Community Chat

[Stray]

I am a senior and well aware of scammers & I even did corporate security for my department when I worked. However, in the early days of the pandemic, I fell for a scam. The guy even showed me his Chase ID card online. The only thing that stopped the transaction was my bank.
After, that experience, I’m very wary.

Last week my husband’s computer, a MAC, was hacked & the fake message said to call Apple at a number. I checked the Apple number on line & it wasn’t Apple but a hacker. We had to call for help as the PC was frozen.


Also, today AI can simulate the voice of a loved one & I saw a woman on TV who fell for a scam because the voice on her phone sounded exactly like her daughter.

Scammers are quite sophisticated today.

[STYLE]

I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHEN MY MOM WAS ALIVE SHE WOULD HAVE FALLE FOR THIS.  THEN I'D GET A PHONE CALL WITH HER CRYING AFRAID THE IRS WOULD COME KNOCKING ON HER DOOR.  

[JamesRW2]

I always hoped I'd get a call telling me that 'my grandchild was in jail and that they needed $$$ to get him/her out'. I was prepared to tell them to let the grandchild stay in jail, as he/she was a rotten kid that never bothered to call me, LOL. Because I have that response all ready to use, of course I never get a call!

[qualitygal]

and so it continues.  It is a shame.  

[deeva]

Another reason seniors are targeted is because the scammers assume that seniors have more money than the younger generation. 

[Trailrun23]

I keep getting texts from someone wanting to give me cash for my condo...except aI don't live in a condo and the street number is the same. I blocked the number, but get more texts from different numbers. DH got a scam text last week saying he owed a few thousand to the hospital where he had tests run a few weeks ago. He freaked out but I told him it was a scam and you would get an invoice in the mail if he owed anything more than already paid. They just love to prey on people. I do wonder how he knew he had the tests and knew the exact hospital that is in a neighboring town...weird. 

[qualitygal]

---

@Trailrun23 wrote:

I keep getting texts from someone wanting to give me cash for my condo...except aI don't live in a condo and the street number is the same. I blocked the number, but get more texts from different numbers. DH got a scam text last week saying he owed a few thousand to the hospital where he had tests run a few weeks ago. He freaked out but I told him it was a scam and you would get an invoice in the mail if he owed anything more than already paid. They just love to prey on people. I do wonder how he knew he had the tests and knew the exact hospital that is in a neighboring town...weird. 

---

I wonder if the scammers don't have ways of getting into some of our information.  Nothing is safe or sacred anymore.

[lgfan]

It is not just telephone calls. I have received letters claiming that I owe money to stores that I have never made purchases. I also had one letter sent from a lawyer stating that I owed money for a lawsuit settlement. They are hoping that some confused individual will pay the bogus bills.