy Apple phones on Amazon anyway or are the scammers just using the two biggest, most familiar names they can think of to try to get their targets' attention?)

Now, before anybody chastises me for picking up on an unknown number, we have to right now because we are working on a project that involves several people who are not all programmed into my phone, and these scam numbers show up as local.

I did look at the credit card associated with Amazon and there are no pending orders. Also, we are set up to receive a text whenever a charge is made.

I cannot imagine that Amazon and Apple actually call people to try to convince them they are watching out for them. But scammers are never going to stop. It pays well.

Boomer

[larbud]

A couple of times lately, my cell has rung with a recording supposedly from Amazon saying they have spotted suspicious activity of a $700+ charge for an iPhone, and I need to press buttons to talk to someone who can verify or stop the purchase.

This is the second time this has happened with a slight variation in the message. I think the first time, the recording might have said it was Apple calling. (Besides -- do people buy Apple phones on Amazon anyway or are the scammers just using the two biggest, most familiar names they can think of to try to get their targets' attention?)



Now, before anybody chastises me for picking up on an unknown number, we have to right now because we are working on a project that involves several people who are not all programmed into my phone, and these scam numbers show up as local.

I did look at the credit card associated with Amazon and there are no pending orders. Also, we are set up to receive a text whenever a charge is made.

I cannot imagine that Amazon and Apple actually call people to try to convince them they are watching out for them. But scammers are never going to stop. It pays well.

Boomer

They somehow use very similar numbers that You’ve had contact with and once I caught a scammer piggybacking on a Friends number.🤬

[DeanFL]

A couple of times lately, my cell has rung with a recording supposedly from Amazon saying they have spotted suspicious activity of a $700+ charge for an iPhone, and I need to press buttons to talk to someone who can verify or stop the purchase.

This is the second time this has happened with a slight variation in the message. I think the first time, the recording might have said it was Apple calling. (Besides -- do people buy Apple phones on Amazon anyway or are the scammers just using the two biggest, most familiar names they can think of to try to get their targets' attention?)

Now, before anybody chastises me for picking up on an unknown number, we have to right now because we are working on a project that involves several people who are not all programmed into my phone, and these scam numbers show up as local.

I did look at the credit card associated with Amazon and there are no pending orders. Also, we are set up to receive a text whenever a charge is made.

I cannot imagine that Amazon and Apple actually call people to try to convince them they are watching out for them. But scammers are never going to stop. It pays well.

Boomer
.
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For those using AARP, and receive their monthly Bulletin magazine, this SCAM stuff is very very scary business. The long article is "Inside the Fraud Factory", and focuses on the illegal Indian Scam businesses - HUGE. Very interesting article with inside information from a 'good guy' computer expert that cracked/hacked their code and was able to see how extensive and criminal these people are. They especially prey on 'old folks'...with phone and computer scams.

Well worth the time to review.>

Daily News - Health, Money, Social Security, Medicare, Politics - Bulletin Today (https://www.aarp.org/bulletin/)
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[Bill14564]

A couple of times lately, my cell has rung with a recording supposedly from Amazon saying they have spotted suspicious activity of a $700+ charge for an iPhone, and I need to press buttons to talk to someone who can verify or stop the purchase.

This is the second time this has happened with a slight variation in the message. I think the first time, the recording might have said it was Apple calling. (Besides -- do people buy Apple phones on Amazon anyway or are the scammers just using the two biggest, most familiar names they can think of to try to get their targets' attention?)

Now, before anybody chastises me for picking up on an unknown number, we have to right now because we are working on a project that involves several people who are not all programmed into my phone, and these scam numbers show up as local.

I did look at the credit card associated with Amazon and there are no pending orders. Also, we are set up to receive a text whenever a charge is made.

I cannot imagine that Amazon and Apple actually call people to try to convince them they are watching out for them. But scammers are never going to stop. It pays well.

Boomer

Yep, seen this scam as a text message, heard about it as an email, and my father received it as a phone call.

[Dana1963]

A couple of times lately, my cell has rung with a recording supposedly from Amazon saying they have spotted suspicious activity of a $700+ charge for an iPhone, and I need to press buttons to talk to someone who can verify or stop the purchase.

This is the second time this has happened with a slight variation in the message. I think the first time, the recording might have said it was Apple calling. (Besides -- do people buy Apple phones on Amazon anyway or are the scammers just using the two biggest, most familiar names they can think of to try to get their targets' attention?)

Now, before anybody chastises me for picking up on an unknown number, we have to right now because we are working on a project that involves several people who are not all programmed into my phone, and these scam numbers show up as local.

I did look at the credit card associated with Amazon and there are no pending orders. Also, we are set up to receive a text whenever a charge is made.

I cannot imagine that Amazon and Apple actually call people to try to convince them they are watching out for them. But scammers are never going to stop. It pays well.

Boomer
If it’s not in my contacts goes straight to voicemail “and that’s the way I like it”
Anyone we do business with gets included in my phones contacts.

[Velvet]

Thanks for notifying about this scam. I guess hanging up is best option but since they are using my air time or phone line which I pay for, I also give them a piece of my mind. I know it is a recording but they need to find out somehow what their victim’s response is. And if nothing else, it makes me feel better. In the decades I have been using Amazon and Apple they have not phoned me even once.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Thanks for notifying about this scam. I guess hanging up is best option but since they are using my air time or phone line which I pay for, I also give them a piece of my mind. I know it is a recording but they need to find out somehow what their victim’s response is. And if nothing else, it makes me feel better. In the decades I have been using Amazon and Apple they have not phoned me even once.

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.

[Velvet]

When I used to have a landline I let my Welsh Terrier answer scammers. He just loved to bark at the phone. Couldn’t resist.

[Decadeofdave]

When these hijacked numbers first started about 5 years ago, I texted back to the local looking number with the the same first 3 digits as my number. It was the actual owner of the phone number who didn't know their number was highjacked. Unfortunately it's not illegal to take someone else's number.....total BS

[Carla B]

.
.
For those using AARP, and receive their monthly Bulletin magazine, this SCAM stuff is very very scary business. The long article is "Inside the Fraud Factory", and focuses on the illegal Indian Scam businesses - HUGE. Very interesting article with inside information from a 'good guy' computer expert that cracked/hacked their code and was able to see how extensive and criminal these people are. They especially prey on 'old folks'...with phone and computer scams.

Well worth the time to review.>

Daily News - Health, Money, Social Security, Medicare, Politics - Bulletin Today (https://www.aarp.org/bulletin/)
.
.

Yes, I read that lengthy excellently written article. You can actually see the videos of the scammers in operation filmed by the good guy hacker. Youtube.com/jimbrowning

[Boomer]

Another thing showing up lately in texts and calls is worded to try to look like the targeted person initiated a contact about changing their Medicare supplement and the scammer is just “returning” the call — anything to try to confuse. That one is either an uninvited sales pitch or an attempt to get personal information.

Medicare supplement open enrollment is only at a certain time of year — unless you are new to Medicare. These “Medicare” calls and texts happen all the time, repeatedly. They have stink all over them.

[camaguey48]

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.
I answer: "What do you want?" It works perfectly.

[Girlcopper]

A couple of times lately, my cell has rung with a recording supposedly from Amazon saying they have spotted suspicious activity of a $700+ charge for an iPhone, and I need to press buttons to talk to someone who can verify or stop the purchase.

This is the second time this has happened with a slight variation in the message. I think the first time, the recording might have said it was Apple calling. (Besides -- do people buy Apple phones on Amazon anyway or are the scammers just using the two biggest, most familiar names they can think of to try to get their targets' attention?)

Now, before anybody chastises me for picking up on an unknown number, we have to right now because we are working on a project that involves several people who are not all programmed into my phone, and these scam numbers show up as local.

I did look at the credit card associated with Amazon and there are no pending orders. Also, we are set up to receive a text whenever a charge is made.

I cannot imagine that Amazon and Apple actually call people to try to convince them they are watching out for them. But scammers are never going to stop. It pays well.

Boomer
Old old scam. Been going on for years. Just hang up and ignore it

[Stu from NYC]

If only the do not call list is actually enforced.

[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.

[noslices1]

Telephone scams are so prevalent that I have a scam blocker on my IPhone. They still call, but my phone doesn’t ring. It shows the call as a “likely scam” and I physically block the number. I checked a couple of days ago and I have more than 500 blocked numbers on my phone.. most of the calls were about Medicare, car warranty or Solar panels, so my out going message goes something like this: Thank you for calling. “If you are NOT calling about Medicare, car warranty or Solar, leave a message and I will call you back.” Some of those idiots STILL leave a message..

[larbud]

I sometimes google the number,Interesting results at times..

[phansen2246]

Got the same call on landline saying $399.00 were charged to my amazon account. I don't even have an Amazon account!

[Psacc0]

A couple of times lately, my cell has rung with a recording supposedly from Amazon saying they have spotted suspicious activity of a $700+ charge for an iPhone, and I need to press buttons to talk to someone who can verify or stop the purchase.

This is the second time this has happened with a slight variation in the message. I think the first time, the recording might have said it was Apple calling. (Besides -- do people buy Apple phones on Amazon anyway or are the scammers just using the two biggest, most familiar names they can think of to try to get their targets' attention?)

Now, before anybody chastises me for picking up on an unknown number,
we have to right now because we are working on a project that involves several people who are not all programmed into my phone, and these scam numbers show up as local.

I did look at the credit card associated with Amazon and there are no pending orders. Also, we are set up to receive a text whenever a charge is made.


I cannot imagine that Amazon and Apple actually call people to try to convince them they are watching out for them. But scammers are never going to stop. It pays well.

Boomer

“If your number is not in my contact list, I don’t answer....& for a small fee, I’ll put you in my contact list!”:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[WalkerLoop]

Received the same scam call from a 352 (obviously spoofed) area code. I've communicated with everyone I know to never respond to a call, email or text. You can always contact the company directly from the number, etc. you have in their account. Scamming continues to grow dramatically. It's sad so many people fall for it.

[cj1040]

Yes I have gotten at least 2 since we moved to Florida in February. First time I got name of person who ordered as it was already on my credit card bill so I called Amazon and got this info. Immediately canceled the card. Just this week I got a phone message about another large charge for electronics but decided not to respond unless I see it on my credit card bill. So annoying. Just do not play their game and ignore unless there is really a charge on your card.

[davephan]

If you have an iPhone, you can screen out the scam and telemarketers by going to “Settings”, “Phone”, and then turn on “Silence Unknown Callers”. Then the unknown callers can leave voicemail. Junk callers usually never leave voicemails.

If you have T-Mobile service, they have additional junk call blocking.

If you have an Android cellphone, then you can only block unknown callers, and they can’t leave a voicemail, which is a poorly designed way to stop junk callers, because legitimate unknown callers can’t leave a voicemail. One solution is to upgrade from an Android cellphone to an iPhone cellphone. Another solution is to use T-Mobile service that offers other junk caller blocking options.

You can also stop junk callers on your landline with a Digitone Call Blocker. You don’t have to keep putting up with the junk callers that are constantly annoying you. It’s your choice to live with the junk callers or free yourself from the junk callers.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

When these hijacked numbers first started about 5 years ago, I texted back to the local looking number with the the same first 3 digits as my number. It was the actual owner of the phone number who didn't know their number was highjacked. Unfortunately it's not illegal to take someone else's number.....total BS

It's called spoofing. I've had calls from my own cell phone number - to my cell phone.

[ping]

I got a similar call yesterday....since I didn’t answer, they left a message that there was a suspicious charge to my Amazon account. They gave me a number to call...suppose to be the Fraud Control Dept for Amazon. Needless to say I didn’t call, instead I checked with Amazon customer service. I was told they do not make calls from the Fraud Dept. Nor would they just give you a number to call them back. They thanked me for notifying them. It was followed up with an email to me from Amazon regarding our conversation. Never call back to a message from amazon! That’s not how they handle it!

[Cheeks]

I also received a call telling me that someone in Ca. had just charged $695. on my Amazon acct. and it was already paid for. Which I knew it was not because I have it tied to my credit card. I asked how do I know your from Amazon they then transferred me to her supervisor and I asked him the same question (no answer), then I hung up.

[Grandma Irene]

It's a scam. Amazon will never call you.

[Carla B]

If only the do not call list is actually enforced.

That might work for calls that originate in the U.S. But what can they, or will they do about the calls that originate in India? I stopped blocking calls on Ooma a couple years ago. It didn't do any good. They just call from another number. Sometimes folks tell us their number is blocked and it isn't. It's frustrating. Who has the authority to do anything about it? The government or the phone companies?

[transplanted]

Yep - had this call a couple of times. I just checked our 'orders' because a couple of years ago, over the school Christmas Holiday time, someone was ordering a whole lot of movies to stream and even a new television. I found it before the tv came (sent to our address, so I suspect the two teenage hoods across the hall from our condo) and had it turned off.
I've had so many annoying calls from people wanting to buy our rental homes that I've installed RoboKiller and rarely answer non-contact calls... really only if I'm expecting something from someone is is not normally in my contacts - I just pause the Killer for a given period of time.

[davem4616]

we get these too...annoying

sometimes I wonder if we were just as annoying as kids when we would make prank phone calls asking people if their refrigerator was running and when they said yes, we'd say, well ya better go catch it

[davephan]

That might work for calls that originate in the U.S. But what can they, or will they do about the calls that originate in India? I stopped blocking calls on Ooma a couple years ago. It didn't do any good. They just call from another number. Sometimes folks tell us their number is blocked and it isn't. It's frustrating. Who has the authority to do anything about it? The government or the phone companies?

Blocking numbers is useless. There are hundreds of billions of possible telephone numbers that can call you, since the CallerID information can be fake information.

It’s very effective to set up a “white list” of telephone numbers that are allowed to “ring through”, all others will be forced to leave voicemails. The junk callers almost never leave voicemail because they know that leaving voicemail is useless. Legitimate unknown callers can leave voicemails.

You can effectively screen out junk calls to your landline using a Digitone Call Blocker, which costs about $90, a one time cost. It has a “black list”, which is useless, and a “white list”, which is extremely effective.

[Boomer]

It has been suggested before here on TOTV to have your credit cards set up to send you a text when a charge is made. (In fact, TOTV is where I first read about doing that.)

It works well:

One evening Mr. Boomer asked me, “Did you join something called Tinder?”

“EEK!” said I — and explained to him what “Tinder” is.

Anyway, we made an immediate call to to the credit card co. and quickly ruined a good time for whoever it was. (I guess we ruined a bunch of good times because that joining fee — or hook-up fee — was for a long time.)

Boomer

[Boomer]

we get these too...annoying

sometimes I wonder if we were just as annoying as kids when we would make prank phone calls asking people if their refrigerator was running and when they said yes, we'd say, well ya better go catch it

Or called the drugstore — “Do you have Prince Albert in a can?”

“Yes, we do.”

“Well, ya better let him out!”

(Those were the days when kids were so easily amused. . .uh, oh, davem4616, I think we might have just given a huge clue to how old we are.)

Boomer

[Quixote]

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!


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.

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.

[PugMom]

i got 1 too, some guy saying there's an unauthorized charge/unusual activity on my acct. the only thing is i was on my acct when the call came in, & no such charge seen. too funny

[Westie Man]

and even threatened to kill her. Since he was a retired bigwig the feds took a special interest in the case and lured the criminal to the USA where he was arrested

[Blueblaze]

We just moved to the Villages, and one of the surprise benefits is that, since we didn't change our phone numbers, we can now instantly identify a scam call -- any unknown number from our old Texas area code!

Since the scammers have no way to know we moved, any local call from the 352 area code is almost certainly legit!

[CaVillager]

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.
I've even gotten calls from my own number!

[brines]

i need it was a scam when at the end of the message they wanted to talk to me about an extended car warrenty

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Got the same call on landline saying $399.00 were charged to my amazon account. I don't even have an Amazon account!

I got that call yesterday, it was a warbly-sounding recording, all I could really understand was "Amazon," "Account," and "Three...nine." I hung up and blocked the number. It was supposedly from a 501 area code (which is California somewhere), but I'm assuming it was spoofed.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

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!

The only people with foreign accents I ever would accept, is from a phone number I already recognize. My doctor is from India, my periodontist I believe is from Pakistan, I have a couple of Mexican friends and a friend from Israel and one who lives in Malaysia, my parents' closest friends are Jamaican, and my old boss is Puerto Rican.

They all have heavy accents, but they all show up with their names on my caller ID.