S/O Beggars, Moochers and Scammers

[Doll Fiend]

Story in the news this week that a woman gave $8000 to a stranger for some diamonds, to be used as collateral. The diamonds turned out to be glass. Now Woman A has gone to the media, asking for help identifying the con artist to get her money back because her husband is out of work and she and her children need this money.

The transaction occurred at a mall with multiple jewellers.

A lot of people are accusing Woman A of collaboration with Woman B in order to get the kind hearted public to give her money to replace the funds she may have had swindled from her.

I agree.  If they need the money so bad, why the ehell was she off buying diamonds from some guy at the mall?      I get that gems can be an investment but that just doesn't seem like a wise expenditure during hard times.

She probably wasn't buying them, due to the comment about "collateral". It sounds like what I believe was called the "pigeon drop" at one time. Swindler announces she's found some diamonds. If they're not claimed within X days, she'll be able to keep them. But, alas, she has to rush to a vital appointment or something. Could Woman A hold them until she gets back? As a reward, Swindler will split to proceeds later on. But, just to ensure trust, Woman A should put up some money to Swindler - that's fair, right, since she's holding the valuable diamonds and could abscond with them, leaving Swindler with nothing? Then Swindler walks off with the "deposit", and Woman A is left with some glass chips.

It sounds ridiculous when written out, but a fast talking con artist can do well with it, I've heard.

I hear this is still pretty common in Las Vegas with casino chips - the con artist catches tourists on the sidewalk and says they have this handful of high-value casino chips to cash in, but they're not able to go into the casino themselves for various reasons, so would the tourist be willing to cash them?  And of course to leave their wallet/watch/etc as collateral?  The chips turn out to be counterfeit, the tourist gets stuck for passing counterfeit chips, and the con artist makes off with the tourist's money and valuables.

Isn't there a CSI episode about that?

[Iris]

I am managing two different apartment complexes right now due to another manager being out on leave. I have had this now at each complex so I know scammers are at work on a scam so old it should be drawing Social Security!

They call from a blocked phone number and ask for the model of the copier.  I asked him who he was from, at the first complex he said he was from "your copier supply company" when I said if he really was from them, then he would know the model of our copier already. He then told me to "Shut up you (C word)" the second time he went right to the profanity the second I asked who he was from.    Gotta love the idiots out there.

I've gotten that a couple of times.  If I'm in a bad mood, I just get off the phone as quickly as possible.  If I'm in a good mood, I say we have a "Corellian YT-1300 Stock Light" copier with an "Incom T-65" paper tray.

Maybe I'm being obtuse, but why do they want to know the model of your copier? Is it to get information to set up a future scam?

[blue2000]

I am managing two different apartment complexes right now due to another manager being out on leave. I have had this now at each complex so I know scammers are at work on a scam so old it should be drawing Social Security!

They call from a blocked phone number and ask for the model of the copier.  I asked him who he was from, at the first complex he said he was from "your copier supply company" when I said if he really was from them, then he would know the model of our copier already. He then told me to "Shut up you (C word)" the second time he went right to the profanity the second I asked who he was from.    Gotta love the idiots out there.

I've gotten that a couple of times.  If I'm in a bad mood, I just get off the phone as quickly as possible.  If I'm in a good mood, I say we have a "Corellian YT-1300 Stock Light" copier with an "Incom T-65" paper tray.

Maybe I'm being obtuse, but why do they want to know the model of your copier? Is it to get information to set up a future scam?

If I understand this scam correctly, they send you a shipment of ink for that specific copier and then argue that 'you ordered it' and therefore have to pay their massively inflated invoice. Some companies that don't know or care just pay the money.

[iridaceae]

It's to ship you a carton of ink cartridges and they make up the inventory sheet to make it look as if you ordered the (usually) substandard ink cartridges.

[Iris]

Ah, I see. Thanks guys!

[eltf177]

Story in the news this week that a woman gave $8000 to a stranger for some diamonds, to be used as collateral. The diamonds turned out to be glass. Now Woman A has gone to the media, asking for help identifying the con artist to get her money back because her husband is out of work and she and her children need this money.

The transaction occurred at a mall with multiple jewellers.

A lot of people are accusing Woman A of collaboration with Woman B in order to get the kind hearted public to give her money to replace the funds she may have had swindled from her.

I agree.  If they need the money so bad, why the ehell was she off buying diamonds from some guy at the mall?      I get that gems can be an investment but that just doesn't seem like a wise expenditure during hard times.

She probably wasn't buying them, due to the comment about "collateral". It sounds like what I believe was called the "pigeon drop" at one time. Swindler announces she's found some diamonds. If they're not claimed within X days, she'll be able to keep them. But, alas, she has to rush to a vital appointment or something. Could Woman A hold them until she gets back? As a reward, Swindler will split to proceeds later on. But, just to ensure trust, Woman A should put up some money to Swindler - that's fair, right, since she's holding the valuable diamonds and could abscond with them, leaving Swindler with nothing? Then Swindler walks off with the "deposit", and Woman A is left with some glass chips.

It sounds ridiculous when written out, but a fast talking con artist can do well with it, I've heard.

I hear this is still pretty common in Las Vegas with casino chips - the con artist catches tourists on the sidewalk and says they have this handful of high-value casino chips to cash in, but they're not able to go into the casino themselves for various reasons, so would the tourist be willing to cash them?  And of course to leave their wallet/watch/etc as collateral?  The chips turn out to be counterfeit, the tourist gets stuck for passing counterfeit chips, and the con artist makes off with the tourist's money and valuables.

Isn't there a CSI episode about that?

Yes, and the "mark's" pay for the counterfit chips with 'funny money'!

[WolfWay]

I got a call from a number I later googled as belonging to a call centre that offers loans.

Me: Hello?
Caller: Hi.
<pause>
Me: Can I help you?
Caller: Who is this?
Me: Who are you looking for?
Caller: I'm looking for Doctor.
Me: Doctor? Uh, that's a title, not a name. Do you have a name to go with that title?
Caller: No no, it's not a title, that's his first name.
Me: Nope, nobody here by that name.
Caller: Oh okay. <hangs up>

Now, I do have a PhD, so I am technically a doctor, but that's not my first name. I figure somebody sold my contact information onto the call centre, but put my title as my first name. Bonus points for getting my gender wrong too.

(For the record, I do live in a country where Doctor is a perfectly acceptable first name, e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Khumalo ).

[Jones]

I got a call from a number I later googled as belonging to a call centre that offers loans.

Me: Hello?
Caller: Hi.
<pause>
Me: Can I help you?
Caller: Who is this?
Me: Who are you looking for?
Caller: I'm looking for Doctor.
Me: Doctor? Uh, that's a title, not a name. Do you have a name to go with that title?
Caller: No no, it's not a title, that's his first name.
Me: Nope, nobody here by that name.
Caller: Oh okay. <hangs up>

Now, I do have a PhD, so I am technically a doctor, but that's not my first name. I figure somebody sold my contact information onto the call centre, but put my title as my first name. Bonus points for getting my gender wrong too.

(For the record, I do live in a country where Doctor is a perfectly acceptable first name, e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Khumalo ).

You haven't had any blue police boxes show up in your yard or living room lately, have you? 

[Margo]

I got a call from a number I later googled as belonging to a call centre that offers loans.

Me: Hello?
Caller: Hi.
<pause>
Me: Can I help you?
Caller: Who is this?
Me: Who are you looking for?
Caller: I'm looking for Doctor.
Me: Doctor? Uh, that's a title, not a name. Do you have a name to go with that title?
Caller: No no, it's not a title, that's his first name.
Me: Nope, nobody here by that name.
Caller: Oh okay. <hangs up>

Now, I do have a PhD, so I am technically a doctor, but that's not my first name. I figure somebody sold my contact information onto the call centre, but put my title as my first name. Bonus points for getting my gender wrong too.

(For the record, I do live in a country where Doctor is a perfectly acceptable first name, e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Khumalo ).

You haven't had any blue police boxes show up in your yard or living room lately, have you? 

I thought that, too. But in that case, the first name would be 'The', wouldn't it?

[Miss Misery]

Good grief, I could write a novel about the ridiculous amount of scam e-mails I get

* E-mails from the FBI (and sometimes Robert Mueller himself!) about my payment.

* John and Mary Smith won a bazillion dollars in the lottery and want to share it with me!

* Please open the attachment and confirm your Western Union payment.

* Dearest Beloved, I am the widow of an African prince and need help getting money out of the country....

* Hi,i'm heather and saw yourpics!you are sssooo cute!wana chat wit me?

* Earn a doctorate degree online!

* Save 80% on C1al!$ and V1agRa!!!!

[staceym]

I am managing two different apartment complexes right now due to another manager being out on leave. I have had this now at each complex so I know scammers are at work on a scam so old it should be drawing Social Security!

They call from a blocked phone number and ask for the model of the copier.  I asked him who he was from, at the first complex he said he was from "your copier supply company" when I said if he really was from them, then he would know the model of our copier already. He then told me to "Shut up you (C word)" the second time he went right to the profanity the second I asked who he was from.    Gotta love the idiots out there.

  I actually had a guy call me back and call me a female dog when I wouldn't play nice and give him the model number

Our faxes come electronically to my email box and I dispurse them; so every once in a while I still see the "I am the desposed King of (name your country)" and need your help and will give you millions in return faxes


and here is sort of one; I can't remember the whole conversation or exact wording; but this happened about two weeks ago.

first of all, I went on line and ordered an "As Seen on TV Item"  - yeah I know; but I figured it wasn't that expensive and if it doesn't work oh well.  So, anyway about two weeks ago I started getting calls on my cell phone from an 866 number; for two days I didn't answer (and they called 7 times per day  ) so I figured the next day if they call I will answer, but answer angrily like "yeah, what do you want".  So, they do call and that is how I answered; and it is someone from that company thanking me for ordering the thingamajig and to thank you we want to send you a $50 (I think) gift card and some other things..  Now, I don't know why if they want to send it to me; they didn't just send it to me instead of calling, so it sounded off to me; so I told her no thanks and she said oh, but its blah, blah blah..and I said no thanks I don't want it, I only want what I ordered..she got silent and then said "okay, I'll put you down as a no" and I said right and hung up. 

kinda funny, that last week I got an email from the company that my item is on backorder

[MandiC76]

I am managing two different apartment complexes right now due to another manager being out on leave. I have had this now at each complex so I know scammers are at work on a scam so old it should be drawing Social Security!

They call from a blocked phone number and ask for the model of the copier.  I asked him who he was from, at the first complex he said he was from "your copier supply company" when I said if he really was from them, then he would know the model of our copier already. He then told me to "Shut up you (C word)" the second time he went right to the profanity the second I asked who he was from.    Gotta love the idiots out there.

How ironic is it that as I was reading this post, I got one of these calls? (just minus the profanity)

[Ms_Cellany]

We put a large desk up on Craiglist. I got an email asking if it was still available; I replied that it was, and got this back:

"Thanks for getting back to me, I appreciate it and just to let you
  know I'm okay with the condition, the price and I'm ready for the
  purchase . I would have really loved to come for the inspection but
  due to my work frame it just won't fit in my schedule but more
  pictures will be deeply appreciated. My mode of payment will be by
  Check and it will be send via courier service which will be delivered
  to you between 1-3days. I'll be responsible for the pick-up besides
  the movers/pick up money will be included with your payment so as to
  avoid delay and to enable movers to schedule an appropriate time for
  the pick-up at your location after the check is been cashed as I have
  other properties to be moved alongside yours. Kindly get back to me
  with your full name, mailing address and phone number so as to make
  out the payment to you ASAP. Kind Regards"

After staring at it for a while, I Googled the name and she's in Seattle.  I finally replied that we prefer to deal in person and in cash, thanks for inquiring.

[Shalamar]

Gadzooks!  That person must be related to the guy who wanted to buy my wedding china.  He was moving out of province, but he just HAD to have my china (because, as you know, when you're moving to a completely different part of the world, the first item on your agenda is to transport a bunch of breakables).   Alas, he'd already closed her bank accounts, but if I'd give him my banking info, he'd electronically transfer all of my money to me.  Wow!  It must be my lucky day!   

When I said "Sorry, I only deal in cash", he responded indignantly "What's the matter?  Are you afraid I'll rip you off?"  I said "'Afraid'?  No.  I'm POSITIVE that you'll rip me off, given half a chance."  I didn't hear anything more after that.

[Miss Misery]

I think you all will find this amusing: 10 Great Scam Baiting Operations