Scammers are calling up people and pretending to be from the government and here to help with getting you your tax rebate. All you have to do is give them your bank account information. [9news]
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Comments:
anyone falling for this might deserve being scam.
But well, a scam's a scam. BOO.
Is there such thing as Financial Darwinism?
I really wish I could reach through the phone and shake these people.
@IrisMR: @Ben Popken:
These people greatly prefer hitting up senior citizens, it is an obvious fact. With the medication they are on or the conditions they have, or both, they make easy targets.
Though no one deserves to be scammed, some people should learn some commonsense. You should at no time provide any personal or financial information over the phone unless you are the person doing the contacting and you know what it is about and can be sure it is safe to do so.
Anyone calling claiming to be from the government to help you should be hung up on immediately. Especially if they are from the government.
You cant fix stupid, and this kind of stupidity should be painful. With all the info on scams the fact that people fall for this crap is pathetic, there is no reason for people to make themselves into victiums unless they cant see, hear or think for themselves. The thinking portion is key, but then again most people have trouble remembering their own names.
I'm with WHITEY... :)
I wonder if some of these people are on these lists. And Sales Genie had the worst commercials last night. The one I saw w/ the pandas just smacked of sterotypes.
@ShadowFalls: It always surprises me that people who loved through the depression, and didn't trust banks, are willing to give away all this info.
What I don't get is, why do they need the bank info. If I got that call I'd be like, "you have my name, and address, just send me the check."
Give them the name and SSN of that LifeLock dude. Should be good for a laugh.
When they ask for your bank account number, just start calling out numbers maybe in groups of four. Keep going until they give up and disconnect.
"OK, you ready?"
"Sure go ahead."
"Alright. 4646"
(maybe they even repeat after each group)
"2777"
"6664"
"1235"
"5132"
"8988"
...
(
...So that mysterious stranger who called me up and asked for my bank info wasn't the govt.? Aw damn.
@sacrabos: Consumerist should make up stickers to stick on your phone handset, just for that situation. Maybe a t-shirt. You ever wonder if that guy brings up his report everyday and justs laughs?
@Git Em SteveDave: Right at the top of www.lifelock.com!
"My name is Todd Davis
My social security number is 457-55-5462"
Good thing that I only have a cell phone...oh wait, Intelius probably sold it to all the tax rebate scammers.
It's mind boggling to me that anyone would fall for this.
Why do people seem to fall for the same scams every single year?
Yeah, my mom got a call from them, and laughed it off. She said that she got a call from the government, and they asked for some info to get her an extra $200 refund. I said, "Oh, did they want your SSN, DOB?" and she said, "yeah, and my bank info and all other personal info I had!" Funny stuff. I feel bad for the poor saps that fall for this.