Spammers are back in force

[question everything]

Found a voice mail, of authoritative male voice: from TC something "renewing our antivirus program for $399." To cancel, call 715-666-6478. I am not aware of any credit card account be hacked, so don't know how they will "charge."

No doubt, they are talking about a computer virus but relying on seniors like us to be scared about the Corona.

Just curious of what would happened if I called.

A few weeks ago got a female voice that our Amazon account had a charge for $500 or something and to call - did not get the number - to cancel. So far, nothing.

Again, curious about what happens if one responds. To confirm that the numbers are "live?" They are, even with the answering machine.

And, right now, another call about reverse mortgage. Spouse answered and I think it was a real person.

I really should get their name and number and complain to the FCC..

[CurtEastPoint]

1. I've learned to just ignore that shit. ALL of it. If someone really needs me

they can email or USPS mail me.

Annoying assholes. And reporting IMHO does no good. it's just random dialers.

And yes, do NOT press 1 to opt out or whatever. That says, 'LIVE ONE!"

[GoneOffShore]

2. Dang! I keep getting calls from Mali. Totally bizarre.

But as it's our US phone, I never answer them. And then block the number.

When I first got my mobile here in France I was getting calls for Ahmed.

[shanti]

3. I've seen an uptick too

in email phishing.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

4. nit: There's no such thing as a "computer virus"; they're OS-specific.

Take a wild guess which OS is far and away the most vulnerable to a virus.

[RainCaster]

5. Your return call will put you on a sucker list.

Best to ignore

[Ms. Toad]

6. They never left . . .

I've heard people talk about a break from spammers, but ours increased - if anything.

[csziggy]

7. If your numbers are listed on the Do Not Call list any call from a "merchant" is a scam

Though political, surveys, and charities are exempt.

So any call that involves, Medicare, computers, auto warranties, etc. is an illegal call since legitimate companies get the Do Not Call list and removes numbers on it from their calling programs.

For anything like the Amazon call, I check with the business, contacting them through the info on their website. For the antivirus renewal thing, ignore it - they just want to get a credit card number, expiration, and security code from you.

[padfun]

8. I call them all the time. I will call the number you provided

Yes they are scams, mostly from Kolkata India. And as long as you don't let them log onto your computer, you will be fine.

I love the one where they say they found a car with cocaine in it. I just tell them that they legalized Cocaine in Texas two months ago and I want my 22 lbs back!

There are lots of ways to delay them and have fun but DONT listen to them when it comes to running some software they point you to.

[Brother Buzz]

16. It's fine to let them log onto your computer as long as you're using a virtual machine (VM)

And it gives you two brief moments to turn the table and log into their computers while they are focused on your screen. Game on, baby!

[phylny]

19. Be careful as some phone numbers

are reverse charge and you’ll end up paying for the call.

[yonder]

9. I noticed a huge drop of spam/spoof calls when things first locked down,

but in the last month they've jumped right back up almost to where they were before.

The Amazon one is curious and maybe worth contacting them directly, but ignore the rest.

[MontanaMama]

12. FYI on the Amazon thing...

My Amazon account was hacked back in March. Almost $800 in crap charged to my Amex card. I posted about it here on DU. Long story shorter, I alerted Amex and they cancelled my card and disputed all of the charges that came from China. The items were"shipped" but I never received them. The Amazon fraud department was fairly responsive. I changed my password, turned off 1-click purchasing and turned on two step authentication for my sign in. I also changed my email account password as well just in case. I did not save another credit card to my Amazon account. Since then, I log in every couple days to find multiple items in my cart and a browsing history which isn't mine. Further, my email inbox is FULL of Amazon questions that may or may not have answers that I did not ask...I've never used Amazon Answers in all the years I have had an Amazon account. Every time I call Amazon, they're very nice and share my concern but they can't solve the problem. The last Amazon rep I talked with recommended I abandon the account which I plan to do...it's just a big fat pain because I had an Amazon business account and my order history is significant and I don't want to lose it. I'll have to open a new account with a new email account. Amazon is convenient but it isn't safe. I've been battling this mess for 3 months now.

I agree with you yonder, ignore 99% of spam/spoof calls.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

17. Oh, dear.

All those changes and someone is still trying to use your Amazon account. That's scary.

Several years ago someone apparently hacked my Yahoo email. I changed the password and the problem was solved. Lucky me.

[yonder]

22. I remember reading about that. Damn, that's major suckage and thanks for the update....

....because that will prompt me to make some changes to hopefully keep a similar thing from happening to us.

I hope everything works out.

[question everything]

23. What a saga!

We immediately checked the Amazon account and there is nothing that should not be there. We keep checking it regularly.

Hope you can resolve it, eventually.

[MontanaMama]

24. Thanks!

So,I just went to my Amazon account and found 16 items in my shopping cart that weren’t mine and 21 things on my wish list that do not belong to me either. I’m going to abandon my account tomorrow after I print off my order history. I’ve had enough.

[leftyladyfrommo]

10. I have started getting emails telling me I have won

a gazillion dollars. I am used to phone scams but the emails are new.

There are also a rash of guys? Responding to comments on FB asking for dates and whatever. I am pretty sure those are scams, too.

[marybourg]

11. I've been reporting these, especially the one that might

frighten the confused among us. There was a big crack-down on phone scammers this week, so someone is paying attention.

[NRaleighLiberal]

13. I only answer if it is someone I know. I use the call screener on Pixel phones

Got a load of blocked numbers and many identified as spam.

[lkinwi]

14. I got a call pretending to be my cable provider.

I answered because they were using our local school district’s number. They told me that they were going to lower my bill after I answered a few questions. 🙄

[lunatica]

15. My Messenger notifications have skyrocketed

Everything from claiming my brand new FREE iPhone to losing 35 Lbs in 4 days. Stupid ploy for stupid shit just to get a click on the link they provide. It’s happening so much that it’s really getting irritating deleting all of them.

[JesterCS]

18. Sometimes

The numbers will actually translate to an overseas number and you'll get charged a huge amount. Sometimes not always.

[marie999]

20. I have a messager on my phone.

Because of scams and people trying to sell me something, I do not answer my phone unless the person calling is on my contact list. If you want to reach me leave your name, business, and phone number. I then check them out before contacting them. I do not open attachments in email unless I know the person who is sending it and they explain what is in the attachment. FB is used only to message family members.

[struggle4progress]

21. Someone I know got a recorded call: "Unless you contact us, we will bill your credit card $500"

From someone she'd never heard of, for an alleged service she'd never have used

What an innovative business model ...