Scams Thread

**Intrepid_Timer** · 12-04-2009, 01:41 PM

With all the scams going on, thought it would be nice to start a "scams thread" so we can inform each other of these atrocities. I'll start:

Be careful of this holiday scam. Police say that the gang usually is comprised of four members, one adult and three younger ones.
While the three younger ones, all appearing sweet and innocent,divert their "mark" (or intended target) with a show of friendliness,the fourth -- the eldest -- sneaks in from behind the person's backto expertlyrifle through his or her pocket or purse for any valuables.

Be on the alert!!!

Scroll down to see a photo from a recent attack that was captured on film...

This is being called the AFLAC Scam

**Buster** · 12-04-2009, 01:51 PM

This happening at Targets??

**Show-me** · 12-04-2009, 01:53 PM

Mike,

Image did not show up.

**grandma** · 12-04-2009, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by Intrepid_Investor

Scroll down to see a photo ...

This is being called the AFLAC Scam

No Image !!

**Intrepid_Timer** · 12-04-2009, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by Show-me

Mike,

Image did not show up.

Hmmm, image showed up on my end? I don't seem to be able to save the pic for some reason. Grrrrrrrrrrrr

**CountryBoy** · 12-04-2009, 02:27 PM

Maybe... the thread is really the scam.... kinda like...made ya look!

Way to go Mike.

**tsptalk** · 12-04-2009, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by Intrepid_Investor

Hmmm, image showed up on my end? I don't seem to be able to save the pic for some reason. Grrrrrrrrrrrr

Do you have a link to the image / page with the image? (or maybe it was an email - might not work that way).

But if you can PM or email it to me and I'll insert it into your post.

**Frixxxx** · 12-04-2009, 04:19 PM

Don't bother. JOKE!

http://www.jumbojoke.com/aflac_street_scam_alert.html

**Intrepid_Timer** · 12-04-2009, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by Frixxxx

Don't bother. JOKE!

http://www.jumbojoke.com/aflac_street_scam_alert.html

Thanks Frixxxx! Yes it was a joke. Not all scams have to be bad..........

**Frixxxx** · 12-04-2009, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by Intrepid_Investor

Thanks Frixxxx! Yes it was a joke. Not all scams have to be bad..........

I loved it!

I think I ruined it for everyone though! Sorry!

**coolhand** · 12-10-2009, 06:02 PM

Here's a very real and widespread scam that's not getting much press. I know about this first hand, so pay attention. Especially if you have a cell phone.

Several months ago I was reviewing my cell phone bill and noticed something that didn't make sense. First, let me say I've got a family plan and at the time had a lot of bells and whistles in that plan. My bill was never the same month to month as I was being charged for downloaded data at a given rate. Not to mention separate charges for text messages, which my daughter occasionally used.

What I noticed was some charges had begun to appear for "premium" service text messaging. I had no idea what they were, but most were not cheap. The bill I was looking at had four of them at $9.99 each and were for a received text message that "appeared" to be something that either I or my family were subscribed to. I started digging into it and found out that there were companies making a business of sending unsolicited text messages to all of my family plan cell phones and billing them to my provider (in this case Sprint).

I then got out my previous bills and saw that this scam had started several months before. First with one charge, then two or three the next month, and now I was up to five. I didn't even realize this was happening or could happen. How can Sprint be charging me for something I didn't ask for.

The short answer is, a third party can and often do bill to your cell phone company. The cell phone company does not ask questions, nor were they required to. So as long I didn't notice these charges, they kept coming in with more frequency.

To say the least I was incensed. To shorten this story, Sprint removed every false charge from my billing for every month it occured, so in the end it didn't cost me anything. But be aware, some of these charges are more innocuous as they may on by for .20 as was the case from one entity that was billing me from "Guatemala".

I also checked around on the internet and saw that many people were experiencing the same thing.

It's interesting that the phone company's are keeping mum about this. The service rep I spoke to did not question the validity of my claims, but proceeded to remove them from my bill. They went out of the way to make me happy. She made it sound as though this was an unusual situation, but I got the impression it was rehearsed feedback. They know this is going on, but for their own reasons staying quiet about it.

So check your cell phone bill very carefully. I put a block on every number that was billing my account and so far have not had another incident.