With caller ID and getting several scams day down here is sunny Florida. I don’t answer any phone calls I don’t recognize. If the want to talk to me they can leave message if I don’t know them. Same goes for emails. If I don’t know who sending them and not already put in junk. I delete them. Scammers think of new ways every day to try to get to you bank account, credit card, SSN, or any information you give them to try to steal you’re identity.

Prior to the pandemic I was getting six to eight robocalls per day on average. There are scam calls among them as a few leave messages; some are from the IRS; some are in Chinese and have music playing in the background. Anyway, the pandemic has reduced them to three or four a week.

I got one of those grandma calls once on my landline when I still lived in Connecticut. Happened around a year ago, after we purchased the house down here. The call went something like this (and remember - I have trouble distinguishing words if I'm unable to read the lips of the person talking):

Caller: "Hello, grandma?"
Me: "Huh?"
C: Grandma it's me.
Me: "Excuse me?"
C: It's me, your grandson.
Me: You're not my grandson.
C: Yes, it's me, don't you remember?
Me: If I had a grandson I'm pretty sure I'd remember.
C: But grandma it really is me!
Me: Dood. I don't have any *#)!$ grandkids you dumb*$$ )#)*($#@##%^
C: CLICK


It was the oddest call I ever got. I don't have any children - and therefore, no grandchildren either.

Now that is funny. I bet there were no more “grandma calls” after that.

Beware of emails scams and hacking too. One from the UK saying Terry cant get home to TV he's lost his wallet and can I send $2000 ( first mistake they do not use $$$ in the UK) I answered because I was playing pickleball with the person mentioned 1 hour ago in TV.... so no way he could be in the UK........PLEASE BEWARE if they get your emails they have your contacts. The latest .. is this email still working.. you have won $3 million......please reply promptly

I'm still waiting!!
 

I agree. I'm still waiting for one of these calls, but have never received one.
I want to tell them to keep him/her-a their own peril!

They prey on the elderly. As a Target employee we have elders coming in a lot saying they need $2000 in GC for “bail money “ or hospital bills. 1) bail bonds men only take cash or collateral they would never ask for GC. 2) no hospital would take Target GC for payment. No matter their story if they ask for GC in payment hang up immediately, inform your local police and let all your friends and family know. Also call the person they say is in danger, hospital or jail and talk to them, they will tell you they are fine. This is a scare tactic they use on the elderly. Please think before you act and don’t panic, the panic is what they depend on.

We have stopped several people from getting scammed by refusing their request. We also have a daily limit on GC and it’s not very high, so we wouldn’t be able to do it anyway.

Good for you grandma!

You can get a msg to the scammer
 

You can have a little fun. No, you can't identify or email the scammer in these cases. As you probably know, their goal is to get you to "login" to paypal using their fake website; this allows them to capture your ID / password. I always go to their fake website to login. Here are my credentials:

Username: JustWanted@To.Say
password: PhuckYouScammer

I get the satisfaction of knowing that they WILL see this on their server.

Meanwhile, regarding paypal security ... everyone should have 2-factor authentication on all their accounts (all the ones that offer it) such as Amazon, eBay, PayPal, your bank, your brokerage, etc. A code is sent to your phone when you attempt to login which you then have to provide in order to proceed.

Even if some scammer got a password to your account, they are stopped dead because they don't have access to your phone and this one-time code. PLUS, if you get a code on your phone for Paypal (example) and it's not you trying to login, you have an immediate alert that your password has been compromised. But, relax ... nothing urgent ... no need to panic - they can't get in without the code. So, just go change your password after you finish your round of golf and take a shower.

I even put 2-factor on my email. Why? Because email is the primary method for password change / recovery; especially for accounts that don't offer 2-factor (yet). So, even if a hacker tried to do a password reset for my grocery delivery account and even if they had my email password, they could not possibly proceed because they can't even get into my email (no code) to complete the process.

Our daughter got a call from"Verizon" saying her account was locked, a quick sign on to the account proved it was not.

Watch out for these type of things too. If you get a email saying something like that, DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK!. Go to the official site and sign in there.

I have both HIYA and NOMOROBO on my cell, they identify possible scam or fraud, telemarketers, blocked ids etc. some of the calls are blocked, some go to voice mail and some identified. Suggest you get these or something similar several are free. Some carriers, like ATT have their own to download.

If you don’t recognize the caller, don’t answer, if it’s important they will leave a message.

scam

Emails from Apple, PayPal, and others
 

Yes, I have received emails supposedly from Apple, PayPal and Banks saying that my account was compromised and included a link for me to put information, these look real, have logos, and what you would think is legit, don’t forget, your financial accounts have YOUR PHONE NUMBER, they will call you, but don’t give them any info, ask for the extension number, then call the number on the back of the card and dial the extension number, that way you know is legitimate and not a scam, NEVER give information over the phone unless YOU initiated the call and do not acknowledge emails:welcome::welcome::bigbow::bigbow: :boom:

Never answer a call that is not in you contacts. When you do, you legitimize your number to these criminals. If it is a call that is important, let them leave a message and then call back.