The modern world is full of scams. They're always inventing new ones. Many of these scams are aimed at robbing senior citizens of their savings. Here are a few. If you get one of these in your email, beware. It's a scam. It's always a scam!
Fed-Ex or UPS (not really): "Final notice. We have tried to deliver your package but we have incomplete information....please call....) Always a scam. These notices are NOT really from Fed Ex or UPS or any legitimate carrier.
"(Name of Department Store) - A charge was made on your debit card for $860. If you didn't make this purchase, call (800) xxx-xxxx.
"Your insurance settlement has arrived. A check of $240,000 has been issued. We just need to verify a little information..."
"You have won $100,000 in the lottery. Before we mail your check, you need to call and claim your winnings (and verify some information)...."
"I am Mrs. ________ and I'm the executor of the late Mr. _______'s estate. He let me instructions to share his wealth with people like you. Please call me....."
"Your order totaling $973 has been placed and we are charging this amount to your credit/debit card or other account. If this is not correct, it is urgent that you contact us....."
"I am Mr. _________ and my company is seeking a partnership with someone in your state to invest large sums of money on our behalf. This is a lucrative arrangement and will pay you well...." CAUTION: May involve criminal activity.
"Expect your order from _____ to arrive within the next 3 days. Please call us now to confirm some delivery information...."
"Suspicious and possibly criminal activity has been noted on your Social Security number. We need to speak to you immediately. Failure to contact us may result in suspension of your Social Security check/number. Call (***) ***-****......"
"You are winner of new automatic drill (coffee maker, mixer, tool box, etc.). Please contact us (store) right away to claim this offer...."
"This is your computer software company. We have detected major issues that are making your computer run slow and may even put your personal information at risk. The best way to fix this is to give us permission to connect to your computer for a few minutes so we can correct the problem (steal your personal information)...."
YOU SHOULD NEVER.....NEVER, EVER......
1. Let someone connect remotely to your computer
2. Purchase gift cards to send to someone you don't know
3. Put cash or money orders in the mail to someone you don't know.
4. Speak to someone on the phone as they direct you to buy gift cards, money orders, make bank withdrawals, etc. (Just say goodbye to the money).
5. Agree to pay a fine over the phone or pay to "avoid arrest." Real law enforcement never makes these type of calls. Never. The purpose is to scare you, then rob you.
Of course, any of these scams can come from a robo phone call, too. The US government estimates that as many as 228 million scam calls are made each day to persons in the United States.
Why doesn't the government crack down on these callers? One big reason is that many of these calls originate outside the United States, from India or other countries where the US has no jurisdiction, no reach. Another reason is that these criminals change their phone number every few days and they simply can't be located. Your best protection is to hang up and don't speak to these callers. They want to "harvest" your personal information and clean out your bank account. Just hang up without giving them any information--not your name, not your date of birth, not your phone number, not your address, bank name--not anything. And, no, these callers may not know your phone number. These calls are usually dialed randomly by a computer that dials thousands of number combinations.
The sooner you hang up, the better you will be protected. Once you start answering questions, you may be doomed.
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