That’s the phone call I got yesterday. The phone call began with a recorded message that sounded the same as the one I get when I phone my credit card company. Which was followed by a “push 9 for a representative”. So I push 9 and this woman comes on the phone and asks why I haven’t made any payments on my card. I tell her I made one just yesterday and she says I didn’t. After a long and difficult disscusion…it comes out that someone used my info to apply for a credit card in Taichung…and used it to a sum of over 115,000. She then tells me to phone the police station…she gives me a number…and report the fraud. So I phone the number…and some “cop” answers and after I explain the situation he starts asking what kind of car I drive?!? I say “What does my car have to do with a fraudulent credit card?” He replies “They usually use the info from buying a car to get the card.” He also asks me how much money I have in the bank… :s .
So long story short…if you haven’t figured it out by now this is some kind of scam. I told my boss at work about it and she was familiar with this scam…she even knew they used a recorded message to make it sound more official without me having told her. I didn’t tell them anything other than my name…and that I don’t have any money in the bank…this was about when they lost interest in me.
[quote=“Durins Bane”]This is why I keep a whistle by the phone. One loud toot on that bad boy right in the receiver usually discourages a second call. [/quote] When a phone appears on the market with that function built in, I’ll buy it.
This happened to a friend of mine about a year ago, and I have no sympathy for her.
After giving them all her account info and PIN she followed their instructions and trotted obediently to the ATM in order to confirm that yes, they had just emptied her account. You have to admit that’s pretty classy of them. They didn’t just take it, they made her go and look!
That scam’s been around for awhile. That and the "We’ve abducted your (fill-in the blank) and won’t let her/him unless you deposit $xxxxx into said bank account within an hour.
Precisely the reason why the new ATM transfer limit is being brought in.
All this does though is reduce the amount that can be transferred, it does not stop the gullibility of those making the transfers or handing over their details.
Yup had this one too a couple of times, especially we’ve abducted your child, when she is only 1YO and sat next to me
Basically if anyone calls either scams or telesales I just stop them mid sentance and ask “Do you speak English?”, they usually stutter, umm and arr a little then say sorry and hang-up…
My wife likes to answer the kidnap calls. “My brother? That useless bastard already owes me so much money I’m not giving you any more to get him back. Go ahead and kill him. Make sure it hurts.” She doesn’t have any brothers.
Last time it was the sister that was kidnapped, though she just happened to be sitting right opposite her at the tea house. “My sister? You want to talk to her? Hold on a sec, I’ll put her on…”
Great innit? The government is saying “Taiwanese people are so stupid that there has to be an ATM transfer limit”.
Good-natured and trusting if a little bit naive perhaps.
Why not have government information adverts? Educate people that these shysters exist and what they do. And while we’re at it - why can’t the calls be traced? Since 1980 even in the technological abyss that is the UK phone calls could be traced instantly! Isn’t the system digital here too? Is there a will to catch these guys or do they pay off the fuzz and legislators? Maybe they are legislators? Is the KMT still running the country? What’s the fastest land animal? Does your chewing gum lose its flavour on the bedpost overnight? All these questions and more can be answered for just
[quote=“21p”]Great innit? The government is saying “Taiwanese people are so stupid that there has to be an ATM transfer limit”.
Why not have government information adverts? Educate people that these shysters exist and what they do.
[/quote]They do. Try looking at the walls around the ATM machine next time you’re there. I think the government’s approach is very pragmatic. They know very well the cops couldn’t catch a cold without help, so they try to limit the damage.
[quote]And while we’re at it - why can’t the calls be traced? Since 1980 even in the technological abyss that is the UK phone calls could be traced instantly![/quote]Uh, because you’d have to know in advance they were going to call you?
AFAIK these guys use stolen phones/SIM cards and/or obfuscate/spoof the numbers. People who are not fooled by the scammers don’t usually bother reporting the attempt. I’ve answered dozens of these calls and never reported one. Many people who are scammed are too embarassed to report it. Low number of reports vs. the very large number of active scam teams equals an uphill battle for the (largely incompetent and under-motivated) cops. Low detection and arrest rate is hardly surprising.
Ah… the old “you owe us money”… “no i don’t”… “oh someone’s screwing you then, call this cop here’s the number…” (gives binglang chewing badly tattood mate’s phone number) “hello, yeah this is the cops… oooh they’ve done you good, better give us your account # and PIN and we’ll handle it from here”… “great what a relief”… “erm… where’d my money go?..”
it’s form of traditional Taiwanese comedy… usually works best on uneducated grandma’s from the deep south… barrel of laughs really… personally I think anyone dumb enough to fall for this ruse after it’s been dragged verbatim across every known type of Taiwanese media for about 10 years deserves to be seperated from their money… same goes for those who buy the abducted family member ruse… sheesh…
Must work on people back home as well. I was getting a bunch of spam about security regarding bank accounts that I don’t even have…Citybank and Bank of America to name a few…really annoying.
I remember getting a phone call from a bank telling me that my credit card expiry date was going to be shortened “because I was a foreigner” and it sounded so ridiculous I basically told them to fuck off there and then and how stupid did they think I was.
[quote=“21p”]I remember getting a phone call from a bank telling me that my credit card expiry date was going to be shortened “because I was a foreigner” and it sounded so ridiculous I basically told them to fuck off there and then and how stupid did they think I was.
But it was true. [/quote]
That’s funny because I recently went to the bank and ASKED them if they could shorten the expiry date on my credit card. And they said “no” that I’d have to re-apply for a new one. And since my co-signer (ex-girlfriend) isn’t speaking to me right now…I’m not able to do that.
The problem being that my card expires in 2015. And most online sites don’t have an expiry date that goes that high…I’d say 80% of sites don’t…so I’m unable to purchase anything from those sties…since my credit card lasts TOO long.
[quote=“citizen k”]Must work on people back home as well. I was getting a bunch of spam about security regarding bank accounts that I don’t even have…Citybank and Bank of America to name a few…really annoying.[/quote] I’ve replied to a few they’re usually a hotmail or yahoo address. I politely tell them if they’re from the bank they already have the information and often suggest they learn to spell the banking societies name. Usually it’s that obvious that they’re frauds.
[/quote]
When a phone appears on the market with that function built in, I’ll buy it.
