Another scam?
 

yesterday i got an email purporting to be from "The Gmail Team." They wanted me to send all my personal information including password,l "so that my service won't be terminated."
How stupid to they think I am?

My mother gets frequent calls from medical supply companies selling diabetic testing supplies. She is sometimes asked to verify personal information, including her Social Security number. I find that I have to repeatedly tell her not to give out that information. People in that age bracket are overly trusting (she is 97).

Sometimes I get so frustrated that I want to pull her phone out !

Have a heart!

The starving scammers of Nigeria are counting on you.

Let's see in the past six month or so, I have won
1. The Microsoft Email Lotto, several million
2. The Ireland Lotto, don't remember buying a ticket to that one
3. Several Nigerians want me to help them move lots of "millions" and give me a nice piece of the action
4. The FBI, IRS tells me that I have a huge refunding coming, just call them for all the information
5. UK Lotto, again, don't remember buying ticket

See there are lots of folks wanting to send me money, but so far I have not seen one cent of any color.

But one of these days, they will mess up and send me something. I keep telling the Nigerians to send me a few thousand and I will get the accounted opened right up for them.

Thanks for the reminder to always be vigilant in protecting our information.

With reference back to jblum's original post, there actually ARE some people who are either that stupid, trusting, or both, who voluntarily give their personal info ! :ohdear:

Yes, I know and I don't plan on being one of them, ever!!!!! :)

You and me both ! :agree:

Con Artists
 

I, too, have won all of those things and gotten the requests for money, etc. I guess it is easy to send out emails and hopefully, some (ignorant) person out of all of the emails might respond. Then it is worth their while. Luckily, I am smarter than a 5th grader and don't fall for these ploys.:ohdear:

I actually got an email from someone in Italy who wanted me to set up massages for a model coming to "this area". Yes, I use to do massage, before I got cancer, but where do they get this from?

I must admit that I did fall for a scam. It was one of the travel clubs that have popped up in our area. We went to the presentation and since I am sick and going for my travel bucket list, it seemed like a pretty good deal. The problem is, they promised they could save us hundreds on cruises, hotels and air fare and it turns out I could get the same for cheaper! Luckily, I stay on top of things and found out that I could save over $300 on a Transatlantic cruise we are taking in the spring. Luckily, the travel club got me the lower rate, but if I wasn't diligent, I would never have know I was losing money, not saving! The company we went with is called Resorts Plus International, but I keep getting calls from other companies with the same spiel. Beware!!!

then you see...
 

the people who are so diligent that when they call a company to find out about their account, they won't give you any information so you can look them up! They are so afraid of giving out too much information they can't give it to the company they called... Who BTW.... Has it anyway!

angiefox10, say when are we opening 1-800-hot-babe?

Travel club
 

GoBarb: Your public info on the web
 

I actually got an email from someone in Italy who wanted me to set up massages for a model coming to "this area". Yes, I use to do massage, before I got cancer, but where do they get this from?

Barb:
If anyone uses TOTV and goes to your name and view public profile, then hits "About Me" it clearly states you are a Massage Therapist in the Villages. So, I assume that is how they got that info. (And Yes, I am currently living in Italy, but it wasn't me).,:a040:

RichieB is correct is guiding his 97 y/o mother NOT to give out personal info over the phone.

However, sometimes companies need information to process your order, bill you, etc. They can be scammed by an impersonator, just like you.

The key is that you initiate the call or email to a phone number or email address that you looked up, got from 411, etc. This is not that you click on an email link or use a phone number that they provide - it is an email address or phone number that you independently verify as belonging to the company that you are calling and not an impersonator.

One trick scammers are using to fool you into believing they are legit is the "last four". That could be the last four numbers of your social security number or the last four numbers of your credit card. These "last four" are fairly easily obtainable so everything I said before - about YOU initiate the call or email - still applies. Just because a caller or writer knows your "last four" doesn't make them legit! The "last four" or your credit cards appears on most of your credit card receipts. The VA, the military, your doctor, and most medical supply places have the "last four" of your social security account number on their paperwork.

NEWS FLASH !

RichieB's mother's identity has been stolen !

Got a letter from the IRS stating that her 2011 tax return has been received and is being held for further review.

Thing is -- a return has not been filed !

Whoever is doing this got her correct SocSec number from someplace. I have an idea where they got it from.

I've already notified the IRS and they have flagged her account.

You can never be too vigilant !!