We can use many different forms of communication in our modern society. We have the plain old landline, the smartphones that can also access the internet, tablets that are basically tiny computers, and, of course, the computers. These can be used by messenger applications, emails, video text, video phones, think Skype, and various social media.
While thinking about all the wonderful ways we can tell others about the beautiful details of our lives, some people wish to use these beautiful things to get our money.
I am not just talking about the guys who call from Windows Support to tell me my computer has sent them an alert that it is infected- though I don’t know why it wouldn’t tell me first? By the way, a couple of weeks ago, I got the same kind of call from someone who said he was with Apple Technical support to tell me that my Apple computer, which I DON’T HAVE, let them know that my computer has been hacked.
They are in with all the other cons on the internet.
First, I want to rant about the ROBO CALLERS who keep calling me about my credit card’s interest rates; they will kindly lower them for me, though they don’t know which bank issued my card. I don’t, at this time, have a credit card.
When I lived in Sarasota, Fl. We had two phones. One was with Xfinity, a number I have not given out for several years, and a Verizon cell phone. Both phones were on both the federal and Florida do not call lists. I also have both of them connected to the NOMOROBO system. If you do not know how this works, I will explain. When either phone is called, NOMOROBO checks the number to see if it is on a scam list. On the house phone, this results in them getting hung up on, so there is only one ring; the cell phone lets me know a number has been blocked. Every once in a while, a legit number from someone we gave it to before I started to give out the cell phone number gets through, so they leave a message. The robo-callers who do get through, and leave a message, give themselves away because when they start talking, they make it clear they did not hear the recorded message from the machine, which means they just picked up their phone when their device tells them they have a possible sucker on the line. My app on my cell phone keeps track of these things and tells me that my calls consist of 30% robo or scam calls.
I see the “Do Not Call” registry as a “Do Not Trespass” sign posted in my yard. An uninvited salesperson who shows up at my door will be advised that his organization will be added to my list of groups that I will NOT do business with and don’t want to talk to. A couple of years ago, a well-dressed young black guy wandered up and down the street. No vehicle was in sight, so I knew he had been in a group dropped off down the street. He was one of those “I am selling this for” something to do with his school. I explained that this was a private road and he did not belong there. He told me it was okay as he had a solicitors license, and I said, “That’s fine; you can show it to your cellmate after you get arrested for Trespassing as this was a private road.”
I now live in North Carolina, but since I still have the same phone number, it confuses the scammers, making it easier for my phone to determine which ones are spoofing my number.
Another thing that gets on my nerves is when I see an ad on the internet that starts out with the name of a local town, such as Murphy or Andrews, to pitch their product. If you click on the story lie, you don’t go to an article about it but a page that is so general that it is obvious it is a scam.
I am going to let the spammer in on a not-so-secret secret. This blog is MODERATED, not that the cut-and-paste wizards even read the post. So, I doubt they even notice that their comment is deleted. I am here to encourage discussion rather than a place for free advertising.
Thanks for your time,
thatjoeguy.
That Joe Guy 