blog
Out of context: Reply #71946
- Started
- Last post
- 76,746 Responses
- mg333
OMG... long story short... my stepdad fell for a financial scam in the past couple weeks that resulted in him missing a multitude of red flags:
- someone calling from Apple about a problem with his phone
- Being asked to install remote viewer software on his phone and my moms
- Being asked to download cash transfer apps
- Staying on the phone with this guy who was trying to "fix" a problem on his phone for close to six hours yesterday. WTF...Discovered yesterday that they guy transferred / stole all the money in their checking account at the time - about $7,500. My stepdad has enough stress these days with some headache issues, a busy job, etc. and he feels like an idiot. I feel awful for them.
It goes to show how vulnerable older people are to scams like this. Me - I'm 42 and well aware of all these scams and exploits and such, I was just cringing the entire time my mom was describing it to me. Kind of a a "how can you be this dumb / but people fall for this every single day" thing.
They guy transferred money mostly in $500 increments, but there was a single transfer of $2,300 and some in between. This was all yesterday.
They went to the bank to talk to someone there, at least they're with a big bank that can help them. I went through some fraud issues over the summer with someone filing unemployment in my name, and attempting to take out a small business loan in my name - both of which were caught by the states where it was attempted, and luckily my company provides identity theft protection, so I had someone that could walk me through all the steps, police reports, etc.
But older people, man, they're just aimless out there as to how to deal with these things.
The red flags though... my stepdad is a smart guy and I cannot believe he took the bait, and so many times.
- WowNBQ00
- That sucksGnash
- My FiL fell for the ‘your computer has a virus’ shtick. Thankfully, he called me because he forgot the admin password on his computerGnash
- Thieves are disgusting. I'm sorry this happened to your FiL, notwithstanding red flags.Nairn
- @mg33 how did you explained him what happened and how to avoid these things?
they aren't dumb just not educated in these things, and i don't want to sound like******** - an asshole but in some ways it was your fault too.********
- "older people" is a loose term, like calling "food" food. The range is massive.
I think it's technologically ept AND inept people. Feel terrible for the later.ideaist - Apple Care********
- sted, I can't really follow but are you saying this is in part my fault? My stepdad is 68 and a smart guy; if I'd been there listening I'd have been like WTF???mg33
- ... but I don't really start up convos about the latest financial scams with him.mg33
- He knows now, that's for sure. After the fact, I know, but as he cataloged the red flags after the fact, he's never going to make those mistakes again.mg33
- we are the ones who have to tell them about these things, what to avoid, how to give out information, and what access means.********
- hehe and thats interesting because that is exactly how i made my mother to understand these things. i just started to tell her stories, how these things work********
- and there is always a good kidboga video
https://www.youtube.… :)******** - *Kitboga :)********
- Tell them to hire you; rate $150 / hour. Family rate? $140.
L
O
L
Z
!ideaist - it really sucks, hope their bank will give them their money backBennn
- I got my identity stolen 2 years ago and it was very stressful. My bank gave me back my money, but it was a full month of calls and papers and stress.Bennn
- social engineeringrenderedred