topic Re: Scam I overheard at the Social Security office in Among Friends

Scam I overheard at the Social Security office

depglass — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 17:08:21 GMT

Our local office has no privacy whatsoever. We were waiting for our appointment and overheard this poor woman's sad story. She got a call from Publisher's Clearing House telling her she had won a prize and they needed her social security number and bank account number to make the deposit. She told her brother, who immediately changed her phone number, closed her bank account, and took her to S.S. I have no idea what they were going to do, but this is a cautionary tale NOT TO GIVE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OUT TO PEOPLE ON THE PHONE.

Re: Scam I overheard at the Social Security office

sgraham30 — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 17:15:37 GMT

Good thing her brother was on the ball & caught the scam! PCH never, ever calls or e-mails a prize winner.

http://info.pch.com/consumer-information/fraud-protection

Re: Scam I overheard at the Social Security office

millieshops — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 17:22:20 GMT

I can't think of any phone call made TO ME as opposed to FROM ME where someone ever needs any numbers from me.

Is there any legit business that randomly calls and asks for that kind of info? Any one at all?

Re: Scam I overheard at the Social Security office

3suwm5 — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 17:24:21 GMT

A new scam daily, it seems.

Thank goodness her brother was there to help her quickly.

Re: Scam I overheard at the Social Security office

2blonde — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 17:30:15 GMT

Not that I would ever give anyone that info over the phone, but I also don't even answer my phone unless I recognize the caller ID. Since I have Nomorobo, most of the scam calls get knocked off after one ring anyway.

Re: Scam I overheard at the Social Security office

Nightowlz — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 17:33:04 GMT

@millieshops wrote:
I can't think of any phone call made TO ME as opposed to FROM ME where someone ever needs any numbers from me.

Is there any legit business that randomly calls and asks for that kind of info? Any one at all?

No I don't think so.

My Bank did call here once & start asking questions about our credit card charges. I would not answer his questions because I thought this could be anyone. I told him I did not call him nor did I know who he was. I told him I would hang up & call my bank. It was legit but I wanted to make sure. He did not ask me for any type numbers etc. They were calling because someone was using our credit card. They closed that account.

Re: Scam I overheard at the Social Security office

jaxs mom — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 17:39:43 GMT

I can't believe that anyone would give out their SS# and bank account numbers to anyone that calls them. I don't care who you say you are.

Re: Scam I overheard at the Social Security office

millieshops — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 17:40:02 GMT

@NightowlzThanks - Now that you mention it, I have that kind of call from a credit card company - but they were giving me info- not requiring I tell them any numbers. I still wanted to call the fraud number myself. Made me feel safer.

Re: Scam I overheard at the Social Security office

millieshops — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 17:43:34 GMT

@2blondeI had no idea Nomorobo even existed. Thank you. I just read reviews of various blocking systems on a Consumer Reports list. Your free service people liked better than the others that cost $$.

I can't use it with my service here, but as soon as I hit Florida where I have Comcast, it's going on.

Re: Scam I overheard at the Social Security office

Nightowlz — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 17:45:37 GMT

@millieshops wrote:
@NightowlzThanks - Now that you mention it, I have that kind of call from a credit card company - but they were giving me info- not requiring I tell them any numbers. I still wanted to call the fraud number myself. Made me feel safer.

@millieshops He did not ask me for any info either. He wanted to know if we had charged over $1500 for some steel in New Jersey & some other charges. It's good that he called but I'm not answering questions to someone that called me. It's best to call them back so you know who you are talking to. Just don't call a number they give you.

Re: Scam I overheard at the Social Security office

Deanie — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 18:07:39 GMT

@jaxs mom Sad to say, it is true. I have a saying, "Predators know their prey." We have been done a disservice by all the propaganda we have been fed through the educational systems and possibly I would even add religious systems. And, it is not OK to be a victim. Victimization is engendered by not being street smart. Street Smarts should be required teaching from the time we are young.....protect yourself.......learn the signals of those that do not have your best interests at heart.....be wary of strangers....even on the phone. To me these are common sense items now. But, in the interest of full disclosure they weren't always......

Re: Scam I overheard at the Social Security office

cottage blossoms — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 18:16:55 GMT

NO, NO, and NO!

Re: Scam I overheard at the Social Security office

jaxs mom — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 18:17:21 GMT

@Deanie wrote:
@jaxs mom Sad to say, it is true. I have a saying, "Predators know their prey." We have been done a disservice by all the propaganda we have been fed through the educational systems and possibly I would even add religious systems. And, it is not OK to be a victim. Victimization is engendered by not being street smart. Street Smarts should be required teaching from the time we are young.....protect yourself.......learn the signals of those that do not have your best interests at heart.....be wary of strangers....even on the phone. To me these are common sense items now. But, in the interest of full disclosure they weren't always......

Huh? You're blaming this on education and religion now?

Re: Scam I overheard at the Social Security office

cottage blossoms — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 18:30:43 GMT

That NO, NO, and NO means you should NEVER be asked for your social security number, credit card number, etc. when you receive the phone call. If you know the person/business and are expecting their call, then that is a different story. If in doubt, you can call them back, BUT get their phone number from another source....not the number they give you.

Re: Scam I overheard at the Social Security office

hckynut — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 19:17:29 GMT

When I call businesses with whom I have accounts, many ask for the last 4 **** of my social. No way I can get my account info without giving them the correct #'s.

Now if they call me? A much deeper conversation unless I personally know the person to whom has called. If not? End of conversation.

Older(in my case, very old man) does not equal incompetency. I know many decades my junior that would like my memory bank, including my older sisters and even their offspring.

If someone, relative or best friend, can fall for these ridiculous phone scams? Someone(you, me) needs to step up and help them or get them the help they need.

Re: Scam I overheard at the Social Security office

Desertdi — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 19:25:59 GMT

Well, the fellow who calls and says I'm wanted for a federal offense has been calling me for several years now. Ya'd think The Marshalls would have gotten me by now..........I'm in the phone book.

Re: Scam I overheard at the Social Security office

ChynnaBlue — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 19:33:29 GMT

@3suwm5 wrote:
A new scam daily, it seems.

Thank goodness her brother was there to help her quickly.

I'm guessing that's a really old scam come back around. There are stories about this recent version going back a few years, but I know Publishing Clearing House scams were happening when I was a kid.

Re: Scam I overheard at the Social Security office

Pooky1 — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 20:01:07 GMT

my inlaws get that same call from pc allso. if all these scum bag scamers put all that effort into csome thing useful they could make he world a better place.

Re: Scam I overheard at the Social Security office

geezerette — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 20:13:19 GMT

@Nightowlz wrote:
@millieshops wrote:
I can't think of any phone call made TO ME as opposed to FROM ME where someone ever needs any numbers from me.

Is there any legit business that randomly calls and asks for that kind of info? Any one at all?

No I don't think so.
My Bank did call here once & start asking questions about our credit card charges. I would not answer his questions because I thought this could be anyone. I told him I did not call him nor did I know who he was. I told him I would hang up & call my bank. It was legit but I wanted to make sure. He did not ask me for any type numbers etc. They were calling because someone was using our credit card. They closed that account.

The same thing happened to me with our credit card company. Someone called from the company, asked about charges which we had not made, and I got suspicious. I thought it was probably legit, but I wasn't about to take any chances. I apologized to the man on the phone, but I told him I wasn't going to give him any personal information because he had called me and I had no idea if he was who he said he was. I then told him I was going to hang up and call the credit card company myself. He was very nice and said I wasn't the only one who did that, and he perfectly well understood and it was a prudent thing to do.

Same thing had happened to us. Someone had tried to use our credit card and the company stopped them. They closed the account and issued us a new one. It's only happened once to us, and I hope it doesn't happen again!

Re: Scam I overheard at the Social Security office

Deanie — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 20:20:54 GMT

@jaxs mom The educational system has been co-opted for the purpose of promoting social values instead of educational values. The Churches, well that is a matter altogether different. It is my observation that some religious institutions are too much into the forgiveness factor, what I call the "Ecclesiastical Whiteout" No where does it teach that not all are operating from the same value system. Some, sadly have an opposite value system that is in direct contrast. IMHO, these two systems have failed to provide the information needed to make informed choices. This is my opinion. You may accept it or reject it. You may accept it in part or in whole or reject it in part or in whole. I will not be offended.