topic Re: Beware Another Scam(sorry this is long) in Community Chat

Beware Another Scam(sorry this is long)

Starpolisher — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 02:13:40 GMT

We often get calls with numbers I don't recognize so I don't answer. One of these calls claims to be able to lower your credit card interest rates. I know this because sometimes dh thinks it's funny to answer and act foolish with these folks. Now, mind you, when dh has talked with them, "they ask you which credit cards you would like reduced and the numbers". Dh thinks it's funny to go back and forth with them until they get frustrated and hang up. Well today the caller id said Walgreen's Drugs and listed a number that began 1-502. I wondered why they would be calling as we don't have any Rx's with them but thought maybe they thought I hadn't picked up a recent picture order(I had). I answered and it was a recording saying how they can help reduce your interest rates. It then tells you to press one to speak to an agent. I did that too. Someone with a heavy accent began to speak but I don't know what they said. I was to busy shouting that I was going to report them. I called my local Walgreens and asked the manager to report it to corporate. He asked me for the number(which I had called right back - it was disconnected). I put him on hold while I got the number and when I came back he said another customer had just called with the same complaint! I guess now the scammers are going to use names we recognize on caller id. Long story, short - to be safe, it's best to let your machine answer! If the calls are legit they will leave a message and you can answer or call back!

I also immediately alerted my 87 year old mom.

Re: Beware Another Scam(sorry this is long)

Isobel Archer — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 02:17:47 GMT

I had one of those lower your credit card interest rates robo calls with the caller ID of a local church.

These people stop at nothing.

Re: Beware Another Scam(sorry this is long)

Caligurll — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 02:26:55 GMT

@Starpolisher I got that message on my land line yesterday (about lowering interest) and immediate deleted it. Mine was from a VERY perking sounding woman. Her over the top helpful voice was the first red flag, it was almost valley girlish. Her voice alone would have been enough to make me hang up if I actually ever answered my land line.

Re: Beware Another Scam(sorry this is long)

AKgirl2 — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 18:18:43 GMT

Thanks for the heads up! L👀ks like many people are pretty well aware of these cons and their scams. I always say "when in doubt, DON'T!"...(say or do anything), like many people do now, let "them" leave a message.

Re: Beware Another Scam(sorry this is long)

Big Sister — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 08:54:43 GMT

We are blessed if we don't have to make a living like that. Imagine living with rejection every day!

Re: Beware Another Scam(sorry this is long)

cotton4me — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 09:17:57 GMT

We've had scammers spoof the numbers of various well-known charities (Natl Wildlife Federation, Nature Conservancy, etc) so I never answer. Calls aren't what they seem these days. Thanks for the head's up.

Re: Beware Another Scam(sorry this is long)

KingstonsMom — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 10:22:09 GMT

@Isobel Archer wrote:
I had one of those lower your credit card interest rates robo calls with the caller ID of a local church.

These people stop at nothing.

I actually had a robocall the other day from a Pastor/church.

The recording said this is Pastor so-and-so, at which point I hung up.

Re: Beware Another Scam(sorry this is long)

AuntG — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 10:37:19 GMT

It's really a shame and I don't see why it can't be stopped. Using a false name on the caller ID is terrible.

Re: Beware Another Scam(sorry this is long)

hoosieroriginal — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 12:41:58 GMT

If it's not a number I don't recognize - I don't answer it.

Re: Beware Another Scam(sorry this is long)

Hayfield — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 12:47:36 GMT

Yes, I always let my machine answer unless I know the number. I wouldn't be interested in lowering the interest on any of my credit cards since I've never paid a dime of interest on one, I've always paid my credit cards off in full every month.

Re: Beware Another Scam(sorry this is long)

SharkE — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 13:04:03 GMT

I got 'call blocker' takes care of nuisances

Re: Beware Another Scam(sorry this is long)

Mominohio — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 13:23:36 GMT

I get the 'lower your interest rate' calls almost daily. And they do leave messages on the machine.

We have also had what I call 'redirected calls' several times lately. We actually dial out to a company we are familiar with, but instead of that company picking up, it is a foreign speaking person, wanting to get us signed up for our free $100 gift card or some other such nonsense.

When asked who they are, if they are under contract with the actual business we called, where they are located, what the name of their business is etc. they get really angry and frustrated, and just keep bullying you for your information.

We hang up, call the original company we first tried to contact, and the second call goes straight in to where it was supposed to.

Each time, we report it to the legit company (and so far none of them say the have contracted to have anything like this done), and we have tried to notify 'authorities' but no one is the least bit interested. Tried local law enforcement, phone company etc. and no one is interested in taking the information or seems to care.

Best to always take your time when on the phone, and not be pushed into giving out information until you are sure who you are speaking with. We used to be safe, if we were doing the calling, to speak freely with the business we were contacting (most of the warnings were about not giving out information to people who called you), but that is no longer the case.

Re: Beware Another Scam(sorry this is long)

Group 5 minus 1 — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 15:02:31 GMT

When we receive these calls ( and we block as many as we can) we just say we do not have any credit cards.

Re: Beware Another Scam(sorry this is long)

Desertdi — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 22:01:28 GMT

What on earth would Walgreens have to do with credit cards..............

Re: Beware Another Scam(sorry this is long)

Spurt — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 22:44:09 GMT

I always let my answering machine do my call screening and have call blocker on my smart phone....I only accept and take calls from those I know.....

Watch out for email scams too.....got a fraudulent one regarding my health insurance.....it was from the right company but I noticed it didnt have the last 4 of my account number nor my name so I contacted the insurance company and forwarded it to their @abuse so it would go to their Fraud Department for investigation....and I did NOT open any links (sometimes there is a virus attached to the links)........

Re: Beware Another Scam(sorry this is long)

RubyinNE — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 11:43:58 GMT

I have heard that if you answer the phone, they can do things with your voice, and involve it in a scam. I just let the phone ring.

Re: Beware Another Scam(sorry this is long)

apple1964 — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 12:31:18 GMT

I got rid of my land line phone. Problem solved.

Re: Beware Another Scam(sorry this is long)

ValuSkr — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 12:41:48 GMT

In the month or two I've had Nomorobo, that's the one call that consistently gets through - offers to "lower the interest rate on all your credit cards." I guess it's because they spoof or change their number every single time. I always report them to Nomorobo. Other than that, however, it's worked like a charm - and it's free. And - knock on wood - I haven't heard from them in a week or two so maybe Nomorobo figured out a way to block them.

Re: Beware Another Scam(sorry this is long)

riley1 — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 12:42:57 GMT

@apple1964 - got rid of my landline too, now they call on the cell phone! They stop at nothing! Now, I block all numbers I don't recognize.

Re: Beware Another Scam(sorry this is long)

apple1964 — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 12:49:09 GMT

@riley1 wrote:
@apple1964 - got rid of my landline too, now they call on the cell phone! They stop at nothing! Now, I block all numbers I don't recognize.

I have not as of yet had any problems with those kind of numbers. Must be the virus protection I have on the phone.