Amazon Prime scammers

[Mups]

Beware Amazon Prime members,  as there are more scammers using Prime now.

They send you a message saying your annual membership is going up,  and if you don't want to do this,  click on a 'Cancel' button.

Once you click, they get your account number and your details.

Here's a quote about it:

The fake emails claim your Amazon Prime subscription will automatically renew at an unexpected price (in the UK the service costs £95 a year or £8.99 a month).

The messages sometimes include personal information gleaned from other sources in an attempt to appear legitimate. They may also include a "cancel subscription" button that clicks through to a fake Amazon login page.

*

Swines these people, aren't they.

[GrannyMac]

Absolute nasty ............ individuals. Ta for the heads up 👍🏽

[klondike]

One way to avoid using scam websites that requires little thought is to use a password manager. They will only log you in on sites that have the correct domain name. They also lets you use a unique complex password on every website so should one get hacked it won't give away any other logins.

I use Bitwarden free for personal use with no nagging to upgrade - https://bitwarden.com/pricing/

[Scrumpy]

I have received the email about my Amazon Prime price going up..

  Fortunately I am not a (curious) person so it was ignored like so many other emails..

[Mups]

Well done, Scrumpy.   

[klondike]

Just came across this on Quora about phone scammers....

Answered by
Tim Sjåstad
Have you ever tried to annoy a scammer who called you? If so, what happened?
Absolutely. For a long time I just hung up on them, but eventually when they didn't stop calling, I decided to switch tactics.

The scammer would call from a Swedish number, but when you picked up the phone there would be a very noticeable delay of about 3 seconds before you were connected. I don't know exactly how it works, but I imagine they were using some service to spoof their phone number to conceal their origin and that was causing the delay.

Anyway, every time I picked up the phone and I noticed the delay, it gave me just enough time to get into character as Gupta the Microsoft tech support scammer.

I would answer the phone with a thick (fake) Indian accent and say "sir, you have reached Microsoft tech support how may I help you today?". The scammer would be confused at first and usually ask "what?" also in an Indian accent. I would then say something like "ah, I see from my end of the internet, sir, that your computer is full of virus. That is not good, sir. We will of course take care of this for you, all you have to do is open your internet bank"

At this point they usually launch into a string of insults and profanity, mixing Indian and English wildly before hanging up. I kept doing this, adding small variations for fun, like "why do you people keep hanging up on me? You called me!"

It went on for a week or so. Eventually they would start hanging up as soon as they heard my voice. I kept going. Another week or so passed and then the calls abruptly stopped.I imagine they added me to some kind of blacklist to save time.

So there you have it. Turn yourself into a huge waste of time and money for them and they will eventually leave you alone. Also you might get some laughs along the way and learn some new Indian insults.

If I accidentally answer I just hang up as I expect Scrumpy does too.

[Alex]

Thanks for the heads up on this 

[JBR]

One way to avoid using scam websites that requires little thought is to use a password manager. They will only log you in on sites that have the correct domain name. They also lets you use a unique complex password on every website so should one get hacked it won't give away any other logins.

I use Bitwarden free for personal use with no nagging to upgrade - https://bitwarden.com/pricing/

Done.  Thank you for this suggestion, though fortunately I have not yet received such messages.

[Ashy]

Seconded. I try to avoid answering calls from unrecognised numbers, but I usually keep the line open for a bit then hang up. Some of the scammers are recorded and they don't speak unless you do. 

[klondike]

I don't know how true it is but I read a reason for the sometimes dead calls is that there is a computer doing all the dialling and when they get a pickup the call is routed to one of the army of human scammers that is free. None free and it just hangs up after some preset delay.

If I pick up a call I usually say "hello" but with no name given so I've no idea if just keeping quiet stops them talking. If I've been dealing with a business or expect a doctor's call etc. I will pickup unknown or withheld numbers but usually ignore them. Double so if they are labelled "Suspected spam" or some business I've never encountered. On more than one occasion the number has been some sort of takeaway which may or may not be significant or offer an explanation except I've never had a genuine call from a takeaway so I'm not sure why they may call unless it's to say a meal is ready to collect. Usually they'd be pretty cold by the time I arrived though.

[Scrumpy]

A scammer once asked ' Am I speaking to Irene Smith'.?
'Yes'
'How are you today'?
'Not too good.. I passed away last night'

He didn't answer.. The line went dead.

[JBR]

A scammer once asked ' Am I speaking to Irene Smith'.?
'Yes'
'How are you today'?
'Not too good.. I passed away last night'

He didn't answer.. The line went dead.

Oh!  I must try that!


Yesterday at 04:27:41 PM

I use Bitwarden free for personal use with no nagging to upgrade - https://bitwarden.com/pricing/

I'm afraid I received some nagging to upgrade.  I have decided not to bother with it now.

[klondike]

They may point out options when you first install it but I never see any now. I used to use one called LastPass. I forget why I junked that but I think it was when they were bought out and went more commercial.