Am I Too Paranoid - Page 4

Porcelain · ‎02-19-2014

I think it's a good idea to be calmly skeptical. Particularly when contacted by any stranger, regardless of whether they claim to be a major corporation. Anyone can claim to be Verizon, or the IRS, or the Pope for that matter.

There's no need to be frightened by scams. It's all just spam. All you have to do is block the sender. And if you have a question about whether something is legit, call the company on their offical number, not the number on the weird piece of mail or email.

This is just a new way to be street smart. Now that you know, you are better protected.

Also, if someone is trying to alarm you, they are trying to motivate you to do something. That something is in their best interest, not necessarily yours. Another thing to be very street smart about.

When you’re accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression.
"Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

KKJ · ‎03-11-2010

Just in the past year I've received calls from someone claiming to be from Verizon. He started off by warning me that someone was charging stuff to my online Verizon acct. then proceeded to ask me all sorts of questions. I went to my local Verizon store and they told me (and another person there who'd gotten the same suspicious call) it was definitely a scam and they'd (Verizon) never call asking you those things.

Magicrat · ‎05-19-2015

@Kachina624 I have 5 Ring cameras around my house. I live in a city where there is a lot of crime. I'm at work all day and feel much more secure that my animals are protected from idiots. I also have ADT. You can't trust anybody these days. They have no respect for your property. They think what's theirs is theirs, and what's yours is theirs. So at least if somebody does something I'll have it on camera. Paranoid? Probably.

Jordan2 · ‎03-16-2010

I'm the OP and called Verizon this afternoon. The offer was legit for a security camera, she said she had gotten a lot of calls lately from people that were being scammed. I rent so I'm not interested in the offer ( the camera comes from a third party and I don't need them bothering me). I hate calling Verizon, I know the CS rep is doing their job by trying to sell you more expensive services, but I can't afford it and don't appreciate Verizon doing this.

CalminHeart · ‎03-09-2010

@Jordan2 wrote:
@CalminHeart you really can't look up a number anymore, it isn't free there is always a catch for payment for any information.

I've always been able to find a phone number if the company is legitimate. I don't bother to call for the others because I know they're scams.

magicmoodz · ‎03-16-2010

@Kachina624 wrote:
@Spurt Sorry, but I don't see a teen sauntering down the street, minding his own business as a potential "in devader". Sadly, busy bodies have actually called the police to confront such kids.

@Kachina624

And here is just another day in Minneapolis (copied this morning from Nextdoor).

A man with hoodie, mask and handgun walking down Franklin ( in the middle of the street), towards Hennepin. Fired several rounds towards the dry cleaner and hair salon? My friend was parked in front of Patina and hit the deck after he walked by her car shooting. Just spoke with police who say it's an active investigation.

This is why we must stay vigilant. If that translates to being a busy body, so be it.

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@Jordan2 wrote:
I'm the OP and called Verizon this afternoon. The offer was legit for a security camera, she said she had gotten a lot of calls lately from people that were being scammed. I rent so I'm not interested in the offer ( the camera comes from a third party and I don't need them bothering me). I hate calling Verizon, I know the CS rep is doing their job by trying to sell you more expensive services, but I can't afford it and don't appreciate Verizon doing this.

@Jordan2

Well, this is going to disprove a few assumptions here, but I am also going through a Verizon "issue".

Last week I got a confirmation email from Verizon that my "order" is being shipped.

What???? I didn't order anything. I don't want them sending me something I don't want. I won't even be in town when it supposedly arrives, and why would they send me a device I didn't ask for?

Well ... it is LEGIT .... as in really coming from Verizon, free of charge. I spoke to them on "chat" on Sunday and spoke to a human yesterday.

I have a cute little 3G phone I am going to use until their 3G service ends 12/31/22. I love that phone and hate to give it up. Last year I also got a Tracfone Samsung phone, so I plan to just switch phone numbers on December 30th. Right now, I'm using both phones.

The Verizon human said they were sending me the new 4G phone as a "courtesy" ... at no charge. I told them I didn't want it, and would be sending it back, but now I think I'll take it to a Verizon store and get a receipt.

In this case, the Verizon "free phone" is actually legit.

It's always something .....

CalminHeart · ‎03-09-2010

@Spurt wrote:
@Kachina624 wrote:
Speaking of paranoid, with these Ring doorbell cameras everyone seems to have in the suburbs, all a kid has to do is walk down the street wearing a hoodie and the whole neighborhood is on high alert. The NextDoor app lights up as word goes out of the "suspicious character" casing the area. It's really quite funny to see imaginations work overtime. Too many housewives and retirees with too much time on their hands.
@Kachina624

But these days and what you see on the news with home invasions and such I'd rather be safe than sorry......and even with "package pirates" so prevelent too....you have to stay alert....expect the worst .....

A hoodie does not equate to thief or thug. Ask Trayvon Martin.

I don't trust a man in a suit any more than a teen walking down the street.

CalminHeart · ‎03-09-2010

@Jordan2 wrote:
@CalminHeart you really can't look up a number anymore, it isn't free there is always a catch for payment for any information.

I was talking about going to the specific company's website and calling their phone number instead of calling a number in an email or text.

Jordan2 · ‎03-16-2010

I got an email supposedly from a cousin of mine ( we don't speak often at all) with the heading of his name and I haven't opened it yet because I believe it has to be a scam. It says in the part I can read how are you do you shop at Amazon can you do me a favor. He lives in Arizona I live in New York, I seriously don't think he would ask a favor of me. If it is a scam how do the scammers get a list of your contacts?