Crypto Scams - Yesterday my mother lost her life’s savings.

Omegafanman · Mar 10, 2023

Very sad to read this. It is always the perpetrators who should take all the blame, trusting people is a virtue even if it gets us into trouble. For sure everyone needs to be more cautious these days. There are some nasty evil people about, but more good ones thankfully.
Is there anything to be said about the bank. In the UK questions would be asked if you were withdrawing cash / sometimes they limit what you can take per day. If they made it too easy for a vulnerable or distressed person to take a significant sum out, then they are not doing a good job. They must have CCTV. As a minimum it should make them reflect on staff training and what signs to look out for.
Sorry again. At least it was not a violent crime but emotionally very, very distressing of course.

gbesq · Mar 10, 2023

A few things to keep in mind to avoid being scammed, at least via the internet and on the phone:

-Use two factor authentication for access to all of your accounts. Use a VPN for your computer and phone.

-Use lengthy and complex usernames and passwords with a combination of capital letter, small letters, numbers and special characters. Nothing familiar or personal to you and at least 12 characters. Change your passwords at regular intervals.

-NEVER click on a link in an email or a text message unless you are absolutely certain that the source is legitimate. If in doubt, telephone the source and confirm that the email or text is legitimate

-Use spam blocking software for your phone and email

-If you are contacted by someone you don’t know, ask yourself how they would have gotten your contact information and don’t give them any information about yourself or your accounts if asked. If someone identifies themselves as law enforcement or a government employee, ask them for their name, organization, address of their office, badge or ID number, and email address. Most of the time, scammers will hang up. If they don’t, ask questions to trip them up and expose them as scammers. For example, where did you go to college? What city? What state? When? What’s the school’s mascot?

-Most importantly, remember that no law enforcement or government employee will ever ask you for money to avoid prosecution. Similarly, no bank or financial institution will ever ask you for your password. If they do, hang up.

-Trust your gut. If it doesn’t feel right, assume that it’s a scam.

Pastorbottle · May 8, 2023

Unlike most of you lot who feel sorry, I have nothing to be sorry for, I didn’t do it…….no, what I feel is anger, I’m angry that the authorities are so far behind the times, and leave the door open for these vermin to get away with this shit.
If they use international borders to avoid prosecution the the country harbouring them should be held responsible with sanctions, asset forfeiture and trade deals revoked.
If they use bitcoin machines then hold the supplier and/or the owner responsible, after all they are profiting from this in a roundabout sort of way.
Give the bastards no where to run and nowhere to hide, and when they’re caught come down on them like a ton of bricks

Arancio601 · May 8, 2023

I’m afraid scamming is only going to get more sophisticated. I closely follow AI developments as it is disrupting my field of work as well as tech advancements in the visual and gaming worlds. Scammers are already able to ‘steal’ your voice from a short conversation with you. They can then converse on the phone with your loved ones in a convincing manner. It won’t be long before this can be done visually too by video calls. The tech is already there.
I’m afraid where money or personal details are involved we will all need to be vigilant and wary of any conversations in the future.

Archer · May 8, 2023

Arancio601
I’m afraid scamming is only going to get more sophisticated. I closely follow AI developments as it is disrupting my field of work as well as tech advancements in the visual and gaming worlds. Scammers are already able to ‘steal’ your voice from a short conversation with you. They can then converse on the phone with your loved ones in a convincing manner. It won’t be long before this can be done visually too by video calls. The tech is already there.
I’m afraid where money or personal details are involved we will all need to be vigilant and wary of any conversations in the future.

Set-up a password between you and your loved ones. That's what we have done...

Arancio601 · May 8, 2023

Archer
Set-up a password between you and your loved ones. That's what we have done...

Yes, I've just done something similar with my dad. He is still pretty aware which is good. He likes to lead along all the PayID scammers on FB marketplace...

Pastorbottle · May 8, 2023

I have liked ones but no loved ones…….. I have no surviving family members that I talk to, so no danger of anyone getting any money out of me by impersonating them! 😁
I’m however more than happy to give a cash injection to friends in order to help them out of a bind and do so frequently …….. but the keyword there is cash!
I hand it over face to face, or sometimes (rarely) through the Australian banking system of pre registered OSKO payments, so unless the banks system has been hacked to intercept the transfer, in which case the bank is liable for reimbursement, then as I already have the correct transfer information, I see it as bloody difficult for the funds to go to anywhere other than wherever they’re intended to go.
I would not send funds to a new account

Walrus · May 8, 2023

Arancio601
I’m afraid scamming is only going to get more sophisticated. I closely follow AI developments as it is disrupting my field of work as well as tech advancements in the visual and gaming worlds. Scammers are already able to ‘steal’ your voice from a short conversation with you. They can then converse on the phone with your loved ones in a convincing manner. It won’t be long before this can be done visually too by video calls. The tech is already there.
I’m afraid where money or personal details are involved we will all need to be vigilant and wary of any conversations in the future.

A while back when I was calling my credit card company about an unauthorized charge they asked me if they could capture my voice to use as security “recognition” for future interactions. I declined as I’ve already read some nightmare stories about bio hacking. I don’t think there are any surefire ways to be 100% safe if the DOD and other government agencies get hacked what the hec can’t