Have You Ever Been Scammed of Money?

mmd on 05/01/2022 - 00:30

Saw this interesting article https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/scammers-capitalise-on… and was wondering if any ozbargainer (its ok to own up) has ever been scammed of money?

Australians lost over $851 million to scams in 2020, a record amount, as scammers took advantage of the pandemic to con unsuspecting people, according to the ACCC’s latest Targeting Scams report released today.

This figure was from 2020. Surely the figure will be higher in 2021 due to more ppl buying things online and cryptocurrency.

Financial

Comments

  • iNeed2Pee on 05/01/2022 - 00:47

    I love/hate the stories where men & women in their 60s or over actually go to a bank face to face because the scammer on the phone told them to download a seperate app, input all the details then withdraw the money and send it to an address.

    Absolutely blows my mind how "some" people are scammed this hard.

    • netjock on 05/01/2022 - 09:04

      Yup. Have to tell the parents. Don't trust calls from people you don't know. Even those from people you know, if they talk about borrowing money or some money related scheme raise the red flags.

    • jmi on 05/01/2022 - 10:43
      +1

      Every generation has its share of victims and it's not limited to just the elderly Boomers that are particularly vulnerable.

      How many Millennials got scammed out by fake cryptobanks, cryptocurrencies, pump and dump crypto-coins? Bitconnect, anyone?

      I got scammed out of 20 cents when I was 12 yrs old. Learnt to never trust a person on blind faith when it comes to money matters since then. Truth be told, being scammed out of 20 cents was the best money lesson in my childhood days.

  • SF3 on 05/01/2022 - 00:52
    +1

    I think @FareEvader, hasn't been taken out to Nobu, he is still owed his shopping trip and the money he lend to his "friend".

    Always a risk lending money to a "friend" or recent post from another OP lending a credit card…

  • Stopback on 05/01/2022 - 01:17
    +5

    Yep. Super. They set it as Auto insurance wages. Lost 3 K.

    Business are the real thief's.

  • PensionerXXL on 05/01/2022 - 06:52
    +8

    i have an interesting story ill try and shorten it

    with an internet provider that rhymes with bellstra, internet started to drop out
    bellstra reset line, fixed for a few days then began again, sent new modem issue was fixed (call centre was in a foreign country so it took numerous calls before i could speak with someone savy)

    within days had multiple calls from the same foreign country claiming A) they were bellstra B) that my computer had a virus C) they needed to remote into my pc to fix the issue

    on the original call with bellstra the tech support were only interested in what lights were on the modem, no pc use was discussed
    i asked the fake bellstra rep what my account details were - they quoted them correctly (i fear that my details were sold from a bellstra employee to a scammer network)

    so i played a long with them for a little, i told them that the internet connection was only for Netflix and no pc was connected to the internet
    this stumped the scammer for a second, then they asked for my paypal info (email and login) to correct a payment issue

    i told them it was on my phone and i use a fingerprint to access those services…… long pause, big sigh, hang up

    TLDR - scammers are getting more sophisticated, and with scammers working for large tech companies selling account info to scammer networks it's getting harder to tell whose who.

  • kazuyamishima on 05/01/2022 - 08:23

    Yes, one time on Ebay and one time on FB Marketplace.

    I hope it never happens again…..

  • holdenmg on 05/01/2022 - 08:56
    +4

    Playing Monopoly and because it was dark I didn't count the notes in payment from another player.

    I have learned from this.

  • Big Lenny on 05/01/2022 - 09:20

    fell for a few stupid tourist scams in vietnam

    • godofpizza on 05/01/2022 - 11:34

      was it buying lottery tickets or gum?

      • Fizzydrink on 13/01/2022 - 15:11

        can you elaborate on the gum?

  • FrugalDealSeeker on 05/01/2022 - 09:31

    Yes posted my PS4 to someone who sent me a fraudulent PayPal receipt and email.

  • pegaxs on 05/01/2022 - 09:38
    +3

    Yeah. On my first trip to Vietnam, I bought a bottle of water off a street vendor for Đ20,000 (about AU$1.20) when the locals were only paying Đ8,000 (about AU$0.40). It was the highlight of my in-laws life and they told everyone how stupid I was for paying that much for a bottle of water.

    • Big Lenny on 05/01/2022 - 09:50
      +2

      i got done worse

      paid 150k vnd for the coconut vendor scam where he lets you carry them and takes pics for you

      i guess covid got him worse since VN has not had any tourists for 2 years

      • watwatwat on 05/01/2022 - 17:46

        i guess covid got him worse since VN has not had any tourists for 2 years

        You played the long con and he was delivered justice.

      • cheesecactus on 07/01/2022 - 18:41

        Whats the scam? You paid $9 for a photo op?

        Honestly seems fair.

    • Stopback on 05/01/2022 - 10:58

      got to stick with the 7 elevens

    • kmwa on 05/01/2022 - 17:06

      On my first trip to Kuala Lumpur, we went out for a drink somewhere after work and then I flagged a taxi down to take me to my hotel.The taxi driver burst out laughing.
      I got in and he drove about 100 metres and stopped outside the hotel.
      I only had big denomination Malaysian notes and he didn't have any change…
      So I paid a king's ransom for the shortest taxi ride I've ever had.
      Fortunately it was on expenses.

  • foxmulder on 05/01/2022 - 10:12

    While we're on subject on scamming, I received an email today subjected You've received a Woolworths eGift Card!
    from [email protected], email looks not right and doesn't address my name in the email.

    $160 wish gift card in the email, scam or not scam?

    • Big Lenny on 05/01/2022 - 10:17
      +1

      put your detective hat on mulder

    • Autonomic on 05/01/2022 - 12:02

      Expand the header and see if that is indeed the email.

      • foxmulder on 05/01/2022 - 12:54

        I don't understand. I click on pull down info under my email:

        from: Woolworths Gift Cards <[email protected]>
        reply-to: [email protected]
        to: [me]
        date: Jan 5, 2022, 8:28 AM
        subject: You've received a Woolworths eGift Card!
        signed-by: giftcards.woolworths.com.au
        security: Standard encryption (TLS) Learn more
        Important according to Google magic.
        • Autonomic on 05/01/2022 - 14:12

          Looks legitimate to me. Anything else suspicious in the email?

          • foxmulder on 05/01/2022 - 18:24

            @Autonomic: Checking through past gift card receiving, i found out it's most likely from a Big W order I placed recently. A $200 order and they only invoice me $40 thus I'm guessing this is what where it came from.

            Almost delete it thought it was scam. No message from Big W either, they will just assume you understand what that gift card for which was issued a day after that invoice was made.

            Thanks for your help.

  • penguincat on 05/01/2022 - 10:30

    Yes. I was doing a project many many years ago. One of the team members paid for some things then after I paid them back they cancelled their transaction and pocketed the money. Totalled like $90.

    Then you could say the original project itself. Someone twisted the numbers to make like it was going to be pretty fancy. Bankroll this and you will get X money in advertisements affiliate type referrals blah blah after around Y months the project will be self sufficient, It will have 1200+ users after Z months. All that fancy stuff.
    I didn't actually want any profit I just wanted it to be self sufficient as the idea was cool.
    Reality was after 6 months it was 2 users. No one wanted to advertise. Like most business ideas you keep throwing money into it thinking that might save it but it was completely dead. I was out a total of something like $1390.

  • KaTst3R on 05/01/2022 - 10:50

    Got scammed trying to buy an Ipod when I was younger. The scammer actually set up a really convincing logistics website that showed tracking of the item. I had to send US$200 through Western Union to "release the item". Needless to say, once the money was sent, the website started showing a 404 error. Now I am super careful when dealing with buying stuff online. Small lesson learned to prevent a larger future loss. And never use Western Union.

  • dragong87 on 05/01/2022 - 10:56

    Once while i was on holidays there was some celebration going on and someone was selling whistles. It sounded amazing so i bought 2 for $5 AUD.
    I could not make it whistle the same or anything close. I guess they could actually whistle that well.
    Lesson learnt and quite a cheap lesson.

  • Dlw on 05/01/2022 - 11:34
    +1

    I’ve definitely overpaid for things in foreign countries purely because I was a tourist.

  • pharkurnell on 05/01/2022 - 12:05

    Been watching some great scambaiters on youtube again lately….

    Mind blowing how some people get talked into letting people on their pc's, going to the store to buy gift cards while the scammer stays on the phone with em…

    All the scammers work the similar script who never seem to learn, as do the baiters

    youtube channels
    ScammerPayback
    Scambaiter
    KitbogaShow

  • [Deactivated] on 05/01/2022 - 12:49

    Yep scammed by a gypsy who came into my workplace and asked for change. I can't remember how the scam went but I lost $20. I can laugh about it now 🤣

  • WreckTangle on 05/01/2022 - 13:47

    I am often overcharged at the supermarket but its not worth my effort to line up at customer services.

  • rektrading on 05/01/2022 - 15:06

    Have You Ever Been Scammed of Money?

    Yes, when I used to keep my savings in a bank account.

    Monthly account fees, withdrawal limits, fees on extra withdrawal, bounced checks, overdraft fees and zero interest on savings is the biggest scam.

  • [Deactivated] on 05/01/2022 - 15:14
    +1

    This is an absolutely true story which occurred in the car trade in 1985-1986. I wasn't personally scammed but my employer, a used car dealer was.
    A local wholesaler was part of a criminal syndicate which was stealing new XF Falcons from the Ford factory in Geelong. Don't ask me how it was even possible.
    Each stolen Falcon had its odometer wound FORWARD to around 15,000 and a fictitious name and address was typed in the owner's manual.
    Most of the Falcons were sold through the trade to unsuspecting interstate dealers who must have thought they were the best maintained used cars ever. 🤣
    The scheme eventually came unstuck and police seized all of the stolen Falcons. The local wholesaler was arrested, charged and did time in prison. I don't know if anyone else was arrested.
    Possibly the first time in history that odometers were wound forward. 🤣

  • tight-ass on 05/01/2022 - 17:26
    +2

    It can happen to anyone, regardless of age!

    I follow Jim Browning, internet alias of a London-based software engineer and YouTuber from Northern Ireland whose content primarily focuses on scambaiting and exposing scam call centres. This guy is amazing at what he does, so I was shocked to see even he fell victim to scammers last year.

    He explains in this video how he fell victim to the scammers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIWV5fSaUB8

  • Tiredman on 08/01/2022 - 15:12

    The usual lent money to a good friend and failed to get it back bullshit. Never do it guys.

  • Romper Stomper on 09/01/2022 - 08:39

    There is a Global Anti-Scam website https://www.globalantiscam.org/ where victims can upload screenshots and scammer photos to prevent others being scammed by the same scammer profile.

  • JHoliday on 14/01/2022 - 13:51

    I lost $615 buying JB HiFi Gift Cards on Facebook Marketplace. When seller sent the gift card vouchers the balance was already $0. They promised to fix the error on their end and send new ones etc but then stopped responding to messages and deactivated their account.

  • FeZZa21 on 17/05/2022 - 10:45
    +1

    Yes $1500 got stolen from me via ozb classifieds last week

    • FLICKIT on 17/05/2022 - 11:21

      What were you buying or selling?, how did the scam go down?

      • FeZZa21 on 17/05/2022 - 12:37
        +4

        I advertised for $1,500 worth of gift cards, "fatsquirrel" said he had the gift cards and provided his banking details, sent him the payment. I then changed my mind as the item I wanted to purchase using the gift cards went out of stock and asked for the funds back, he agreed and then disappeared shortly after. Disputed the transfer with my bank and they're working on getting the funds recalled, also notified his bank for them investigate fraud on their end. Once I find out which state he's in, will file a police report in his state too as WA (my state) only deal with matters in this state. first time I've been scammed in the 28 years I've been "online" lol

        • FLICKIT on 17/05/2022 - 13:18

          That sucks… All I can suggest is submit an online report, chances are nothing will come of it but if they're a frequent offender it might help build a rap sheet in the system for them, I assuem the system would tie together bank account numbers and such:
          https://www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/report

          I notice they were only a member here for 3 months: Member Since:13/02/2022, and about 30 posts, probably a bit new to trust with $1500, hard way to learn a lesson…
          https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:1VSwDV…
          I cant see anything in their posts to suggest which state they were from…

          Even though the mods have disabled the account they're probably back on a new one…. grrrr…

          • FeZZa21 on 17/05/2022 - 13:24
            +1

            @FLICKIT: It's not exactly the wild west these days, law enforcement/bank can easily ID him via his bank account and mobile number. Question is will police/his bank do anything about it. Scotty from OzB confirmed he's in NSW, his bank only has 1 branch in Australia too so needed confirmation.

            Can't report to https://www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/report because OzB is not on the list of websites where fraud happened. Even local police online reporting forms were not very good in reporting online fraud, they're designed for physical losses.

            Lesson learnt, next time I'd ask for ID for high value purchases.

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