How do you identify and deal with scams on the telephone, computer, etc.?

2016-11-25T10:06:43-05:00

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Nov 25 at 2016 10:09 AM

2016-11-25T10:09:40-05:00

If I don't recognize the caller or e-mail, I simply hang up or delete, sometimes I block the caller.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Nov 25 at 2016 10:43 AM

2016-11-25T10:43:26-05:00

Simple. I automatically assume ANY unsolicited call or E-mail is spam, scam, or fraud until proven otherwise.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2016 10:46 AM

2016-11-25T10:46:43-05:00

I've had many of those irs calls, you owe money and we'll put you in jail, I just play along and keep them rambling then after some time i'll tell them to send me the documents and i'll cooperate that will usually piss them off more, then I tell them to go f*ck themselves, no more calls and ilmao

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2016 11:31 AM

2016-11-25T11:31:01-05:00

MAJ David Vermillion I do not answer the phone unless I recognize the number, Instead, I will check the phone number in the white pages, reverse phone lookup. Most of the time, the phone numbers are scams or telemarketers. For email. If my Spam folder does not pick it up, I will hover over the name of the sender to see who it is from. It may say it is from John Smith and really be from acximcnenfm@alalsmssmsmsm or other garbage. Even from someone who I know, I rarely open any link they send unless I fully trust the person not to send something that has been compromised.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Nov 25 at 2016 11:41 AM

2016-11-25T11:41:41-05:00

I don't even bother to engage anymore, MAJ David Vermillion. If it's a telephone number we don't recognize, we don't answer. If it's an email address we don't recognize, we delete it without even opening it. Being a decent human being is low on many people's priority lists.

Response by MSG Andrew White made Nov 25 at 2016 12:19 PM

2016-11-25T12:19:43-05:00

hang up!!!

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Nov 25 at 2016 12:57 PM

2016-11-25T12:57:45-05:00

I get the IRS phone one every year. I tell them "You know my address, send me a letter." They get mad and hang up.
I get phone calls from the "Windows Support Center", that they have "detected a virus in my Windows machine and need to access it." I tell them i don't have a Windows machine, they reply "you don't?" I tell them no, i have a Chromebook (i really do) because Windows sucks...lol They get all upset and hang up.

Sometimes i'll get a call, local number, when i say "hello" an automated voice says "goodbye" and hangs up...???? LOL

Bogus emails i just delete, can usually tell by the sender or Subj line.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Nov 25 at 2016 1:13 PM

2016-11-25T13:13:08-05:00

You can contact the office of your Attorney General for your State, they will maintain a list of scammers that have been reported.

Response by SGT Jason Ellenburg made Nov 25 at 2016 1:18 PM

2016-11-25T13:18:21-05:00

By this point, I've had my PII outed so many times (from NG officers having laptops stolen from their cars to VA accidentally emailing my info to not me), I treat most all calls as if they're scams. Unless they are from a utility I pay or about my student loans, I play along until they begin rambling. I make them think that they're right on the edge of getting my information for as long as I can. I guess you could call me a f*ck*ng tease to telemarketers.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2016 1:45 PM

2016-11-25T13:45:56-05:00

I used to get angry when they'd call, now I troll them. "Bill" with the heavy Indian accent called up wanting me to get on my computer and login so he could "perform diagnostics". He asked what kind of system I had so I told him I have a 386 I bought in 1988. He started laughing tells someone on the other end "blah blah blah 386" that guy started laughing and then he hung up. Rude.

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 25 at 2016 2:05 PM

2016-11-25T14:05:08-05:00

Computer... delete....
Phone... Click

Response by 1SG Al Brown made Nov 25 at 2016 5:39 PM

2016-11-25T17:39:38-05:00

I keep them on the phone as long as I can, then I ask them for money.

Response by SMSgt Terry Rider made Nov 25 at 2016 8:51 PM

2016-11-25T20:51:22-05:00

The one phone call scam I got: I listened, ask a couple questions & then told the guy, "Do you think I'm stupid" & hung up. Reported the number to the FCC.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Nov 27 at 2016 12:30 PM

2016-11-27T12:30:25-05:00

Ironically, MAJ David Vermillion, RP is not immune to these intrusions either. Twice in the last two days, I've been messaged by an obvious fake profile, asking me to contact him. I flagged him to RP and they took immediate steps to eliminate the profiles, thank goodness.
However, I think that RP may be headed toward a situation where civilian scammer profiles become more and more prevalent. I don't know what RP plans are to help stop this, but I don't believe that self-policing by the membership is the answer. I would hope that RP will begin to vet civilian membership in some way. I don't know how they'll do this, but RP is no longer the safe haven that I thought it should be. SSG Carlos Madden LTC Yinon Weiss COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen F. SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SGT Private RallyPoint Member Capt Christopher Mueller Elizabeth Malkin CPT David Gowel MAJ Laurie H. SGT Ben Keen SGM Erik Marquez CPT Private RallyPoint Member CW5 Private RallyPoint Member 1LT Sandy Annala COL Jean (John) F. B. MSgt Private RallyPoint Member Capt Brandon Charters Maj Kim Patterson

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2016 3:39 PM

2016-11-27T15:39:47-05:00

MAJ David Vermillion, There is a free service called, NoMoRobo. When you receive a robot call the phone rings once, then hangs up on them. It has stopped all of our Robot callers. If a family member or friend calls it rings until you answer. I've been using it for about six months and it works 100% to block those calls. It's free and you can get it on line at NoMoRobo. If you want it for a cell phone, it's a $5 per month fee. I don't have it on our cell phones. It's worth it to down load. If someone calls and leaves a message, you hit (Star)*99 to listen to the message.

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Nov 27 at 2016 4:51 PM

2016-11-27T16:51:56-05:00

MAJ David Vermillion I have recently come upon new threats with strange men hitting my Linked in profile and Facebook. Now even LinkedIn is compromised. No more safe spots. Ever vigilant.

Response by SGT Robert George made Nov 27 at 2016 5:49 PM

2016-11-27T17:49:03-05:00

When answering one of these calls that say you just won a Lexis or a cruise somewhere and dont know your name or dont mention your name , I dont waste my time hanging up on them !!!!

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Nov 27 at 2016 6:49 PM

2016-11-27T18:49:05-05:00

Thanks MAJ David Vermillion I concur with the meme you posted. In general I follow the Biblical injunction "Be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove."
My computer firewalls and spam catchers catch the vast majority of intrusions onto my computer.
Telephones are another matter. We don't answer the phone unless we recognize the number of name. Since the summer we have been exposed to many scams we usually are directed at nobody in particular but threaten some kind of legal action and give you two days to call 1-866-xxxx or 1888-xxxx
I routinely get invitations from apparently young women to connect on Skype and Facebook and sometimes get them on linked in. I don't connect with any young women as a general rule since I am 60 years old and happily married.
As my friend LTC Stephen C. mentioned there have been recent incidents with "somebody" sending a message to other RallyPoint members and soliciting them for some shady business detail. Thanks to the quick action of SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" those accounts were removed with prejudice :-)
I do my best to treat others as I would wish to be treated; but, I have no sympathy for people who use fraudulent means to gain trust.

Response by 1stSgt Eugene Harless made Nov 27 at 2016 7:24 PM

2016-11-27T19:24:02-05:00

I had the same thing happen to me two days ago on here. I have been interested/ involved in helping people catch on to one method the scammers use. Although there is always the "Nigerian Prince" angle, one of the more prevalent is the "Romance" Scam, particuarly involving using images stolen from the internet of Servive members to set up profiles on dating sites and Facebook. The scammer always claims to be deployed to Africa, Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan on a peace keeping or secret mission. They target victims they think may be vunerable and establish a bond soon blooming into a supposed Romance. Once the victim is emotionally attached the scammer starts asking for money. They will claim they don't have access to funds and need money wired to them or sent to a third party in the US ( who is an accomplice or the actual scammer). They will say they are flying to meet them,( need money for tickets) ,, the list goes on and on.. food, medical bills, legal issues etc. They have fake forms they send out and other accounts they say is a commanding officer. They can get very elaborate.
On the page I help admin I get 5-10 requests a week asking to verify a profile or a story, EVERY single one is a Scammer. The victims I talk to have often sent money. Anywhere to 100 to 3000 dollars at times, The biggest loss was from a person in Malaysia who lost over 100 K.
Scammers are usually well educated and often sent up rings in other countries, but the hub of most scams is Lagos, Nigeria. They are well organized and work on the stories they use. They have absolutely NO remorse for what they do. For those that Do Facebook heres a link to an Awareness Page https://www.facebook.com/Stop-Fake-Military-Romance-Scammers [login to see] 99270/

Stop Fake Military Romance Scammers | Facebook

Stop Fake Military Romance Scammers. 2,261 likes · 26 talking about this. This page is here to answer questions anyone has about people trying to take...

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 28 at 2016 9:35 AM

2016-11-28T09:35:10-05:00

I had someone call me this weekend "unknown" number and said (in a very thick accent) "this is Sarah with computer services. Are you by your computer?" Without me thinking, I just laughed and hung up.

I usually (keyword) check the number to see if it's legit, listen to the person speak if it's a script, I also probe with questions; if they say "hold on" or just hang up, I know they were trying to scam me for something.

I do this with my civilian job. I'm very cordial, and polite but they start getting huffy puffy when I ask the questions because they know they won't get where they want to go.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Nov 28 at 2016 12:18 PM

2016-11-28T12:18:45-05:00

When it comes to telephone calls, I use my Google Voice number on everything. Then when you call me, Google asks for you to ID yourself before connecting the call. When I answer, I get to hear who is calling and then decide to connect the call or listen in as the caller leaves a voicemail. I only give out my direct number to close friends and family so when they call I see their name on my phone and answer. Most of the times, when a scam caller gets the Google Voice stuff, they never call back.

Response by SFC Dennis A. made Nov 28 at 2016 3:09 PM

2016-11-28T15:09:15-05:00

With caller ID on my phone if I don't know the number it doesn't get answered. If they leave me a message I will call them back if needed. No message no call back. If its in my email it gets tagged as junk and deleted.