Scammers

I don't know if anyone else has gotten this, but, I just got a call from a SS person that said that my Social Security was being suspended because of "suspicious activity" I didn't fall for it, but, I do so worry about the elderly that are more afraid - or people that can't speak English well. Just be aware - there are scammers out there!

Thanks, and yes, I've received that one too!

That is a very common one. The worst ones have done a little research and know the name of a grandchild or other relative and say they are in trouble and to please send money. One of their sources of information is obituaries. Horrid crooks.

I've gotten that one a few times too! It's a shame they can't get the word out more to let everyone know these are scams.

OMG! Just in the last hour I received 4 calls from the "Apple Support" regarding my (non-existent) I-Cloud account having suspicious activity. I've had this call before but 4 times in 1 hour is ridiculous!!! AND NOW THE 5TH TIME!! I guess their machine is set to dial my number every 15 minutes!

The other one I get, sometimes a couple times a day, and on both my cell phone and land line is from Eagle or Beagle or something services regarding the warranty on my (non-existent) car.

We only answer the phone now from folks in our contact list...family and close friends

Exactly Soot. Same at my house too.

Well I have had a most annoying scammer call that actually uses my home phone number when it calls! My caller ID displays our name and phone number as the caller!! I got so many I had to block our number!

I agree Gerry! Almost all of mine come with the same area code and first three numbers as my number. unless I am expecting a call from someone I don't know the mumber of, I let everything go to voice mail.

I've also gotten phone calls from myself, my bank, my hairdresser... all showing up on my caller ID as legit. We probably get between 5 - 10 scam calls every day. I get maybe 1 or 2 a week on my cell phone. I believe the land line is going away soon.

Oh I love those calls. Sometimes I actually chat with the people just for fun. Lately, I've gotten 5 calls a day from the Social Security scam. Not kidding. They are sending police over to my house immediately to arrest me. Oh no! I'd better run.

We have had scam calls from people pretending to be representatives from Social Security, Microsoft, and the IRS.

Already received one call from Apple today but have been on the phone since then so I don't know if they tried again 15 minutes later or not.

I don't have caller ID or voice mail. I have an answering machine. The problem is having to get up to hear who is calling every time.

I like soot's idea.

I used to get dozens of scam calls a day on my cell phone. I downloaded an app called Mister Number that screens my calls. If one gets through, I just report it to Mister Number and it's blocked if they try again. It also blocks high volume callers automatically. It hasn't stopped the scammers but it's certainly reduced the number of calls a day. If I answer one and they say "Can you hear me?" I always say NO and hang up. If you say yes, they use it as an authorization to sign you up for whatever services they are selling. I'm wondering what's the purpose of the "Do Not Call List" I signed up for years ago. Apparently it doesn't work at all.

I wonder that too, ScarletDragon, as I signed up on the Do Not Call list years ago and have renewed it at regular intervals. There are certain kinds of calls that are exempt from the Do Not Call rules, but certainly none of these scam calls fall under that heading.

The reason the DNC list doesn't work is that the scammers are always 10 steps ahead in their techniques and technology. Until the FCC gets serious about this, nothing will change.

That makes total sense, Drac.

Did you see the latest news about the face aging app? It's a Russian company and when you register to use it they have unlimited access to your photos and personal information. Glad I didn't use it - actually I already know what I look like as an old lady.

As I posted on Facebook... never, never, never do the "quizzes" or download an app like this. You are giving up way more of your privacy than you can imagine. The Russian troll farms are all over Facebook... See a meme that you agree with politically? Supposedly an 80 - 90% chance it was generated by the Russians to divide us even further apart. Doesn't matter which side of the political spectrum you're on - they are equal opportunity scammers. Never share them or forward.

I posted it on FaceBook also. It's ridiculous what people do without doing any research.

I am considered a pariah on FB... I see this stuff and I post a little easily found research debunking it. No comments normally, just the research easily found in multiple places.