Graphic of flames under "Scam Protection and Videos"

Scams: 8 Steps to Protect Yourself and Others with Videos

Posted on by da-AL

Graphic of flames under "Scam Protection and Videos"

“This is Alex, calling you from the refunds department…”

“This is the Federal Bureau of Investigation. You must call us back…”

“This is the Internal Revenue Service. You must call us back…”

“Your computer is dead. You must telephone us to fix it and recover your info…”

Ever receive such a message or one pop up on your screen? Have you been scammed or know someone who has?

A computer engineer based out of Ireland who goes by an alias, Jim Browning is a true hero. When he learned someone close to him was swindled out of money, he got curious. The next time scammers called him, warned him that his money and his computer were in danger, he turned the tables on the thugs!

First he got into their computers. Then he took control of their office cameras. He continues to record of their actions, online and physically. When he can, he warns their prey before they lose their life savings.

This post is a departure from my usual bookish, artsy, cooking, travel, pet-loving type. When I read of this information in AARP Bulletin, I wanted you to know about it — and to pass it along to everyone you know who might be vulnerable to scammers or who knows others who could fall victim. Those over 60-years-old are five times more likely to be hit. Here the New York Times also covered these types of crimes in depth.

DIY: Protect Yourself & Others

If anyone calls to say you — or anyone else is — in grave danger unless you mail cash or gift cards (and most likely even instructs you to not discuss it with anyone):

  1. Hang up on them. If they left a message, erase it.
  2. Definitely don’t call them back.
  3. Never, under any circumstance, mail cash or gift cards.
  4. If there’s some remote chance you believe they might be legit, ask them to first mail something to you.
  5. Never deal with people who want your money and prohibit you from telling your bank, your store, or anyone you know.

If your computer flashes alarm lights, locks up, or beeps at you while a message urges you to telephone a number:

  1. Don’t touch your phone!
  2. Instead, turn off your computer, wait a few minutes, then turn it back on.
  3. If it isn’t as good as new, take it to a reputable repair place such as a computer store.

Below, in four video segments, Jim shares what he learned. For more on him and his findings, check out his YouTube channel.

 

 

 

What do you know about scammers? Have you been scammed or know someone who has?

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Published by da-AL

Happiness Between Tails speaks to and from the heart. It connects lovers — of pets, authors, books — and of my still-unreleased novels, “Flamenco + the Sitting Cat” and “Tango + the Sitting Cat.” The stories are my love letters to all who fear they're too odd, too damaged, too old, too whatever to find happiness. ContactdaAL@gmail.com • BuyMeACoffee.com/SupportHBT

49 thoughts on “Scams: 8 Steps to Protect Yourself and Others with Videos”

  3. Telephone scams are not happening so often in Denmark. The only scavengers are sales persons, who try to sell you something. I don’t take any call where my display says “unknown number”, “private number” or a number that I don’t know. I check that number first. In most cases they are sales people, so I block the number. Basically, unrequested sales calls are illegal in Denmark, and when you mention that to them, they won’t call you again, but I don’t want to go into a dialogue all the time.

    Per email we have funny stories, especially the nice Nigerian gentlemen, who want to share their inheritance with us and need our account data … 😀 😀
    We also had that scheme with Saudi Arabian princes or other rich people, who had to get money out of their respective countries and needed “help”.

    Some people are very good at faking others’ emails, like for example DHL’s or even Paypal’s, but the email address is usually a dead giveaway. They tell you that your account has been blocked because your personal data seem to be at fault, pleas click HERE to correct your data … 😀 😀

    I basically don’t click on anything in an email, but log in on the website.

    Somebody from Latvia (the email address was Polish though) wanted to trick us when we tried to sell our motorbike trailer. He said that we should pay the transport company, and then he would pay us the price for the trailer and the transport cost when he got the trailer. Haha! My husband wouldn’t play the game, and the guy did not give up so easily, acting all offended that we suspected him to be a swindler, and he claimed to be a good Christian person etc., very entertaining. Later on I googled his name and found out that he was indeed a notorious swindler who acted under several names, but always similar to each other. He was working together with Western Union, so maybe that should be a warning sign as well.

    The tricks you are describing above, seem very obvious swindles to me. Looks like they work more with fear in America. In Denmark they work mainly with people’s greed. Just pay a little amount as a bank fee, and then you get a large amount … 😉 … Somebody turned that around on a swindler as well, saying that his bank did not want to take part in the deal, whatever it was, and he needed them to just transfer a small amount to show their goodwill … it seems that they did that, fell into their own trap.

    It is a pity that illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in court … making their faces public should help though. I mean somebody must recognize them as a family member or neighbour.

    Liked by 3 people

  4. What a coincidence that I am reading this post today. I was scammed yesterday by a person claiming to be from a particular company, interviewed me using skype messaging, and sent me an offer letter. I grew suspicious when they were in a hurry to get me to sign the offer letter and send it back to them. When I looked closer, the letter was not sent from an office id. It had the company’s name as part of the gmail address. Luckily I did not share any important details or my signature with them. It was a scary experience and I am still so mad at myself for falling prey to such a scam. I feel I should have known better than to fall prey to such a scam.

    Liked by 3 people

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