It is just sickening to read all of these scams. I got a text today from Wells Fargo saying that our accounts have been hacked and to click the link provided. Yeah, right…
Seriously, I am to the point that if I get any email or text saying to click, I’m going to just log in to the official website and check it out there. However, easier said than done.
A year or two ago, I received a LinkedIn message (seemingly) from a Big Four accounting firm partner with whom I used to work closely years ago, saying that he had a proposal he wanted to discuss, attaching a PDF. It was so realistic, and it was someone I worked with. It totally seemed legit. I have no idea what kind of mischief happened when I clicked on the PDF. AFAIK, no cash is missing, or charges have been rung up, and it has been a while. I am hoping things are ok.
I think I accessed it on a Chromebook, which, apparently (and I say that merely citing Google marketing) are not susceptible to viruses.
I met a man in around 2003 at a networking/job search group. He and I connected on LinkedIn. I don’t think I’ve seen him since. Today I got an email from “him,” asking me to download a PDF. Yeah, right.
I got something like that too, but it my case it was the billing company that my Doctor’s office used and it was a couple of days after my appointment…
Three texts in a row asking to confirm my Walmart delivery. The scammers are using popular retailer’s and service providers’ names in their text carpet-bombing campaigns because chances are high the recipient has one of those accounts and might click on the link.
A few days ago, I got a text telling me the code on my Costco receipt was a winner. Umm - don’t have a Costco account and never shopped there in my life.
It’s not surprising that we’re getting these kinds of texts and emails. They send them out to millions of people, knowing they just have to fool a few of us to make some money.
I got a new iPhone and it seems like I’ve been getting more spam calls than ever. I have a Nomorobo app on it and activated it, but still getting calls.
Also, iPhones have an option in the phone settings (no app needed) to “silence unknown callers”. It will send any calls from numbers that aren’t in your contacts straight to voicemail - you just get a silent alert about it. I added a warning to my outgoing message that if you need to reach me, you need to leave a voicemail, and I try to remember to turn it off when I’m expecting a call from a number I don’t yet know (home repair, medical providers, etc.).
I still get a few voicemails with friendly reminders that my car warranty is about to expire or someone wants to buy my house right now, but I can deal with them on my own time; they don’t interrupt what I’m doing.
I chuckle when the heavily accented pre-recorded message tells me that if I don’t call this number to pay my taxes, the IRS was going to “call the cops”. Yeah, the IRS would speak that way…
Earlier this evening I received a call from a young man, occasional client. He has had many calls and requests for a telephone interview about a company he worked at for a few weeks. He traced the IPs and they were from a government office.
I suggested he only do the interview in local police station, with a lawyer present, and call FBI. Etc. this man has been hospitalized and lost jobs cuz he has paranoid Sz, but he laughed and said I was worse. We shall see.
I don’t know if this belongs here or its own separate thread.
This is about vaccine scammers:
One couple I know of (in FL) who are, and intend to remain unvaccinated, faked/forged vaccine docs. so that they could take their boat to the Bahamas without having to provide a test before arrival or quarantine upon arrival. While I do not personally know this couple (they are neighbors of a friend), I was still infuriated.
Then there’s the young man I know who faked ‘healthcare worker’ docs. early in the year to obtain vaccines for himself and his entire family at a time when nobody in our area was eligible, except for essential workers. When the young man’s mom told me, with such pride, how she and they had received their vaccines, I cut off contact. I haven’t spoken to her since January.
It is kind of amazing that in Jan and Feb people were pushing and shoving their way to the front of the line to get vaccinated while others cannot be dragged there now. I knew a lot of people getting vaccinations that I didn’t feel deserved to be at the front of the line. Two friends work for a nursing home company, but they were working from home and never went to the facilities. I wouldn’t have objected so much if they had received the vaccines at the facilities but they got them at pharmacies. They were ‘entitled’ to them, but it didn’t seem fair. We also had a lot of teachers literally rushing through traffic to get the last vaccines available at a mass site even though they were working from home for the semester.
We have a vaccination card here without a name on it. My mother went through a drive through clinic and they never put a name on it, just handed her the blank card. At the second shot, they put a sticker on it. Maybe I can sell in on ebay?
Yesterday my Facebook account was hacked and before I knew it, the hacker had gone on and changed the email account associated with the account (removing my email) The only way to fix it is to log on. I can’t log on because I don’t have access to the new email/password. Facebook will send me a code - to the new email.
So that’s it for me an facebook. I don’t think it is worth it to open a new account and rebuild it with adding all my contacts again. So long high school reunion page, college friends page.