Community Chat

[Ibby114]

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@Pook wrote:

Why would anyone ever fall for this unless there was some type of dementia?  If I even thought it was a legit call I would ask the grandchild to answer some questions only he or she would know the answers to just to make sure.

I would just toy with these scammers and let them think they got another one just to see how long it took them to figure it out.  It wastes their time and is amusing to see what lengths they will go to before giving up!!      

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It's not as clear cut as dementia or not -   in my Dad's case he wasn't as sharp as he once was. Dementia was never an issue- but if I wasn't  watching over him as much as I was the last  couple years of his life he would have fallen prey to scams. 

[cerb]

My Mom has received a couple of these scam phone calls.  Here's the thing: A few years ago when she received the first call, she recognized immediately that it was a scam.  But recently (at age 87) she wasn't so sure.  She called me quite hesitantly and seemed scared to tell me about the phone call.  Even though she suspected a scam, she told me that it was "so realistic" and "I promised my grandson that I wouldn't call you, so I feel guilty about talking with you now."

The scammers have gotten better with their scam, and my Mom isn't thinking as clearly as she used to.  In the past she wouldn't have been taken in, but this time she almost was.

I praised my Mom for calling me, and reiterated that she should always call one of her daughters if she had any questions about a situation.  We're going to have to be keeping a closer eye on her.  

[karol59]

I GOT A FEW OF THESE CALLS, ONE SAYS HE IS MY OLDEST GRANDSON, I SAID I DIDN'T HAVE ANY, THREW HIM OFF A BIT, THEN HE ASKED IF I WAS MY FATHER'S NAME BUT COULDN'T PRONOUNCE IT CORRECTLY, NEXT TIME I PRETENDED HE WAS JOE, HE SAYS YEA RIGHT JOE, HE KNEW BETTER, THEN CAME THE SECRET, ASKED ME TO MAKE SURE I WAS ALONE IN THE ROOM AND THEN SAID FU HORE. I MISPELLED THAT FOR A REASON.

[sophiamarie]

This rings a bell.  LOL - Just last week, a friend of mine in Atlanta called and told me she just got a call like that.

Some young guy said "hello grandma".  She is German and knows her grandkids all call her "Oma".  Right away, she was "suspicious".... She asked him where he was.  He is supposed to be in Michigan in college.  Anyway, he said he was in NY.  She asked him why he was there and he said a friend of his died and he was at the funeral but got arrested.

She asked him why.  He said he was arrested for DUI.  She asked him what he was drinking and he said he had two glasses of wine.  Then, she started lecturing him about drinking and driving.  After that, he said "please don't tell Mama and Papa".....  He doesn't call his parent that.

Anyway, he gave her a phone number (supposedly his attorney) to call and then he hung up.  

I asked her for the number and we looked it up and it was one of those scam numbers.

So far, I have never gotten calls like that.

[esmerelda]

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@september wrote:

@chrystaltree, if you're talking about me, why didn't you just ask me directly?  Not sure you are, but I think I already explained my reason for letting the loser give his spiel. 

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@september I reread your post and didn't see a reason.   😐

[Spurt]

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@SaRina wrote:

@Thank you for posting this @Mz iMac.  It's such important information.

My mom is sharp as a tack, but I'm going to remind her about this particular scam.

ETA: I saw my mom a short while ago and mentioned this to her. She rolled her eyes at me as if I thought she didn't know any better. I just reiterated for her to call me anytime she gets this type of call or doesn't know who she is speaking to.... and.... never to give out personal info to anyone over the phone.

I just got a phone call from my cell phone carrier. They wanted to know if I was satisfied with my device and service. I said I don't respond to phone calls when I don't know with whom I'm speaking. She said she could give me my personal info to confirm who I was. I said no...if you want my feedback, mail me a survey and I hung up. There's no reason to engage with anyone who makes an unsolicited phone call no matter how harmless it seems.

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@SaRina

What I'm amazed at is the legit charities that make outgoing calls to obtain donations and people that easily provide  their credit card info over the phone.  Even charities that I have donated to in the past, if they call, I politely explain because of scammers and fraudsters I have security concerns so I do not ever make donations by phone ........Sadly there are so many gullible people out there and the scammers know it, so legit charities shouldn't contribute to the confusion with phone solicitations JMHO....