Message scam

[forrestmount]

I think part of the issue is that the scammers do not live in the country that the crime is being committed.

I have personally been exposed to some international high value electronics that were stolen in the Netherlands brought into the country old sold here.

Because of the high value these items are tracked. I gave the police the original owners details the Australian pawn shop buying an selling and the current location and owner of the stolen goods.

No charges were laid because of the international border and different laws.

The local pawn shop must know the items are stolen he buys as we have tracked 6 different transactions over two years. Approx cost is $300-350k. He is still in business. The crimes occurred overseas.

Probably the more concerning is the items are being stolen by organised crime gangs but they don’t prosecute as the evidence is in Australia.

When there is hard documented traceable evidence and this occurs I don’t see scammers being stopped any time soon.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[Mobyturns]

scammer education (mcafee.com)

Hope this helps - describes the common scam mechanisms.

[Bucky]

Border Force. They have so far intercepted 10 parcels addressed to me that contain illegal substances. ATO advises that my TFN has been hacked. Services Australia has noted issues with my bank account. There has also been a load of packages awaiting further delivery information. Not to mention a further load of undelivered text messages that I need to respond to. Federal police will issue a warrant for my arrest if I don’t contact them. I have so far won 50 iPhone 12s. Most department stores have gifts waiting for me. A number of billionaires are offering me millions. A number of females want to share their private photos with me. My web cam has captured photo of me pleasuring myself over online and they will be sent to all my friends unless I share some of the previously said millions with them. Only thing I haven’t received is a text from Craig Kelly.

[verawood]

If I answer the phone and no one speaks almost instantly I hang up.
Usually a sign of something suss.
Never had anyone ring back and/or complain I hung up on them.
So I figure I just hang up on the hanguppable ones.

[Mobyturns]

I think part of the issue is that the scammers do not live in the country that the crime is being committed.

I have personally been exposed to some international high value electronics that were stolen in the Netherlands brought into the country old sold here.

Because of the high value these items are tracked. I gave the police the original owners details the Australian pawn shop buying an selling and the current location and owner of the stolen goods.

No charges were laid because of the international border and different laws.

The local pawn shop must know the items are stolen he buys as we have tracked 6 different transactions over two years. Approx cost is $300-350k. He is still in business. The crimes occurred overseas.

Probably the more concerning is the items are being stolen by organised crime gangs but they don’t prosecute as the evidence is in Australia.

When there is hard documented traceable evidence and this occurs I don’t see scammers being stopped any time soon.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Well over 25 years ago I came across two Watts Microptic Theodolite's in a local pawn shop window which as a surveyor instantly drew my suspicions. I contacted a number of key surveyors and educators around the country to alert them to the "opportunity."

Now finding a Watts Microptic Theodolite for sale at the time was like finding genuine rocking horse $hit! Two for sale, absolutely incredible! In the same location unheard of!!! In a local pawn shop absolutely incredulous! The pawn shop price - insanely low, considering their rarity and value. Very amateurish at best.

[Mobyturns]

Only thing I haven’t received is a text from Craig Kelly.

Could be arranged for a small introduction fee.

and I guess for the appropriate initial investment a Nigerian Prince, or a trusted, credentialed high ranking official will share a very generous percentage of their wealth with you for your trustworthiness, honesty, confidence and vast experience with international monetary transfers. I guess the scammers have now moved onto Afghani officials ...

[taz01]

Just got copied into this message from a Chinese friend that made me smile and is quite appropriate to this chat:

Just received a scam call saying from Chinese embassy found I was involved in a criminal case and will be deported from Australia in 2 hours,

I just launched and told them appreciate their help to get me out here, I want to go back China to see my parents since last year but haven’t found any proper waiver reason.

[rrich]

There has to be a word that is used when reporting illegal actions to authorities falls upon deaf ears.

I have given up complaining. I wrote a total of 9 hard copy letters to various agencies. I got three responses. Two were basically F Y very much and one that said to go to my local authorities. Shortly there after I encountered two of our local finest having lunch, in uniform. I explained why I was annoying them during lunch. We all had a good laugh.

[Chris Parks]

I gave Mrs. P a new sim card today to change her phone number, that should slow them down. She only has about 10 contacts so changing it is no big hassle and ALDI cards don't cost much. I had one some time ago and told him he had rung NSW police and he hung up for some reason. My mobile never gets them because I don't use it very much but the land line copped a few before I put an international block on it which I had to remove a while ago. Since I restored international dialling for business reasons I haven't had any so they must have got the message.

[Mobyturns]

I think part of the issue is that the scammers do not live in the country that the crime is being committed.

The dumbest part is that the major Telco's have also located their call centers in those same locations using "offshore partners."

Hopefully their "offshore partners" staff / contractors do not work in both the Telco's call centers and the scammer's "boiler rooms."

Unfortunately there is mounting anecdotal evidence showing correlations between a legit interaction with a Telco and an increase in scam activity for the unfortunate customer. Proving that - good luck, getting any action ...... F A C.

[markharrison]

I gave Mrs. P a new sim card today to change her phone number, that should slow them down. She only has about 10 contacts so changing it is no big hassle and ALDI cards don't cost much. I had one some time ago and told him he had rung NSW police and he hung up for some reason. My mobile never gets them because I don't use it very much but the land line copped a few before I put an international block on it which I had to remove a while ago. Since I restored international dialling for business reasons I haven't had any so they must have got the message.

Honestly; changing your phone number will have little to zero impact on scam phone calls or text messages.

Most of the scammers are targeting phone numbers randomly. There is no cost to them for ringing numbers at random. No answer, no charge. Text messages in bulk can be bought in single digit cents per message from legitimate providers; and even fractions of a cent from less scrupulous providers.

These actions are performed by software and that is why there is a delay between answering the call and a real live human/scammer talking to you. Real call centres for legitimate companies use the same software but they are obviously working from their own real data.

Text messaging is even less cost as no carbon based scammer is required. If only one in a million are fooled they win.

[Lappa]

Only thing I haven’t received is a text from Craig Kelly.

I’m the lucky one. Got a text from him last week re Clive’s party.

I don’t answer my landline but have a message which states “Due to the high number of scam calls we will not answer the phone. Ring us on our mobiles. If you don’t have our mobile numbers, leave a message and we’ll get back to you.”

Phone calls have dropped appreciably.

[Chris Parks]

Honestly; changing your phone number will have little to zero impact on scam phone calls or text messages.

Most of the scammers are targeting phone numbers randomly. There is no cost to them for ringing numbers at random. No answer, no charge. Text messages in bulk can be bought in single digit cents per message from legitimate providers; and even fractions of a cent from less scrupulous providers.

These actions are performed by software and that is why there is a delay between answering the call and a real live human/scammer talking to you. Real call centres for legitimate companies use the same software but they are obviously working from their own real data.

Text messaging is even less cost as no carbon based scammer is required. If only one in a million are fooled they win.

I'll let you know the result. We don't routinely use our mobile phones like most users so I think this may help. I for instance make less than $15 of phone calls in a year and Mrs. P most probably less.

[Handyjack]

Random call to laugh about.
Today one of my work phones rings at lunch time. Very strange as it is an after hours on call phone - only about half a dozen people would legitimately have the number.

Its the NBN ringing and you are about to loose your phone and internet connection - sorry I stopped listening. Are you for real! I am not the one to talk to and I do not think you are really going to cut off the phone and internet to a major medical group.

If there was a person at the other end as apposed to a recording I would have asked what their emergency was and which hospital. They normally hang up quickly.

[derekcohen]

This is my favourite spam story ...



Enjoy!

Regards from Perth

Derek