OK the newest scam I have come across now is to use the TDD phone network to try and scam a Vendor out of his money.

I get several emails a day from people wanting to buy diesel parts, always the same old crud, "don't figure in shipping costs I will have my representative pick them up" to be paid by phony cashiers checks etc.......

Well today they hit an all time low, they called me through the TDD network so they could talk to me without using their voice. Probably from Nigeria or some where else that propagates these scams.

For those that have not experienced a TDD call, an Operator calls you and reads the callers type written questions and then you respond and the operator types your reply back. This is a WONDERFUL tool for the Deaf to help them communicate in this world.

I am saddened and angered that it would be used in such a manner to attempt to fool a person into thinking that the caller was handicapped rather than a thief

I knew right away that it was phony because they were asking for the same thing I saw in the phony emails the last couple of days. The TDD Operator was real enough, nice lady just trying to help a person to communicate and an unwitting participant in a scam attempt.

They wanted to purchase Caterpillar products which I do not sell and when I said so they were insistent they would pay my fee if I helped them get what they needed.

Obviously they can call ANY Caterpillar Dealer if they are legit, they do not have to add a middle man to the deal, but then they would not be able to pull off their scam.

Geesh I am seeing red right now, nothing lower than these folks that will use another persons suffering to steal money.

 

That is pretty low. I had someone try a scam like that on my wife a while back. We had the check run before we tried to cash or deposit it it came back bad and BofA is running an investigtion. What a bunch of low lifes.

 

Oh Lary, ding ding ding!!

I don't know if you remember when I was selling my old Ford, I got a scam like this from you guessed it, Nigeria, but with obviously more money at hand. I recieved 3 of these blasted calls, dang relay services. However, after the third time the TDD manager came on the line and informed me of the guys obvious suspicious activity and told me the number(s) will be blocked from their database. Its becoming way too familiar now...at least you can tell by their crappy writing, the relay services repeat word for word, no matter how it sounds.


Both of my parents are deaf and mute, so I am very aware of the importance of these relay services. It also angers me that ppl like these scammers would abuse these services. Good thing is technology has played its part and now you don't have to have a third party to communicate now, as long as you have a good internet connection and some video relay equipment the hearing impaired can have a conversation just like any other person without the fees or risks of eavesdropping.

 

Here's one more new one to watch for. They rely on you being complacent with your phone bill, if caught, just a clerical error on their part. This E-mail was forwarded by a professional investigator I know, I am not accusing AT&T myself, and if they are not in direct support of the scam, their business practice seems to facilitate it.

There is a new or at least newer scam out and about. It is called cramming. AT+T seems to be one of the main phone companies helping these scammers. Obscure phone companies send a bill to AT+T saying that you signed up for various phone services. AT+T bills you. The obscure telephone company makes money by hoping that a percentage of charges get paid, etc. I took a complaint 58-2462-08 involving this. I called the "obscure" phone companies and one of them would not even give me their business address. Others were not proficient in the Engilsh language. One service rep stated whomever signed up may have accidentally typed in the wrong phone number. If you have AT+T, I would reccommend calling them and saying you do not want to be billed for 3rd party telephone company charges. To make matters more fun, the billing for these scammer companies is done by Enhanced Services Billing Inc., a separate company that "is innocent and just does the billing." NOT! Watch your phone bills carefully. Some may even do small 2 or 3 dollar charges in hopes you don't see it.

Fraudulent companies to look out for:
SBO-Online, MYIPRODUCTS IMAIL, Intelicom, Enhanced Services Billing, ILD Teleservices, FAMILY CONTACT911.com, and YCP Network LLC.

 

I hate the scammers also but some people are to trusting. my dad and I both were scammed on ebay. I was able to get my money refunded but unfortunately my dad did not. he is trusting and I tried to talk him into paypal but he would not listen he is old school and just takes peoples word

 

I put a lot of ads up on craigslist and I usually get 2-3 or more of these scam emails on each one, it really gets old, so now I put in a nasty little reply to them, I know it does no good, but it sure makes me feel better when I hit the send button. It really is getting out of hand and I can't really see anyone falling for the nigerian cashiers check/shipper scams, but I guess some people are overly trusting/gullible.

 

The run in we had the lady shipped a legit check. Once we ran the check it came back to a company that went out of business years ago. I knew something was up when the lady trying to buy the pice was supposedly in san diego but when the check came it was post marked Florida and the check was from a new york address. I will not ship anything without cash in hand first.

 

What really angers me about those scammers is that I have massive troubles doing business with US companies and individuals because of them. A lot of companies simply delete any request from me, or do ignore it for fear of being scammed.
Sometimes it makes me think that this is a kind of cyber-terrorism or cyber-warfare. I don't get my goods, can't do my business, and the US vendor does also not have the sale... so both sides lose.
And pretending to be handicapped is yet another low in their methods..

A sorry state of the world.

AlpineRAM

(Send cash to my Nigerian address and wish very hard for a billion US$ in return you will receive a lesson that God intended you to have sincerely Nabugnassingbe Yuhaftobeljeveevrywordisai Ex Minister of criminal intents sitting on approx 500 billions that I need to get out of the country with you earning 25% provision - I'll send youa check on this amount and my shipping agent picks up the grotty item you sell and the 4 billion US$ the amount of the check was too high. )

 

Alpine, that's not why we delete your e-mails... the real reason is... oops, almost let the cat out of the bag.

 

I'm with you Larry, that's a serious low to fall to. I work with blind & deaf volunteering,and this is a massive disservice.

Now - those parts they wanted? Ever consider what they want to do with them? Likley not repair a broken tractor. How about all those fake parts we've hear about being produced and making their way in here? Hmmm...ever wonder how they got a hold of them in the first place...hmmm. Just a guess, but maybe it's true?

 

You might be on to something there.......

 

Here's another one for you..

If you dial a 1-800 number from a pay phone the owner of the 1-800 number gets hit with a connectivity fee (I think it's about 32 cents) the 1-800 company reimburses these fee's to the pay phone owners.. no big deal right? Well there is people that get multiple pay phones set up in their house, then tie them into a computer with an autodialer program.... I saw where one guy was creating 12K a month in connectivity fees..

Only in America

 

ILD Teleservices is scamming the school district I work at for about $50 a month. Each month the billing description is diffrent. This months was called credt protection. Kinda ironic. Verizon refuses to stop it or do anything about it. They claimed they did but I just found that they relocated where the charges show up to a page deeper into the monthly phone bill. I guess they think maybe I won't notice it if it's on a diffrent page. They've been stealing monthly for about 4 years that I have documented but untill our district lawyers decide they've stolen enough to make it worth thier while to go after them, it looks like they will continue to steal $$$ each month from what is supposed to go to childrens education. $50 X 12 X 4 = $2400 they have stolen so far.

 

Scams are like a virus on the internet. They spread fast and prey on unsuspecting individuals and will take them for as much as they can get.

I had one lady report she was out approx $5000 to person who claimed to like her and wanted to visit her but needed the air ticket.

When he didn't show on the date that was said, he told her he was not allowed leave unless he shows that he had money for living while visiting. Like anyone cares if you eat while your on vacation.

Bottom line he used her for what he could get and disappeared like the thief that he was. Play on her heart.

BEWARE!!

 

Well im out 490 bucks from a guy on here that quit responding to me. So this sucks either way!!!