New Scam?

MoPHo

Platinum Member
Dec 16, 2003
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I got a call today on my cell phone from a blocked number. Answered it and it was a very professional sounding person who knew her shit in terms of customer service. Dropped lines "this line will be recorded..." etc. etc. and sounded depressing enough to convince me she was from Sprint.

Anyways, she tried telling me that my phone was going to be disconnected due to unpaid bills and asked if I wanted to pay them over the phone. My parents take care of that as they can get me a better rate, I just give them my amount in cash after they've paid it. I tell the woman this and she says that she'll conference them in to pay if that would work. I say "sorry, they won't answer at home if it's an 800 number or blocked". The woman tells me that I owe $100.93 that was due on April 18th. I tell her I can't pay and she'll just have to disable my service and I'll deal with it later.

I call my parents immediately after hoping that I could beat the cancellation and tell them that someone needs to pay but I was under the impression I already gave them money for that bill. They tell me they paid it and would call Sprint.

They call me back saying that they paid it and it was all set. Sprint said this was a new type of scam they were seeing and that the thieves often have a bill or something like that. We shred EVERY single piece of information that has to do with bills. Never throw a piece without going through the shredder.

Just curious, has anyone ever had this type of thing before? The woman who claimed to be from Sprint knew the due date and amount but we had the physical bill they sent. We didn't pay online, paid by mail but Sprint got it. Is there anyway Sprint maybe let the info out?

Just curious on your take.
 

Aluvus

Platinum Member
Apr 27, 2006
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So the scam was that she wanted to trick you into believing that the call was being recorded?
 

MoPHo

Platinum Member
Dec 16, 2003
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Originally posted by: Aluvus
So the scam was that she wanted to trick you into believing that the call was being recorded?

Silly troll, your mouth is for dicks, not trolling the interwebs!

Edit: I keed, I keed. New edit ;)
 

Aluvus

Platinum Member
Apr 27, 2006
2,913
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Originally posted by: MoPHo
Originally posted by: Aluvus
So the scam was that she wanted to trick you into believing that the call was being recorded?

Silly troll, your mouth is for dicks, not trolling the interwebs!

Not my fault that when I opened the thread, only the first paragraph was there.

Edit your OP, then call me a troll. Classy...
 

rgwalt

Diamond Member
Apr 22, 2000
7,393
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0
I had an ex who someone called and tried to scam in a similar fashion. The problem was they called her cell phone given to her by work, so she was never even tempted to give out any information. They didn't have information with the level of detail that the OPs caller did.

Bottom line, if you owe a company money, they will send you a letter.
 

MoPHo

Platinum Member
Dec 16, 2003
2,978
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Originally posted by: Aluvus
Originally posted by: MoPHo
Originally posted by: Aluvus
So the scam was that she wanted to trick you into believing that the call was being recorded?

Silly troll, your mouth is for dicks, not trolling the interwebs!

Not my fault that when I opened the thread, only the first paragraph was there.

Edit your OP, then call me a troll. Classy...

I did have the edit in 2 seconds after saying I accidentally hit enter and would update. :p

Anyways, I reject your reality and substitute my own!
 

JS80

Lifer
Oct 24, 2005
26,271
7
81
You should have fucked with her and gave her a phony credit card. Visa, 4123 5678 9123 4567, expires dec/2099
 

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,124
779
126
Why does the thread title have a question mark in it when Sprint said it is a scam? You don't believe them and want us to tell you?
 

MoPHo

Platinum Member
Dec 16, 2003
2,978
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Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Why does the thread title have a question mark in it when Sprint said it is a scam? You don't believe them and want us to tell you?

Had to edit the thread as I accidentally hit enter. Didn't get a chance to proof read. More concerned with the fact that our info got out when Sprint got the paid amount by mail and we shred our info.

Edit: And I wanted to share the info with you guys so if you have relatives or someone who may be as gullible as me to be aware. ;)
 

dbk

Lifer
Apr 23, 2004
17,685
10
81
Originally posted by: MoPHo
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Why does the thread title have a question mark in it when Sprint said it is a scam? You don't believe them and want us to tell you?

Had to edit the thread as I accidentally hit enter. Didn't get a chance to proof read. More concerned with the fact that our info got out when Sprint got the paid amount by mail and we shred our info.

inside job?
 

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
7
76
This is just a new face on an old scam. It has been done for decades.
It started with people that would pick up a phone book and start calling , back in the late 70's.
They would call each home pretending to be the phone company , asking for credit card numbers. It still works today. Amazing how stupid some people can be.

The best way to handle these type of calls is to ask for the persons extension and tell them you will call them right back. Then use the phone number you have for the company not the one they give.
 

MoPHo

Platinum Member
Dec 16, 2003
2,978
2
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Originally posted by: Modelworks
This is just a new face on an old scam. It has been done for decades.
It started with people that would pick up a phone book and start calling , back in the late 70's.
They would call each home pretending to be the phone company , asking for credit card numbers. It still works today. Amazing how stupid some people can be.

I understand the scam, but the fact that they had the info is the part that was odd. They knew the amounts and dates due, accounts, etc. If they had called and simply said that the number would be canceled instead of the account, I wouldn't have bothered talking to her.
 

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,124
779
126
Originally posted by: MoPHo
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Why does the thread title have a question mark in it when Sprint said it is a scam? You don't believe them and want us to tell you?

Had to edit the thread as I accidentally hit enter. Didn't get a chance to proof read. More concerned with the fact that our info got out when Sprint got the paid amount by mail and we shred our info.

Edit: And I wanted to share the info with you guys so if you have relatives or someone who may be as gullible as me to be aware. ;)

I don't answer private or blocked numbers.
 

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
7
76
Originally posted by: MoPHo
Originally posted by: Modelworks
This is just a new face on an old scam. It has been done for decades.
It started with people that would pick up a phone book and start calling , back in the late 70's.
They would call each home pretending to be the phone company , asking for credit card numbers. It still works today. Amazing how stupid some people can be.

I understand the scam, but the fact that they had the info is the part that was odd. They knew the amounts and dates due, accounts, etc. If they had called and simply said that the number would be canceled instead of the account, I wouldn't have bothered talking to her.

When you said you shred your documents is it a shredder that cuts into strips or pieces ? Yes people are desperate enough that they will put stuff back together. Figuring if you shred it, you must have something to keep secret.
 

MoPHo

Platinum Member
Dec 16, 2003
2,978
2
0
Originally posted by: Modelworks
Originally posted by: MoPHo
Originally posted by: Modelworks
This is just a new face on an old scam. It has been done for decades.
It started with people that would pick up a phone book and start calling , back in the late 70's.
They would call each home pretending to be the phone company , asking for credit card numbers. It still works today. Amazing how stupid some people can be.

I understand the scam, but the fact that they had the info is the part that was odd. They knew the amounts and dates due, accounts, etc. If they had called and simply said that the number would be canceled instead of the account, I wouldn't have bothered talking to her.

When you said you shred your documents is it a shredder that cuts into strips or pieces ? Yes people are desperate enough that they will put stuff back together. Figuring if you shred it, you must have something to keep secret.

Shreds into pieces and there's hundreds of sheets of paper that goes through that thing in a week.
 

DayLaPaul

Platinum Member
Apr 6, 2001
2,072
0
76
The simple solution is to never give out your credit card or any personal information for that matter, unless you are the one that initiated the phone call.
 

slayer202

Lifer
Nov 27, 2005
13,679
119
106
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Originally posted by: MoPHo
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Why does the thread title have a question mark in it when Sprint said it is a scam? You don't believe them and want us to tell you?

Had to edit the thread as I accidentally hit enter. Didn't get a chance to proof read. More concerned with the fact that our info got out when Sprint got the paid amount by mail and we shred our info.

Edit: And I wanted to share the info with you guys so if you have relatives or someone who may be as gullible as me to be aware. ;)

I don't answer private or blocked numbers.

good for you. god forbid you waste 5 seconds answering a call that might actually be important
 

frostedflakes

Diamond Member
Mar 1, 2005
7,925
1
81
Originally posted by: slayer202
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Originally posted by: MoPHo
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Why does the thread title have a question mark in it when Sprint said it is a scam? You don't believe them and want us to tell you?

Had to edit the thread as I accidentally hit enter. Didn't get a chance to proof read. More concerned with the fact that our info got out when Sprint got the paid amount by mail and we shred our info.

Edit: And I wanted to share the info with you guys so if you have relatives or someone who may be as gullible as me to be aware. ;)

I don't answer private or blocked numbers.

good for you. god forbid you waste 5 seconds answering a call that might actually be important
I do the same thing. If it's important, they'll leave a voice message.