Your telephone rings. When you answer, a woman tells you that you are to receive a $100 gift card plus a $10 Wal-Mart gift card because you participated in a survey for Waka.
What survey? you inquire.
She can't tell you what the survey was about or when you took it, but if you'll get to your computer, she'll give you the code that allows you to claim your gift cards.
She tells you to go to the waka.com site, and once you're there, she wants you to enter your name and address. Then comes the kicker. The next page on the site asks for your credit card information!
Don't do it! Don't give out your financial information to anyone who calls you on the phone.
The woman who calls you from Waka will tell you they just need your credit card information to charge you a $2.98 handling fee, and then you'll receive your gift cards.
Bullshit!
If you don't remember the name Waka, then please remember not to give anyone your credit card number and especially not the three digit code on the back of your card or the four digits on the front of an American Express card. Once these people have your credit card information, they won't stop charging your account. You won't get any gift cards.
You'll be the victim of a scam --and it seems to be a relatively new scam.
You might want to take a look at http://www.scambook.com/search/reports?search=waka+network.
When you receive any unwanted calls from telemarketers, tell them to take your name off their calling list and not call you again. Say it firmly.
If they continue to call, tell them you will file harassment charges with the FCC and they'd better not call you again.
Also, keep a close eye on your credit card and bank statements. Watch for charges that might not be yours.
My most recent credit card statement had several charges for $14.95. These scammers quite often start by charging small amounts to your card after illegally obtaining the card number. When I called the 800 number on my bill, I found out it was an identity protection service that was scamming me. I told them to refund those charges immediately, and if they didn't, I would make a complaint about them.
The company refunded my money, and I'll be watching my statements ever more closely than usual.
Beware! Scams are everywhere!
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
P.S. Your bank or credit card company will NOT call you to ask for your financial information. The information seekers are scammers.
My mom also ran across a phone scammer that said they were from Microsoft and wanted to check her computer for viruses. She thought he was somewhat legit because he told her where to go on her computer to see that she did have viruses (which anyone who knows computers can tell you where to look, but my mom isn't one of those people) and then they wanted to clean it for her for a 'small fee'. Thankfully she told them no and she wanted to check with her computer literate son-in-law before doing anything! We told her to not give ANYTHING to ANYONE on the phone, at your door, etc! I hate how evil people are and how they swindle people for a living!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the warning about that particular scam. Con artists have always been around and they always will be -- until we get to Heaven.
DeleteNo matter what era/year it seems these scammers get more craftier. Very good post.
ReplyDeleteScammers have to get craftier as we learn more about their schemes.
DeleteGullible people always amaze me.
ReplyDeleteBy the way....please go to littlelottajoy@gmail.com. She's a poor child in Guatemala who needs a laptop and she is counting on you.
littlelotta in Guatemala can eat shit and die. Oh, dear. I am so rude. Now, I'd like to mention that I sponsor a child in Indonesia, and I do so through a reputable charity. I also feed the hungry in the U.S. and support the USO and about a million other worthwhile things.
DeleteThis almost happened to one of my friends. She ended up telling them no and now they've been calling her multiple times a day. Last I heard she notified the police because the scam artists were calling so many times from different numbers :(
ReplyDeleteMost of the time I don't answer the phone unless I recognize the number, so it's a waste of time for scammers to call me.
DeleteI hate those guys! Someone got ahold of my mom's info just recently from HERE. You know where she and I live. Anyway they bought a plane ticket a rental car paid for an extra bag and some stuff on the internet! My parents caught it and turned it over to the police. Yeah. Hope they catch them. Oh did you get my email?
ReplyDeleteYes, I got your email and I answered it a few minutes ago. I hope everything turns out o.k. for your parents.
DeleteGood advice, thank you, Janie.
ReplyDeleteHope I help a few people, Inger.
DeleteGood to know, thanks for sharing that.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteThanks for the warning, I've come across loads of variations on this scam. There is one where they can lock you computer screen and a message flashes on your screen saying it is from Strathclyde Police saying you have been visiting ilegal porn sites and if you give your credit card details they will fine you £100 and unlock your screen. Total scam, nothing to do with the police.
ReplyDeleteIf something like that came up on my computer, I'd probably be terrified even though I don't look at porn. In this case, I might actually be dumb enough to pay the money because I'd be worried that people would find out and believe I went to nasty sites. Thanks for the warning!
DeleteThis is why I've trained everyone in my family not to do anything they're suspicious of without speaking to me.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I fixed the browser setting that was preventing me from commenting on blogs. Go me!
Welcome back, sweetie! How's girlfriend?
DeleteThanks for the warning. I hate scammers!
ReplyDeleteMe too! Especially when they try to scam me!
DeleteNO, don't give your details to anyone over the phone. I hate these telemarketeers with a passion. I usually tell them that the person that they are looking for doesn't live here!
ReplyDeleteGosh, I wonder half of the time exactly where these people get my number from as I don't make it public.
I just put the phone on the side table and let them rant on while I go about doing something else, at least they get fed-up when I don't respond.
I once told a bothersome person that I couldn't buy something because I was giving up all my earthly goods and entering a convent. That caught him by surprise. Occasionally, I am the housekeeper who says that Miss Janie is not home, and sometimes I have a British accent and my name is not Janie so use your mobile to call someone else.
DeleteThanks for the info. I hate those stupid telemarketers, next time they call, I'll them about the FCC 'cause I'm already on the no call list. THe convent thing sounds pretty good too. :)
ReplyDeleteDid you get my last email?
xoxoxo
very scary. thanks for the heads up.
ReplyDeleteand hope you are having a great summer:)