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Watch Out for Bogus Phone and Online Surveys
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Scams & Fraud
Watch Out for Bogus Phone and Online Surveys
<font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><div>Learn what are the lastest list of scams and how you can prevent your identity from being stolen. Protect yourself from scams, whether they be phone scams, online scams or in-person.&nbsp;</div></font>
There are three new types of survey subterfuge out there, both over the phone and online. (See our article, " A Survey Con Can Cost You Big .") In one, a caller offers to install free software on your
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Cat:827966ee-6d39-4ef7-98a5-0157a43092f8Forum:b90a5c24-5453-42fa-b1f5-851b8a98e4aa
Cat:827966ee-6d39-4ef7-98a5-0157a43092f8Forum:b90a5c24-5453-42fa-b1f5-851b8a98e4aaDiscussion:4310e045-57a0-4083-87dc-5c03024abb49

Forums » Money » Scams & Fraud » Watch Out for Bogus Phone and Online Surveys

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Forums  »  Money  »  Scams & Fraud  »  Watch Out for Bogus Phone and Online Surveys

Re: Watch Out for Bogus Phone and Online Surveys

posted at August 18, 2012 1:48 PM EDT
Posts: 51
First: January 20, 2009
Last: August 18, 2012
I had my yahoo email hacked by someone in Croatia.  I was filling out a survey for Wal-Mart, the one on the back of their receipt.  I usually forget to do it, but this day I had two receipts and thought I would do them both.  I finished the first one and was well into the second one when I was all of a sudden kicked off the internet.   I finally got back on and went in to do the second one over.  When I finished I stayed on the computer playing games and some other things I needed to do.  I was using my laptop thru my Wifi. When I decided to check my email again, I could not get in, it would not accept my password.  I changed it and when I went back in could still not get in it would not accept the password.  Of course I could not find a phone number for yahoo, everything was online, or do a chat.  I shut down everything, turned off all my computers and unplugged my modem, I called my ISP and decided to get a new moden, as mine was 11 years old, they said they usually only last a few years.  I usually think "If it ain't broke don't fix it"....but when it comes to modems you need the latest technology, and I learned this the hard way.  I was without a computer for 10 day as I had to wait for the new modem before I would dare get back online.  Thankd goodness they did not get into my bank account or anything else.  But I don't keep my files with my password info on my computers, I keep them on a smart drive.
I sent several emails back and forth between me and Yahoo, and at one point they the the info did not match what I was telling them.....like they didn't believe it was MY email, after I had told them it was hacked, and obviouisly someone changed things.  Eventually I remembered that I have a paid yahoo email, I pay a small amount each year, so looking thru my emails in their file I found a phone number to call.  By this time I had my new modem and it was up and running, so after about 10 minutes talking with them my Yahoo was back in my name and had all the correct into in it.  I'm NOT filling out ANY surveys online againe.  PERIOD!
 Oh, I had gone online searching for a number for yahoo, and I finally found one, they said they where Yahoo, and I asked them several times, but in order for the to really be able to fix something, they wanted to remotely do it thru my computer and charge me money.  NOPE!  That was not going to happen, burn me once, shame on you, burn me twice, shame on me!   
When I called the Yahoo number in my files, they did it within my account because they had access to it, not thru my computer remotely.
I think what happened is something Kim Komando wrote about, where hackers look for something that is really popular with people, and figure out a way to connect to that and somehow can tell when someone uses it, then they link into it somehow, so what when you go in again you automatically go to their site that looks exactly like the site you were going to and they get enough info to be able to hack you.  I'm pretty sure that's the way she said it works, I can't remember it verbatim.
So this covers more than one mistake I made.


Re: Watch Out for Bogus Phone and Online Surveys

posted at August 19, 2012 12:46 PM EDT
Posts: 1
First: August 19, 2012
Last: August 19, 2012
I may have encountered another twist on this one.  I have gotten 3 calls in the last week telling me that I am showing an error message when I am on the internet.  They first ask if my computer is on at the time...I tell them "no"...even though it is.   They  want me to go to my computer and turn it on so they can "show" me the error messages and help me "fix" it.  The last time, I told the guy in no uncertain terms that I felt this was a scam and would not be turning my computer on for him or anyone else, so he may as well stop calling.  We'll see if I get another call. 

Re: Watch Out for Bogus Phone and Online Surveys

posted at August 19, 2012 1:12 PM EDT
Posts: 91
First: June 2, 2010
Last: December 14, 2012
In Response to Re: Watch Out for Bogus Phone and Online Surveys:
The latest one I've had is a phone call saying they can lower my credit card interest rate. They don't know what credit cards I have and they don't know that I don't carry a balance. I have asked them to remove my name from their call list to no avail. I am also on the government no-call list for all the good that does.
Posted by webb22851


I receive this call all the time and i have asked them to take me off there list as well.One day I decided to ask them a few questions, what credit cards are you refering to ,they couldn't tell me and they got angry with me when I said if you don't know what credit cards I have you can't help me.I hung up on her.

Re: Watch Out for Bogus Phone and Online Surveys

posted at August 19, 2012 4:05 PM EDT
Posts: 4
First: August 1, 2011
Last: August 19, 2012
In Response to Re: Watch Out for Bogus Phone and Online Surveys:
The latest one I've had is a phone call saying they can lower my credit card interest rate. They don't know what credit cards I have and they don't know that I don't carry a balance. I have asked them to remove my name from their call list to no avail. I am also on the government no-call list for all the good that does.
Posted by webb22851

-------------------------------------
I found out if you're on the DO NOT CALL REGISTRY, you have a valid claim to file a report to the FTC.  Yes, it's a pain, but I get to the point (usually at dinner!!) when I get these calls.  There's no way to OPT out of receiving them; even if you call the number back, THEY hang up on you.  Finally, I told one guy that if he keeps on calling me (with these lower card interest rates) that I would report him to the FTC and TO STOP CALLING ME!!!

I hope this help!!! Laughing

Re: Watch Out for Bogus Phone and Online Surveys

posted at September 20, 2012 3:59 AM EDT
Posts: 2
First: September 20, 2012
Last: September 20, 2012
Watch out for wanted people at LendingWanted . com

These people are wanted by Lending Companies in the Philippines.
Most of these people are now hiding to evade their debts.

You've been warned!

Re: Watch Out for Bogus Phone and Online Surveys

posted at September 20, 2012 10:08 AM EDT
Posts: 1
First: September 20, 2012
Last: September 20, 2012
I recently received a phone call regarding viruses in my computer.  I asked how they knew this and the response was totally wrong. 

I then informed them that I am an IT person and was protected by a very good source.

Told them that I did not want them to call me back and they have not!
Wink

Re: Watch Out for Bogus Phone and Online Surveys

posted at November 12, 2012 5:13 PM EST
Posts: 944
First: September 16, 2011
Last: May 22, 2013
In Response to Re: Watch Out for Bogus Phone and Online Surveys:
I recently received a phone call regarding viruses in my computer.  I asked how they knew this and the response was totally wrong.  I then informed them that I am an IT person and was protected by a very good source. Told them that I did not want them to call me back and they have not!
Posted by audbabbitt


Good for you, audbabbit! Too many people get scammed by these phone calls.
Advertising is everywhere, isn't it?


Re: Watch Out for Bogus Phone calls Met-Live Insurance

posted at November 12, 2012 6:17 PM EST
Posts: 1
First: November 12, 2012
Last: November 12, 2012
On October 17 I answered a ring on the phone and an individual announced my name and asked if I had received my new Medicare Book. I told him I had received it.  He then said that the government had appointed his company to visit may home and review what is new in this year’s Medicare book as the government did not have time to do this. He said he had an appointment in my area this afternoon and would like to stop by. I was very suspicious of this call and finally asked who was calling?  He said he was from Met Life Insurance company-I hung up the phone. Evidently Met-Life and possibly other unscrupulous individuals and companies  are conning individuals on medicare to open their doors for a sales pitch for insurance policies under the premise of fraud that they were in fact were actually working for Medicare and the government.

Re: Watch Out for Bogus Phone calls Met-Live Insurance

posted at December 19, 2012 10:54 AM EST
Posts: 944
First: September 16, 2011
Last: May 22, 2013
In Response to Re: Watch Out for Bogus Phone calls Met-Live Insurance:
On 17 I answered a ring on the phone and an individual announced my name and asked if I had received my new Medicare Book. I told him I had received it.  He then said that the government had appointed his company to visit may home and review what is new in this year’s Medicare book as the government did not have time to do this. He said he had an appointment in my area this afternoon and would like to stop by. I was very suspicious of this call and finally asked who was calling?  He said he was from Met Life Insurance company-I hung up the phone. Evidently Met-Life and possibly other unscrupulous individuals and companies  are conning individuals on medicare to open their doors for a sales pitch for insurance policies under the premise of fraud that they were in fact were actually working for Medicare and the government.
Posted by BillHerron

Good for you, BillHerron, You were smart to hang up, and not get scammed!
For some more tips on how to scam proof your life, try the Boomerbabes show here:
                                                              The Babes in the news


Re: Watch Out for Bogus Phone and Online Surveys

posted at December 27, 2012 12:04 PM EST
Posts: 616
First: October 9, 2007
Last: March 18, 2013
In Response to Re: Watch Out for Bogus Phone and Online Surveys:
In Response to Re: Watch Out for Bogus Phone and Online Surveys : ------------------------------------- I found out if you're on the DO NOT CALL REGISTRY, you have a valid claim to file a report to the FTC.  Yes, it's a pain, but I get to the point (usually at dinner!!) when I get these calls.  There's no way to OPT out of receiving them; even if you call the number back, THEY hang up on you.  Finally, I told one guy that if he keeps on calling me (with these lower card interest rates) that I would report him to the FTC and TO STOP CALLING ME!!! I hope this help!!!
Posted by Scarlet511

There is a site to go to, for any scam reporting:

Department of Justice Scams and Frauds

http://www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/contact/report-fraud.html

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Forums » Money » Scams & Fraud » Watch Out for Bogus Phone and Online Surveys