have you ever been the target of one of these people/s? how did it go for you- im still trying to figure out how to shake one off/ apparently i have $50.000 sitting in my account right now! but my email is unreachable and  i dont know how to get into my account-

such problems -unbelievable!

Yes I suspect most of us get a few of these. I haven't had that one yet.

My last one was a Telstra scam. They got upset with me in the end and started swearing at me for wasting their time. I told the operator that I was going to report him to Telstra over his bad language.

Agnes. wrote on Oct 7^th, 2023 at 10:58pm:

have you ever been the target of one of these people/s? how did it go for you- im still trying to figure out how to shake one off/ apparently i have $50.000 sitting in my account right now! but my email is unreachable and  i dont know how to get into my account- such problems -unbelievable!

If they phone you,  block their number.
Never answer any email unless it's from a trusted source.
Never click on any links in emails or sms messages.

My Office Outlook  puts all those suspicious emails in the junk mail folder.

I get the NBN phone calls occasionally. I keep them on the line for as long as possible before revealing that I do not have a computer or mobile phone. The last one asked me to do it on my work computer, which I agreed to and we hung up after that. It was the first time they didn't hang up mid sentence. They called back 30 seconds later asking for my work phone number, then hung up on me while I was trying to find it.

What I have recently encountered is a scam that uses hijacked mobile numbers.

I'd receive a call from a mobile number with a generated voice telling me my bank account is about to be suspended and to 'press 1 now' to speak to the bank directly. 

When I hung up and called the number back, I found that the person on the other end was not the scammer but they'd received hundreds of calls from targetted people calling them back.

I have stopped ringing numbers with no ID, no text etc sent, but I did once and the number was spoofed and the guy whose number was spoofed had had that happen once before.

Bobby. wrote on Oct 7^th, 2023 at 11:52pm:

Agnes. wrote on Oct 7th, 2023 at 10:58pm: have you ever been the target of one of these people/s? how did it go for you- im still trying to figure out how to shake one off/ apparently i have $50.000 sitting in my account right now! but my email is unreachable and  i dont know how to get into my account- such problems -unbelievable! If they phone you,  block their number. Never answer any email unless it's from a trusted source. Never click on any links in emails or sms messages. My Office Outlook  puts all those suspicious emails in the junk mail folder.

simple but good advice Bobby- thank you

Don't even open the email if it looks suss.

Dnarever wrote on Oct 7^th, 2023 at 11:36pm:

Yes I suspect most of us get a few of these. I haven't had that one yet. My last one was a Telstra scam. They got upset with me in the end and started swearing at me for wasting their time. I told the operator that I was going to report him to Telstra over his bad language.

LOL I hope you did report him after all of that ! bad man swearing at you, the sheer hide of him- hang him I say

freediver wrote on Oct 8^th, 2023 at 9:54am:

Don't even open the email if it looks suss.

I will try to remeber that FD. :-/

My issue right now is preventing 'one-off' subscriptions from continuing past the one-month deadline.

Dnarever wrote on Oct 7^th, 2023 at 11:36pm:

They got upset with me in the end and started swearing at me for wasting their time.

:D
Way to go! I have a plastic whistle and wait until the caller is ready for my reply. Big breath..go...

AHAHAHAHAHA!

chimera wrote on Oct 8^th, 2023 at 10:56am:

Dnarever wrote on Oct 7th, 2023 at 11:36pm: They got upset with me in the end and started swearing at me for wasting their time. :D Way to go! I have a plastic whistle and wait until the caller is ready for my reply. Big breath..go...

Cool.

Unfortunately, that's just a waste of time and effort.


Quote:

I was just listening to a radio discussion about dealing with scam phone calls. A lady phoned in and said that she blows a loud whistle when she gets one and the presenter got her to demonstrate. What we heard was a loud(ish) hissing noise. She insisted that it was not a dog whistle but more like the ones used by referees. The question is - does the scammer hear the same muffled squeak, or are their eardrums assaulted by a shrill noise? It should be easy to test if you have a friend with a suitable whistle.

Quote:

My understanding is that the audio quality of phone sounds is (still!) so degraded that the scammer won’t hear anything close to what the whistleblower will hear.

Quote:

Well, it’s “degraded” on purpose. Telephones were originally designed for voice transmission. The frequencies present in the human voice range from 30 Hz to 3400 Hz. In order to save bandwidth, and therefore pass more total phone calls on any given transmission medium, higher frequencies are filtered out. Plus, the volume is limited on the far end - so a 110 dB sound on the speaker side will probably get limited down to 70 dB on the listeners side. So yes, a whistle won’t be nearly as annoying to the listener as it is to the speaker.

Quote:

My Uncle worked for SW Bell, and I was surprised when he told me the bandwidth of a phone call. Something like 5kHz. I imagine a whistle or fog horn would just be mild noise.

OK just tested on landline to mobile. Not loud. But it gets the message of 'whistle blower' to them. I didn't really want to cause pain.

I would LOVE to really hurt a scammer, a human leech!

The speakers in the earpiece are not powerful enough to hurt your ears.

Another scam doing the rounds is a text purporting to be from startrack or Australia post. Don't click on any links.

I once let a female scammer get into her spiel and then asked her if she was wearing panties and started heavy breathing. She swore at me and hung up.  :)

Belgarion wrote on Oct 8^th, 2023 at 3:03pm:

I once let a female scammer get into her spiel and then asked her if she was wearing panties and started heavy breathing. She swore at me and hung up.  :)

"You souwn juss like my fadda", did she say?

John Smith wrote on Oct 8^th, 2023 at 1:41pm:

Another scam doing the rounds is a text purporting to be from startrack or Australia post. Don't click on any links.

Oh that one I’m getting constantly!
Telling me they were unsuccessful to deliver a parcel and to click in the link for more details.
I block the number, then delete.

Number blocking is futile. Scammers turn over numbers within a few minutes.

Agnes. wrote on Oct 7^th, 2023 at 10:58pm:

have you ever been the target of one of these people/s? how did it go for you- im still trying to figure out how to shake one off/ apparently i have $50.000 sitting in my account right now! but my email is unreachable and  i dont know how to get into my account- such problems -unbelievable!

A few weeks ago I was nearly scammed of $500…..
I just couldn’t trust what was happening.
I kept looking up online about what was being offered and I did a screen shot and wrote it was contrary to what they said. Then I heard crickets after that  ;D

How it happened was I advertised stuff on fb market place first time ever and was inundated with enquiries (all scammers I learnt later) and asked if they could pay with “payid”
When I asked if they wound scam me, this dweeb writes “I would never hurt my fellow human being”

Well he got narky with me for not believing his way of payid as I wanted to check with bank and he said not to, has nothing to do with bank.

Then that’s when I sent screenshot of his discrepancy.
That makes them leave you and move on to next victim.

I went into Telstra to change my phone plan.
I get a text next day it’s from Telstra and to rate the service by clicking on a link to rate.
I ignore that also.
It’s gotten so that I cannot trust anything anymore.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Oct 8^th, 2023 at 3:39pm:

Number blocking is futile. Scammers turn over numbers within a few minutes.

I know but… I have to do something.
Keeps me on the alert.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Oct 8^th, 2023 at 3:39pm:

Number blocking is futile. Scammers turn over numbers within a few minutes.

I have a Telstra Call Guardian home phone which does an excellent job of blocking scammers and other nuisance callers (should come in handy next week with the Voice referendum calls I'm expecting).

You can block whole area codes - for example I have all 02, 03, 05, 06 and 07 area codes blocked.

If I set it to the 'highest' blocking setting I can block all calls except for the numbers I have put into the phone's list of 'approved' numbers.

It can also automatically block numbers detected as "Unavailable", these are 'spoofed' numbers that give you a "number is not in service" recorded message if you ever try to call them back.

The default setting is that all unknown callers hear a recorded message telling them to say their name and press the # key after the beep... if they don't after being asked twice the call disconnects without me even being aware of what the phone is doing.

I also have a call blocker app for my mobile that works well for blocking numbers by area code and unknown numbers, etc.

Sophia wrote on Oct 8^th, 2023 at 3:34pm:

John Smith wrote on Oct 8th, 2023 at 1:41pm: Another scam doing the rounds is a text purporting to be from startrack or Australia post. Don't click on any links. Oh that one I’m getting constantly! Telling me they were unsuccessful to deliver a parcel and to click in the link for more details. I block the number, then delete.

The easiest way to spot the scam from the real thing is the phone numbers. When a scammer sends the text,  you get the actual number it was sent from, when aus post sends the text you get their logo where the sent from number is usually found

Belgarion wrote on Oct 8^th, 2023 at 3:03pm:

I once let a female scammer get into her spiel and then asked her if she was wearing panties and started heavy breathing. She swore at me and hung up.  :)

Need to be a little careful as some are just unwanted marketers and not malicious just annoying.

They will record what you say and have your name and phone number. They may be able to make as much money from that as the original scam.

One of the best know scam-baiters is an Irish bloke
by the name of Jim Browning (not his real name).
He names and exposes scammers, hacks their
computers, often shuts them down, and even opens
up their own cameras to get a look at them, and
inside their entire workplace.

Although these people are criminals, it's often very
funny to see the grief that Browning brings down on
their heads.   Well worth a look.

Jim Browning.

A typical example of Browning's work:

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUaU4W6loFo&ab_channel=JimBrowning

AusGeoff wrote on Oct 9^th, 2023 at 2:55am:

and even opens up their own cameras to get a look at them,

So that's not a myth, it can be done. Maybe the directors of companies and departments where customers are hacked, can be on camera to prove their lack of secure data.

Other scam fighters:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsLJZyih3Ac&ab_channel=MarkRober

https://youtu.be/mvnwkimFDMA

The second channel, he uses a voice distorter to make his voice sound like that of an old woman.

chimera wrote on Oct 9^th, 2023 at 4:52am:

AusGeoff wrote on Oct 9th, 2023 at 2:55am: and even opens up their own cameras to get a look at them, So that's not a myth, it can be done. Maybe the directors of companies and departments where customers are hacked, can be on camera to prove their lack of secure data.

Oh that and more!
There was this tv show on recently called “Hunted” where would be fugitives are to avoid being caught by a team of police experts for a month on the run to win $100,000 if not caught by a deadline before being whisked away in a helicopter.

Well this show has proven without a doubt the way police can get intel and hack and get into anyone’s phone, where they call from, all their family and social media friends and their information such as their phone numbers and where they live….plus…. these survival equipped police can get into anyone’s home cctv video to see if fugitives are in or out of a house nearby etc

So if you have a little security camera even inside your home say for example, keeping an eye on pets…
Yes that can be accessed too.

So all these scammers can be accessed and busted.
I mean to say… seems easy enough for scammers to get information on any of us!

So people couldn't refrain from posting on facebook for a month to get $100,000?

freediver wrote on Oct 9^th, 2023 at 9:37am:

So people couldn't refrain from posting on facebook for a month to get $100,000?

They (fugitives) do refrain, but special equipped police/detectives etc can even access your deleted info on any media, except WhatsApp because it’s encrypted.

I learn new stuff every time I watch the series!

A lot of the fugitives go off grid. Many have different disguises and are always looking out to avoid any cctv cameras. Some manage to get burner phones to use then ditch it.
Many get kind strangers to help out as family or friends are already sussed and easily accessed for intel by cops.

Some fugitives are clever and some not so. The latter are easily found.

But yeah…. Social media is only used once by some fugitives to taunt the cops, then they scram before being pursued.

Anyway, the show exposes a lot of tricks of the trade special cops use.

Funny how they don’t catch up with pedos etc  ::)

Ha! I just checked my spam folder because sometimes my normal emails accidentally fall in there. Guess what I found?

Hang on I’ll see if I can take a screenshot of it. If not I’ll copy and paste it across instead (my iPhone isn’t all that reliable with posting pics on this forum).

Edit : Nope can’t attach the pic.

Here is the email 👇

Susan S. Cage
To
7 Oct at 10:59 pm

Dearest Friend,

Sorry for invading your privacy, my name is Susan S. Cage I am 81 years, citizen of United States and presently in hospital undergoing chromatography for bronchogenic carcinomas (Lung cancer) which affected both Lungs. The doctors said I have few days to live because the cancer has now affected my brain.

My late husband left Fifteen Million, Five Hundred British Pounds Sterling in my account, I want to transfer the money to you and I want you to use it as a donate for charitable and help the needy, motherless, less privileged and widows within your location. I need your assurance that you will use the fund for charity, once I get a favorable reply from you, will inform my Bank through my lawyer to transfer the fund to you as my Next of Kin and Sole Beneficiary. Once I receive your response, I will inform my bank in writing through my
lawyer.

Regards,

Mrs. Susan S. Cage


OMG I feel so guilty now. This poor woman reached out to me on the 7th. And back on the 7th she only had a few days to live. I just read her email today. It was hiding in my spam folder.

Bottom line? I can’t email her now. She’s dead. 😳

Lisa Jones wrote on Oct 9^th, 2023 at 3:21pm:

My late husband left Fifteen Million, Five Hundred British Pounds Sterling in my account,

She's better off without him if he was that untidy. At least she won't need to pick up his socks anymore.

Lisa Jones wrote on Oct 9^th, 2023 at 3:21pm:

...OMG I feel so guilty now. This poor woman reached out to me on the 7th. And back on the 7th she only had a few days to live. I just read her email today. It was hiding in my spam folder. Bottom line? I can’t email her now. She’s dead. 😳

LOL... this message is a classic 419 scam.

For some reason, the scammer has left off the
usual "Thank you and God bless you" ending.

AusGeoff wrote on Oct 10^th, 2023 at 10:54pm:

Lisa Jones wrote on Oct 9th, 2023 at 3:21pm: ...OMG I feel so guilty now. This poor woman reached out to me on the 7th. And back on the 7th she only had a few days to live. I just read her email today. It was hiding in my spam folder. Bottom line? I can’t email her now. She’s dead. 😳 LOL... this message is a classic 419 scam. For some reason, the scammer has left off the usual "Thank you and God bless you" ending.

Yes indeed.

Poor "Susan" has only had a few days to live for nearly 3 years now.

https://419scam.org/emails/2021-02/11/01759164.21.htm

She also included "Thank you and God bless you." back then.

And she's been 81 years old for the past 3 years...lol.

;D

---

Silly old Susan. She's scamming stupid suckers successfully in serial screwing.

You guys are amazing lol!

This has to be one of my favourite topics on OzPol right now.

Meantime ...last night at 4.29 am I got a text about some undelivered package. I’ll see if I can attach the screenshot of said text. If not I’ll have to copy and paste it here. BRB..

Edit :

Startrack - Delivery unsuccessful on December 11, 2023. Your package will be redirected to a parcel point. Check online at: startrack-parcel-au.live/

So they tried to deliver something to me on the 11 of December 2023 BUT for some reason they couldn’t. I bet I know what that reason might be. 😂😆🤣

Lisa Jones wrote on Oct 12^th, 2023 at 7:18am:

You guys are amazing lol! This has to be one of my favourite topics on OzPol right now. Meantime ...last night at 4.29 am I got a text about some undelivered package. I’ll see if I can attach the screenshot of said text. If not I’ll have to copy and paste it here. BRB.. Edit : Startrack - Delivery unsuccessful on December 11, 2023. Your package will be redirected to a parcel point. Check online at: startrack-parcel-au.live/ So they tried to deliver something to me on the 11 of December 2023 BUT for some reason they couldn’t. I bet I know what that reason might be. 😂😆🤣

lol... they must have a time machine.

Anyway... as I'm sure you no doubt already know:

Scams targeting Australia Post customers


Quote:

Online attackers may attempt to gain your personal or financial information or exploit you for financial gain. Australia Post will never:     *Call, text or email you asking for personal or financial information including password, credit card details or account information     *Call, text or email you to request payment     *Ask you to click on an email link to print off a label to redeem your package

D@mn scammers are everywhere and will try almost anything to scam people these days.

---

I got some of those during the covid lockdowns and I bet quite a few got sucked in.