BS: 'Amazon' scam

Subject: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: leeneia
Date: 04 Sep 20 - 05:35 PM

I got a phone call today, purporting to be from Amazon and asking if I had really placed an order for $400. If not, please call 720-653-3406.

Naturally my first thought was to call and say "Heck no!", but then doubts set in. I googled the phone number and couldn't find anything.   Then I realized that $400.00 is an improbable amount for an Amazon item. 399.99 would be more like it.

I went to my Amazon account and did not find a large, unfamiliar order on it. So I'm just going to ignore that call. I suspect they would have asked for me credit-card number "just to clear up this matter for good." No thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: JHW
Date: 04 Sep 20 - 05:42 PM

Sounds similar to a couple of calls I've had. One saying 'we need to check a transaction for £600 on your card account'. Both from robots. I never talk to robots so just put the phone down.
Too many rogues about.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 04 Sep 20 - 07:15 PM

I get loads of calls like that purporting to be from Amazon. One was a dire warning about a transaction on "my debit card" wot I haven't even got!

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Jeri
Date: 04 Sep 20 - 07:18 PM

I didn't think there was anyone left who would fall for this stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Sep 20 - 08:47 PM

We'd had that one too. Put the phone down without even responding. Checked with the Amazon website that there wasn't any such order.

Any phone call about money of any sort is pretty well bound to be a scam. Though it's worth checking, just in case, but you don't do that by relying on any phone numbers you get from the call. And of course the same goes for emails.

Though I did once get a phone call from a strange bank, telling me about an account that was at the point of being shut down as inactive for so long, and I risked losing its contents - and it turned it was true. It had been set up by my late mother decades ago, and she'd never told anyone. But stuff like that doesn't happen very often, while phone scams happen every day.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Sep 20 - 10:06 PM

I hung up on a voice saying something about my 'Amazon order' recently

sandra (who never buys online)

I've also hung up on robot American voices telling me they are from IRS. Here in the land of Oz we even get robots from Australian Taxation Office saying similar spammy stuff. Unfortunately in 2020 we have had more folk falling for scammers.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Sep 20 - 01:06 AM

I've gotten the IRS one a couple of times, and someone telling me they're calling from Microsoft. Telling them to get a real job and hanging up is the response here.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 05 Sep 20 - 04:18 AM

These days most phones show who the caller is if they're in your contacts. If someone I don't know calls me, I fully expect them to identify themselves before they go on to say something like "Am I speaking to Stephen/ Mr Shaw?" Otherwise it's hang up and block caller! Background call-centre noise and a delay before they speak are other good pointers. Life's too short!

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 05 Sep 20 - 04:31 AM

I treat all unknown and unsolicited call as scams and hang up, I don't get many as my call blocker filters most of them out.

Dave H

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 05 Sep 20 - 05:18 AM

I have my answering machine permanently on, and all calls go to it. Almost invariably, scam/spam calls hang up as soon as the answering machine cuts in.

If the caller is someone I want to talk to (and there aren’t many who fall into that category), I pick up when they begin to leave their message. If they don’t leave a message and hang up, I take the view that they probably didn’t want to speak to me very badly and, if they did, they’ll call back.

I never make calls on my land-line, I always use my mobile - my contract includes more ‘free’ minutes per month than I could use in ten years, so there’s absolutely no reason to use my land-line to make calls.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Senoufou
Date: 05 Sep 20 - 05:25 AM

When I buy anything online from Amazon, I've noticed that recently I get TWO e mails. One (the usual thing) thanking me for my order and giving details of arrival etc, and nowadays a second one, warning me that 'someone has made an order on Amazon and signed in...' etc.
I just delete it, but I wonder if that's a scam or just Amazon making sure their customers are safe?
Backwoodsman,like you I hardly ever use my landline to make a call. It sits there sadly untouched most of the time. My last bill with BT included 45p for 'calls'!
I don't have a phobile moan either. I do most of my yapping face to face. (Husband groans knowingly)

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: JHW
Date: 05 Sep 20 - 06:14 AM

I thought I was the only person with no mobile phone.

I know many people use Amazon but I've found it insists on storing all my details at the mercy of a password. I don't do that. Never set up such 'accounts'.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 05 Sep 20 - 06:46 AM

Sen, Mrs. Backwoodsperson presented me with a phobile moan when I was working in Northamptonshire and living in the Lincolnshire Backwoods, involving a daily round-trip by road of 200 miles, so that I’d be able to contact her and the emergency services ‘should anything go wrong’. It went largely unused for several years until I had a two-year period of fairly serious health problems involving a number of lengthy hospital stays in Lincoln and Nottingham. Since then, I’ve used it in preference to our land-line, but I’m not one of these people who has it glued to his ear, or who’s constantly checking it and twiddling around on it with both thumbs (in fact I can’t do anything on it with my thumbs - how do young people do that?), I just make the occasional call and send a few texts per month.

Otherwise, it just weighs down my pocket!

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Sep 20 - 12:19 PM

Since many scammers also spoof the numbers they appear to be calling from, it's a challenge to figure out which calls might be real. How many times has the doctor's office called from a back line and I've picked up the phone and listened for breathing or the call center noise before finally saying "hello?" - only to be embarrassed that it is the scheduling nurse calling back. So I have resolved to try to be polite; I usually finally say "Hello. Goodbye." with a pause for a second or two between for a real person to start talking. And then I use the spam blocker and report and block that number.

Spoofed numbers usually use your area code and first three number prefix to make it look like the call is someone local. I happen to know that most of the calls that do that with my cell phone are spoofed because I got it in the next town over and I know only one other person who has the same prefix, and he's in my contacts and shows up. A lot of times the name identified with the spoofed number is meaningless because they're another victim. There are times I've called businesses and started to leave a message, only to have someone pick up and say "the caller ID said "spam." so I know my number has been spoofed to other people as well.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Jeri
Date: 05 Sep 20 - 01:20 PM

Everyone who might call me (which is a pretty low number of people) gets the same ringtone which is different from the general one. I don't answer "general". If they leave a non-spammy voice mail, I might, but otherwise, too much time & effort spent on assholes.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 05 Sep 20 - 02:10 PM

Heading back towards music:
Barnum There is a sucker born every minute

Unfortunately the scammers will find enough 'suckers' to justify the hundreds/thousands/millions of approaches they make.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Senoufou
Date: 05 Sep 20 - 02:52 PM

I actually adore Amazon. It's so easy to buy on there, there's endless choice and the prices are very reasonable. Plus the lovely couriers bring the stuff right to your door. My password is very complicated, it's the first letters of all the words of a line of poetry my mother used to recite. I doubt very much whether anyone could even begin to guess it.
We have no signal here for phobile moans, and I'm never out and about alone. (Husband has a phobile with which to talk to his family in Africa, but he has to drive much nearer to Norwich to pick up a signal.
However, he somehow uses 'wifi' at home, and can talk on that with his phone, don't ask me how that works!)
My bank now says I must get a text on my moan when buying online, a code or something. When I wrote to them and said I don't own one and there's no signal anyway, they said I must use a blooming pinsentry with an algorithm (?) or some such daft word. Gawd, send my spaceship and take me back to the fifties please!

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 05 Sep 20 - 05:56 PM

Not al numbers that come up on Caller display as "withheld" are necessarily scams, which makes life even more difficult. Both my son's and daughter's numbers show as withheld, for reasons to do with their respective jobs, as do any calls from the doctor's surgery or hospital (as mentioned above) so you can't really NOT pick up the phone, in case it is a genuine call.
As for Amazon, the latest trick seems to be phoning to tell you that there's something wrong with your Amazon Prime account, and you need to re-confirm your payment details. If you actually have a Prime account (I don't!) you could be taken in by this, as was a rather gullible friend.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Senoufou
Date: 05 Sep 20 - 06:49 PM

I just now read in my newspaper that some chap who works for Amazon has been busy writing five-star reviews for several hours each day. Their glowing reviews are apparently a load of tosh. But the small items I buy aren't likely to disappoint (eg a little tin of doorstep paint, a steel nailbrush, four cans of non-alcoholic Guinness made in Nigeria for husband, a nice pack of disposable face masks for £6 etc)

Our landline number is ex-directory, and Telephone Preference registered, so legally no company is permitted to ring us unsolicited.

The only funny calls we get (very rarely) is for a hotel in the next village. Their number is only one digit different to ours. I once got polite chap wanting to book six people for dinner. I told him our table only seated two, and my cooking left a lot to be desired, but my husband could manage a fiery hot curry. Then I advised him not to mis-dial again. He was very sorry. (Not as sorry as if he'd tried the curry, he'd have needed an ambulance!)

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 05 Sep 20 - 09:29 PM

I do look forward to your posts, Eliza,

sandra (laughing)


Gawd, send my spaceship and take me back to the fifties please! that could be a song challenge

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Senoufou
Date: 06 Sep 20 - 03:37 AM

Hee hee thank you Sandra. A song could be made to the tune of "Take me back to the black hills" viz. "Take me back to the fifties."

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 06 Sep 20 - 04:37 AM

Yes we get a lot of those also from "your internet/phone provider" we never respond to recorded messages except to block number. When they don't use our name (or if mispronounced) we ask "Who do you think you are calling?" which stumps them. When they say: "This is..." we just reply: "No it isn't you are a scam call centre in India" and put the phone down and block number.
RtS

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 06 Sep 20 - 05:22 AM

”Not al numbers that come up on Caller display as "withheld" are necessarily scams, which makes life even more difficult. Both my son's and daughter's numbers show as withheld, for reasons to do with their respective jobs, as do any calls from the doctor's surgery or hospital (as mentioned above) so you can't really NOT pick up the phone, in case it is a genuine call.“

Yes, you can! As I explained above, let all calls go to your answering machine. If it’s a genuine call, it’s odds-on they’ll leave a message and you just call them back.

People picking up the phone ‘in case it’s a genuine call’ is precisely what scammers rely on.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: fat B****rd
Date: 06 Sep 20 - 05:22 AM

The number of traffic accidents I've been involved in is astronomical !! Pity I can't drive.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 06 Sep 20 - 05:41 AM

I just ask where they got the number from and they hang up.

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Jos
Date: 06 Sep 20 - 07:57 AM

I quite often get "messages" on my answerphone saying "Hello? Hello? Hello? ...", even though it should be obvious that I have not picked up. One chap got really annoyed and told me off in no uncertain terms for being so rude, not answering him.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 06 Sep 20 - 07:58 AM

If it’s a genuine call, it’s odds-on they’ll leave a message and you just call them back

You would be unlikely to get a message from me. My automatic reaction is to hang up as soon as I here an answering machine. If I have 'phoned rather sent a text, it is because I want to talk to someone now, not later.

DC

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Jos
Date: 06 Sep 20 - 08:02 AM

If you are in, and hear the caller start to leave a message and you recognise their voice or it is clear that the call is genuine, you can just pick up and talk to them.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Sep 20 - 09:26 AM

If you really piss off the caller they sometimes call right back, so blocking those folks immediately is essential.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 06 Sep 20 - 12:38 PM

If you are in, and hear the caller start to leave a message and you recognise their voice or it is clear that the call is genuine, you can just pick up and talk to them.

So, you are half way through leaving a message when the recipient interrupts and you have to start again from the beginning. That is really annoying.

DC

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 06 Sep 20 - 12:52 PM

”If you are in, and hear the caller start to leave a message and you recognise their voice or it is clear that the call is genuine, you can just pick up and talk to them.“

Precisely what I said in my post of 05 Sep 20 - 05:18 AM.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Jos
Date: 06 Sep 20 - 02:23 PM

So you did, Backwoodsman, so you did. But I said it again because I got the impression that some people feel they have to wait for the message to end and then call back. I and many other people would prefer to speak to the caller without waiting, even if it does annoy Doug.
[Doug, in the unlikely event of you ever calling me, I'll wait until you have finished leaving your message ... promise.]

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 06 Sep 20 - 03:47 PM

Aaaahh, Sorry Jos- thought you’d missed it! And I agree with you, I’m not sure that some people understand that you can ‘cut-in’ on someone leaving a message - which I do frequently.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 06 Sep 20 - 07:18 PM

If I'd followed Backwoodsman's advice, I probably would have missed a much needed hospital appointment! The caller first called my mobile phone, but I only discovered the missed call much later - no message left, and from an unknown number. She did then call the house phone, and we did pick up the phone - appointment given for 4 days later, "but we'll confirm by letter" - the letter finally arrived on the day of the appointment about an hour before I needed to leave home! (The envelope had been rubber stamped "First Class" but the postmark showed it had been sent 2nd class!)
I am very glad I DID pick up the phone that time, as been waiting for that appointment for months!

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Jos
Date: 07 Sep 20 - 02:15 AM

More confusion.
Tattie, you DID follow Backwoodsman's advice. It is Doug who doesn't like being interrupted while he leaves his carefully composed message.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 07 Sep 20 - 04:16 AM

Jos,
Read my post of 06 Sep 20 - 07:58 AM. It is unlikely that I would leave a message - I prefer to deal with people rather than machines - but if I did, then it would have to be important enough to need a carefully composed message. Having to deal with an answering machine would already put my hackles up, so how much more annoying to have my time wasted by someone who could have picked up in the first place.

DC

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 07 Sep 20 - 05:41 AM

Doug, I get a lot of scam/spam calls, which is why I call-monitor Using my answering machine. Avoiding scams is of far greater importance to me than your irritable, impatient nature. If you’re so tetchy or bone-idle that you couldn’t simply say who you were and leave your number - no more than ten seconds’ work - my view would be that you don’t deserve a response.

Your loss.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Donuel
Date: 07 Sep 20 - 09:30 AM

To save time and avoid robot AI phone calls I answer the phone "Blip Snort".
I have yet to have a single AI robot be able to respond to those words for some reason. Just silence as it searches for an appropriate programed response.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Noreen
Date: 07 Sep 20 - 08:40 PM

GPs, hospital appointment callers, opticians and no doubt more, do not leave ansaphone messages for security (I am told) because they can't be sure that the intended recipient will be the one picking up the message.

But as the missed call I see if from an unidentified number, I have no idea that these important callers have been unable to contact me while I've been at work.

There must be a better way.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 08 Sep 20 - 01:53 AM

Not sure where you live Noreen, but they most definitely do leave messages here in my part of the UK - I’ve had many, asking me to contact the surgery or hospital. Obviously they don’t reveal what they’re calling about, just where they’re calling from, but they leave the number to use to call them back. No privacy or security issue there.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: leeneia
Date: 08 Sep 20 - 03:08 PM

I posted the account of the fake-Amazon call in the hope Mudcatters would pass the word on to less-savvy friends and relatives. There are plenty of people, especially elderly people, who are being defrauded.

We have a mobile phone and a landline. There is nothing like a landline, with its clarity and lack of glitches, for calling up a loved one across the country and having a good, long yack, just as we used to do as teenagers.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Donuel
Date: 08 Sep 20 - 05:47 PM

Last week in a 24 hour period Bezos made 13 Billion dollars.
Amazon has a commercial that claims they will try to have a zero carbon footprint soon 'for the next generation'.
I thought the following generations will have to do EVERYTHING right for 200 years to merely halt the acceleration of global warming.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Pete from seven stars link
Date: 09 Sep 20 - 06:51 AM

I sort of like the calls about my accident , so I can reply “is that one I died in ?.               I don’t know why they hang up ..........

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 09 Sep 20 - 09:35 AM

is that one I died in ?

My reply is "Is that the one where I lost my leg?".
After a moment's hesitation, the caller asks "When was that?".
I reply "Well, it's happened three times and each time I have lost a leg. I'm really unlucky".
It's at that point that they hang up.

DC

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: fat B****rd
Date: 09 Sep 20 - 10:31 AM

Love it, Pete and Doug :-)
I'll remember those for next time.
Charlie

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: leeneia
Date: 09 Sep 20 - 01:00 PM

About medical call-backs. When I am talking with a doctor's office, I try to remember to tell them that it is all right to leave a message on my answering machine. Once they get that permission, they do it.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: JHW
Date: 09 Sep 20 - 05:15 PM

So would you believe an Ad which says "Genius Device Makes Your Computer Like New in 10 Seconds" There's one above saying that right now. I don't believe it. I certainly won't click it.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Jos
Date: 10 Sep 20 - 03:34 AM

If a device were to make my computer "Like New" it would remove all my files and pictures and things like Adobe, wouldn't it? That would be a real nuisance.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Amazon' scam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 10 Sep 20 - 04:01 AM

too right!