Scams like these

[Nemeca]

I got a text message about a govt issue yesterday and it told me to click on the link. I did click on it (yes, I know, but it was deliberate and there was a reason) and it took me to a seemingly perfect MyGov login page. I was never going to login there anyway, but I did notice down the bottom it had a website address like solima.com or something like that, which was a giveaway it was not good. I’m pretty good at spotting scammers after so many years, but this was actually a better one.

 

[Ade]

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Haven't checked up thread, but looks like the Qld police have arrested 3 people on romance fraud scheme, and some money recovered.
They even got evidence in red folders, and also some money left over.
So, it looks like if they put their minds onto it, they (the Aust police, both state and national), can make the right "moves" and this time, succeeded in getting the people they were looking for.
Imagine if they could nab these linkt fraudsters.
===
And had an sms, at 4.06am today, Thu, about a package that couldn't be delivered.
If they can't deliver, so be it, if it was kosher.

 

[Nemeca]

I sold my 13yo’s iPhone on eBay and duly sent it off. She was excited to use the sale proceeds to get a new phone but about a week later we received an eBay dispute notice telling us that the buyer said the phone was faulty. I asked my 13yo if it was faulty but she assured me that it was perfect. My understanding with these disputes is they always go in favour of the buyer so I was a bit stuck at this point. I don’t know why but I was then scrolling through Gumtree and there was our phone. How did I know? Well they had used my eBay photos so it was pretty obvious to me. The ad also said the phone was perfect. Was I mad? No, I was incandescent. If it was my phone I would have been irate but scamming a 13yo? That is just not on. Somehow I calmly rang the person, albeit with a heart rate about 160, and said I was interested in his advertised phone. I asked if it was in perfect working condition? Yes it was. Are you certain? Yes. Then I introduced myself, told him that it was actually my daughter’s phone and that I was recording this call (yes, I know). I then fibbed and told him my father in law was head of Victoria’s fraud squad (he is actually retired and was head of armed robbery) and that if he didn’t cancel the eBay dispute notice within 30 minutes I was handing everything over to my father in law. The dispute notice was cancelled within 12 minutes.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

For Nemeca, wonder what he/she will do with that phone now?

 

[JohnK]

For Nemeca, wonder what he/she will do with that phone now?

Try to sell and recover (some of) the money they paid for the phone.

I think I had similar chat here many years ago. Do not sell on eBay but sell on Gumtree where someone comes to pick up the goods, not posted to them as they can dispute there as well.

 

[Nemeca]

For Nemeca, wonder what he/she will do with that phone now?

Oh, as mentioned my daughter had looked after it so he could have still sold it on fairly easily and not lost anything. Hopefully he won’t keep running his little scam with others though. I’m certain it wasn’t a one-off for him, but I sure put the wind up him.

 

[Nemeca]

Try to sell and recover (some of) the money they paid for the phone.

I think I had similar chat here many years ago. Do not sell on eBay but sell on Gumtree where someone comes to pick up the goods, not posted to them as they can dispute there as well.

I agree now, although to be honest I prefer people not coming to the house. I’ve seen stories of people coming to seller’s homes and then grabbing the goods and bolting. I guess that’s the chance you have to take for selling some higher priced items. It’s a strange world at times.

 

[JohnK]

I agree now, although to be honest I prefer people not coming to the house. I’ve seen stories of people coming to seller’s homes and then grabbing the goods and bolting. I guess that’s the chance you have to take for selling some higher priced items. It’s a strange world at times.

I agree but in the past I've arranged to meet at the shopping centre nearby or somewhere near the mall. I guess I could also arrange to meet up outside apartment building as there are 2 buildings here and the person wouldn't know our apartment.

You'd think if a particular person was reporting faulty goods, or not receiving goods regularly that someone from eBay would follow up?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Thinking of worst case scenario, the "scammer" to put in the meanest words, or the trickster, now has your daughter's phone, so we do not know what they will do with it next.
Even if you have wiped the data clean, it (the phone) would be of value, you don't give the price, and you don't have to tell us, but lets say you got $300, and if it was a new phone, say 5 years, they (the wink wink "scammer"), can try something else.
They say lost and stolen phones can end up in places like India/Dubai, where people will buy phones, no questions asked, if the phone looks new, for the "look at how important I am" factor.
Not sure what the ideal would have been tho, as if we (or you) send it to a recycler, or to the place like mobile muster, they would refresh or refurbish the phone, and sell it on again, but with the mobile muster, at the least we know the phone won't end up in scammer land.
The small parts of precious metals in phones, also is of value.
Selling on ebay or gumtree, also opens the door to scams of other ilks, as the scammer has your details.
1. I can't pay you but will send my "agent".
2. Can I pay you on pickup, outside ebay of course, gumtree has cash on sale, I think.
3. Fake checks.
4. Future silent phone calls.
5. Phone calls from Africa, wangiri.
===
I am ACTING COMMISSIONER of the LAGOS NATIIONAL POLICE:
It was come to our attention that you a few days ago, had sold a phone that it is we suspected of being a stolen property.
You are now needed urgently to contact our INNVESTIGATION BRANCH as soon as now...

 

[Nemeca]

I agree but in the past I've arranged to meet at the shopping centre nearby or somewhere near the mall. I guess I could also arrange to meet up outside apartment building as there are 2 buildings here and the person wouldn't know our apartment.

You'd think if a particular person was reporting faulty goods, or not receiving goods regularly that someone from eBay would follow up?

You would think eBay would pick it up if it was a regular thing he was doing but that assumes eBay actually cares and also that the scammer was (or is) a serial offender. I sure put the wind up him though if he was a serial offender.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Depends on if ebay is even interested, in scammers being on their website, I mean, the wink wink dodgy ones;
So long as they get their commission, and people keep quiet, guess it works, ie the scam that is.
They (scammers) have no fear, like the lint scammers and others.
I wouldn't put it past the buyer of Nemeca's daughters phone, will be up to something else.
It takes someone who knows how to buy and then sell, with the gall to be so bold to onsell something they have bought.
Maybe it takes a lot of bad (negative) reviews on ebay, before they make a move, if ever... who knows tho.

 

[prozac]

Depends on if ebay is even interested, in scammers being on their website, I mean, the wink wink dodgy ones;
So long as they get their commission, and people keep quiet, guess it works, ie the scam that is.
They (scammers) have no fear, like the lint scammers and others.
I wouldn't put it past the buyer of Nemeca's daughters phone, will be up to something else.
It takes someone who knows how to buy and then sell, with the gall to be so bold to onsell something they have bought.
Maybe it takes a lot of bad (negative) reviews on ebay, before they make a move, if ever... who knows tho.

If they are banned on ebay they just open up under a new vendor name.

 

[Buzzard]

.... is like the owl that people put on their house roofs, hoping to deter pigeons!

Does the owl work?
I'm trying to get rid of the pigeons on my roof.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Does the owl work?
I'm trying to get rid of the pigeons on my roof.

that should be easy for a buzzard !!

 

[prozac]

Spam SMS: Report it!​

Just a reminder to forward all SCAM SMS to ACMA SCAMWATCH at 0429 999 888

SCAMwatch urges you to report all spam SMS, whether it be a scam or unsolicited contact by a trader.

Spam SMS can be reported to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The ACMA has made it easier to report spam SMS – simply forward the message to them! Their dedicated Spam SMS line is 0429 999 888; your mobile phone provider’s standard billing rates will apply. You can also register online to make it easier for the Anti-Spam Team to contact you if necessary.

Put the number in your contacts list under ACMA, then it is easy to click "Forward" and know that you have done something besides whinge.

Spam SMS: Report it!

Are you an avid mobile phone texter, using SMS to keep in contact with friends and family? Watch out - scammers love texting too.

www.scamwatch.gov.au

 

[VPS]

Does the owl work?
I'm trying to get rid of the pigeons on my roof.

I'm trying to get of birds in my ceiling

 

[Bundy Bear]

Spam SMS: Report it!​

Just a reminder to forward all SCAM SMS to ACMA SCAMWATCH at 0429 999 888


Put the number in your contacts list under ACMA, then it is easy to click "Forward" and know that you have done something besides whinge.

Spam SMS: Report it!

Are you an avid mobile phone texter, using SMS to keep in contact with friends and family? Watch out - scammers love texting too.

www.scamwatch.gov.au

Now to wait for the scammers to stsrt using that number

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Does the owl work?
I'm trying to get rid of the pigeons on my roof.

My owl head fell off its pedestal in the strong wind a few days ago, you have to add sand to the base to make it hard to move.
So I used liquid glue to stick a loop of string onto the head, and put it on the clothes line, but the neighbourhood pigeons are still cooing their head off, chasing each other hotly in this spring Adelaide weather sexily, ... cooing... that I think the owl statue probably does not work.
Tho some birds might be deterred by the moving in the wind metal large bird.
Or the big huge kites they have in Bali.
But in the end, I think our bird friends/fiends are too cunning, they know whats real and whats not.
===
Only way to get rid of pigeons using roof space as an apartment, is firstly, to get a pest controller to go into the ceiling cavity, via the hatch in the house ceiling, or by them moving tiles, if its a tiled roof.
Take out all the bird nests, and rats/mice nest, and then to put metal zinc netting all over the rain water pipes near the eaves.
Somehow, if you don't those birds will come back and start their apartment building again.
Don't try to enter the ceiling on your own, as you might make a wrong step, and put a hole through the gyprock.
Worst is the possums!
===
No "this is the visa and mastercard security services your card is at risk/has been used fraudently" phone call today, don't know why, maybe its a public holiday "vali" holiday in India.
===
Would love the owl hooting recording, (owl hooting voice that is, in real life version), for the scam phone calls tho, I wonder what happens if we start barking when we get the scam calls.
Anyone want to try and report back?

 

[JohnK]

You would think eBay would pick it up if it was a regular thing he was doing but that assumes eBay actually cares and also that the scammer was (or is) a serial offender. I sure put the wind up him though if he was a serial offender.

A bit like consistently high ATM withdrawals from low income earners in pubs/RSLs/Leagues clubs.

No one cares enough to invest some time helping.