topic Re: Strange New Scam in Community Chat

Strange New Scam

phoenixbrd — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 17:43:53 GMT

I just got a message on my computer screen and it is persistent. Thought I would share so we stay aware of scams. Luckily I hesitated and did not click on the box as requested. Stay safe!

This is what happened:

On my computer screen a request to click on a letters in a box appeared "because there has been a volume of strange traffic on my computer". I was able to search this topic on my husband's ipad and find that others had the same scam. Some replies suggested the computer has a virus or it was due to VPN issues. Here was another answer which rings true:

That "message" is likely the problem, not your system.

These random popups are meant to make you think there is a problem.
Click on it, and then your system is infected.

Or it tells you it is and has you call some phone number to "fix it". They will say all sorts of scary stuff, and get you to allow them to log on remotely.

Then, they show you the Event Viewer, with thousands of entries.
"Oh no!!! What do I do?"
'Well, for the low price of $29.99, we can fix it.'
Meanwhile, with that remote access, they are cruising through your system, finding passwords, dropping malware, etc, etc.

Re: Strange New Scam

Mindy D — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 18:02:08 GMT

@phoenixbrd wrote:
I just got a message on my computer screen and it is persistent. Thought I would share so we stay aware of scams. Luckily I hesitated and did not click on the box as requested. Stay safe!

This is what happened:
On my computer screen a request to click on a letters in a box appeared "because there has been a volume of strange traffic on my computer". I was able to search this topic on my husband's ipad and find that others had the same scam. Some replies suggested the computer has a virus or it was due to VPN issues. Here was another answer which rings true:

That "message" is likely the problem, not your system.

These random popups are meant to make you think there is a problem.
Click on it, and then your system is infected.

Or it tells you it is and has you call some phone number to "fix it". They will say all sorts of scary stuff, and get you to allow them to log on remotely.

Then, they show you the Event Viewer, with thousands of entries.
"Oh no!!! What do I do?"
'Well, for the low price of $29.99, we can fix it.'
Meanwhile, with that remote access, they are cruising through your system, finding passwords, dropping malware, etc, etc.

@phoenixbrd @This same thing was happening on the other QVC Forum. It's not a virus.
On that forum they were able to remove it. Next time take a screen shot of it and save it to your photos. Just leave it alone for now. Soon there will be fixes for the problem showing up on the net or use the exact same words the o pop up did in your search and you might find ways to get rid of it.

Re: Strange New Scam

Carmie — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 18:18:59 GMT

I got two e-mail scams today. One from FedX requesting info from me. A tracking number was provided along with a message saying they were unable to deliver a package.

I did not click on their tab, but went out to the FedX website and found that the tracking number that was on the e-mail is fraudulent. I am not waiting for any package from FedX.

The second one says my package is being held at a distribution center and I need to contact them with info to deliver. It does not have enough " postage" and I need to pay or it will be send back to the sender.

I can't tell what company they are trying to be...it doesn't say. Postage verbiage suggest US Postal service, but uniform on worker suggests UPS.

Be careful out there. There is always someone looking to scam you. Do not click on anything on these e-mails. If it is possibly legit, go to the shippers website and check for yourself.

Copy of one e-mail.

Re: Strange New Scam

Scooby Doo — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 18:31:26 GMT

There's another one that I found out about yesterday. You get a test msg on your phone that says something like.....Hi Veronica. How was your weekend?

Don't reply saying that you have the wrong # or I'm not Veronica.

If you reply they will have your # and info. It's a fishing scam.

Re: Strange New Scam

docsgirl — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 18:57:09 GMT

Thanks to all of you for alerting us so those of us who are not aware, now are. Let's all be careful.

Re: Strange New Scam

weight watcher — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 19:20:48 GMT

Yesterday I received an email that maleware/spyware costing $420 had been charged to my credit card #(xxxxxxxxxxxxx) as per my request. I was to follow instructions to use this spyware. I called my credit card coompanies who said this is a fishing expecition/spam and to disregard. The email was quite frightening. Naturally I didn't click on anything but did delete asa[ .

Re: Strange New Scam

Ainhisg — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 19:27:47 GMT

Mark these emails as spam, and future emails will start filtering to that folder. Continue marking each new questionable email as spam, and soon your inbox will be virtually spam-free.

Re: Strange New Scam

Sage04 — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 19:44:46 GMT

I can top this. Yesterday I received a voice mail saying that I have won one million dollars and I should call the number mention to claim it. It was a man's voice.

Oh also a text today asking how are things going. Read it without opening it, then I deleted it.

Re: Strange New Scam

on the bay — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 20:11:20 GMT

This kind of thing is why I love my chromebook. You never get this kind of thing. It has built in security. I never have to worry.

Re: Strange New Scam

on the bay — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 20:14:10 GMT

@Scooby Doo wrote:
There's another one that I found out about yesterday. You get a test msg on your phone that says something like.....Hi Veronica. How was your weekend?
Don't reply saying that you have the wrong # or I'm not Veronica.
If you reply they will have your # and info. It's a fishing scam.

Thanks @Scooby Doo,

I never would have thought of this one!

Re: Strange New Scam

Roscoe the Rascal — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 20:49:08 GMT

@Carmie wrote:
I got two e-mail scams today. One from FedX requesting info from me. A tracking number was provided along with a message saying they were unable to deliver a package.

I did not click on their tab, but went out to the FedX website and found that the tracking number that was on the e-mail is fraudulent. I am not waiting for any package from FedX.

The second one says my package is being held at a distribution center and I need to contact them with info to deliver. It does not have enough " postage" and I need to pay or it will be send back to the sender.

I can't tell what company they are trying to be...it doesn't say. Postage verbiage suggest US Postal service, but uniform on worker suggests UPS.

Be careful out there. There is always someone looking to scam you. Do not click on anything on these e-mails. If it is possibly legit, go to the shippers website and check for yourself.

Copy of one e-mail.

I received that one as well today. They sure do try hard to get people.

Re: Strange New Scam

Carmie — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 22:50:15 GMT

@Ainhisg wrote:
Mark these emails as spam, and future emails will start filtering to that folder. Continue marking each new questionable email as spam, and soon your inbox will be virtually spam-free.

LOL Yeah right! I have hundreds of ignore and spam emails blocked. They just keep coming from a different system, but with the same messages.

i have had my same e-mail since 1992. I get a lot of spam and ads. There is very little we can do to stop them.

Re: Strange New Scam

lynnie61 — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 23:41:49 GMT

Every week I get Fedex can't deliver email or text. I did get an email once from DHL they could not deliver my package. Well scared me when a DHL driver showed up at my home. At 1030 at night no less. DHL with a work P.O. in it. Yep, I said let me see who it's from. Yes, a customer I knew. They somehow could not deliver to my office address. Scary that they found my home and found my personal email address. Delivering at 1030 pm?

I worry sometimes my dad will click a link. He's 85. Best Buy sending your geek squad contract for $500. Don't click or answer anything like this dad.

Re: Strange New Scam

Toppers3 — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 00:41:52 GMT

I must have accidentally clicked on some piece of embedded malware recently in something, because the next thing that I saw was a tab/window popping up that told me something like I had to, "pay money to use my computer and to get this virus out of it, blah, blah, blah."

I have everything set up for safe searching and malware regarding security on my computer, so the only thing that I can think of was that I accidentally clicked on something that was already infected.

It was one of those Ransomware viruses.

I didn't think, and closed out the window of the malware message itself.

D'oh! That was a really bad idea, because clicking on it then executes the virus, and I had forgotten about not clicking on it!

I ran a full virus scan immediately and it was caught and deleted. It was some kind of Troj*n malware.

Re: Strange New Scam

Beacon girl — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 11:27:05 GMT

I just got e-mail today that the order for my expensive perfume will be delayed but sending me small vial of another until it comes in! Now ! I’m suppose to panic and call this # and explain I don’t have such an order ! I guess they try anything !Go get a real job!!!

Re: Strange New Scam

MoJoV — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 15:16:11 GMT

@on the bay wrote:
This kind of thing is why I love my chromebook. You never get this kind of thing. It has built in security. I never have to worry.

I have to buy one.

Re: Strange New Scam

Trailrun23 — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 19:08:31 GMT

I am expecting two packages this week, so usually check my email or track them on my phone. This week I am getting emails with legitimate-looking ( at first glance) emails from ups or FedEx, but if you look closely they are u.p.s. or fed.ex. Bogus! Don't open, just delete. One or the other is showing up everyday this week, but if you keep deleting and don't open, they give up and go away. Always check the email preview before clicking to open it. Delete, then empty the delete file.

Re: Strange New Scam

on the bay — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 21:19:24 GMT

Here's a new one I just got today-

The phone rings (cell) and I answered because the unusual area code was the same one from some medical offices I'd been getting that were legitimate.

He has a very unclear accent and does not sound very professional to begin with. Says he's from Medicare

and doing a survey (I'm thinking Medicare never calls), and I say I don't want to take the survey. Start to hang up and he says we are just trying to confirm information and keeps quickly saying I live in....right? and my birthday...correct?

I then say I do not feel comfortable doing this by phone and hang up quickly.

I look up the number and it is listed sure enough as a robo call and spam. I somehow didn't see the alert on my phone that always says "potential spam." Really made me mad.

Felt like calling him back and saying something rude like get a life! etc.

Then blocked the number and deleted. I'm glad I just had that alert antenna up to begin with and was getting irritated about things that day anyway so not in a good mood to answer any more questions.

Usually scammers will phone with your usual home area code, but this area code is used for most of the medical offices here. I think they somehow see the numbers that call you and that you call, at least the area codes and scam from there.

My cousin, (former assist policie commissioner) confirmed this.

And you would never get a random and general call from medicare to confirm info which they already have anyway-jeez.

Re: Strange New Scam

ScarletDove — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 17:32:04 GMT

I have received just about everything mentioned in this thread in my email...I set it up long ago to filter for spam, unfortunately some mail I want ends up in spam folder so I go through it daily. When I get one like mentioned in this thread, I know it is a scam/phony so I save the entire email as a pdf to a "Computer Fraud Folder" I created on my computer. About 4 years ago and fed up with this obnoxious scam email I went searching for how to report this stuff. I found several companies (BestBuy, GeekSquad, PayPal, McAfee, etc.) who had email addresses to report scam email content (pdf gets sent to company if mentioned in email, as well as OAG--next sentence). Here in Maryland you can send an email with the attached pdf of the scam/phony email to the Consumer Office of State Attorney General and they will investigate. It is work to do this but it has cut back immensely on the receipt of this scam email. OAG will send receipt acknowledgement, then you will receive email from their Mediation Unit. DO NOT CLICK ON ANY LINK IN ANY THING YOU SAVE AS A PDF.

Re: Strange New Scam

bonnielu — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 01:46:44 GMT

Yes got this one. So much fun these days. LOL