Grandson crying in jail!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[femurphy77]

We don't ever answer calls from unrecognized numbers. Generally the voicemail is a robocall. My son almost got sucked into the "if you don't pay us $400 now your computer will crash" scam when he was in college. He called me for advice and I told him to ask for a number to call them back at. They hung up and I told him to unplug is computer and don't be so gullible in the future. They can sound very convincing, but they are just the modern day con men selling you the Brooklyn Bridge.

Wow! Hold on there buddy, give me a few minutes and I'll show you the deed IN MY NAME!

 

[Nazgul]

Yeah, if I answer, I just pause and don't say anything for a second or 2 and just listen. If it is a real person, there will be background noise or they'll say "Hello" first.

This.

Unfortunately one of the meds I get for arthritis is renewed by phone every month. The legitimate call comes from Michigan or Wisconsin, depending on the call center working at the time. I have noted the numbers so answer if I am sure who it is, if not let it go to voicemail then call them back on the number I have saved for the pharmacy.

Don

 

[Nazgul]

2 years ago my MIL, in her 80's got a call about her grandson in jail in a foreign country. Unfortunately, he travels to several countries for work/ church missions. She sent $2000 before we could stop it.

She is not stupid, ran her own business 30 years. Still not sure why she was snagged into it. We have done some extensive training with them about this.

Everything is now in a trust with a very capable daughter.

Don

 

[CindyE]

I know someone who fell for that, English is not their first language.

 

[ATOMonkey]

I let my kids know without any uncertainty, that if they go to jail, they aren't getting bailed out by ANYONE. If you are dumb enough to get arrested, then you can stay in jail.

 

[Nazgul]

I let my kids know without any uncertainty, that if they go to jail, they aren't getting bailed out by ANYONE. If you are dumb enough to get arrested, then you can stay in jail.

My wife says that to me!!!...……all the...…….time...……………

Don

 

[hoosierdoc]

This scam actually works sometimes with the elderly. An older women I know fell for it, and actually went to the Walgreens to get the money sent. The teller at Walgreens knew her, and called one of her kids to come sort it out, so the money was never sent. Very sad situation.

.

I hope her family did something nice for that lady

 

[CindyE]

I let my kids know without any uncertainty, that if they go to jail, they aren't getting bailed out by ANYONE. If you are dumb enough to get arrested, then you can stay in jail.

The call I know of was a variation of the jail thing, think it was "car broke down and left the relative stranded out of state". The person fell for it, as the family does travel a lot.

 

[JettaKnight]

Interesting to hear that folks actually answer calls from unknown numbers.

I've been answering unknown numbers with "YO!" - the autodialer computers don't seem to know how to proceed.


And to the topic, Marketplace did a long series on this.
https://www.marketplace.org/2019/05/16/brains-losses-aging-fraud-financial-scams-seniors/

 

[halfmileharry]

I've been answering unknown numbers with "YO!" - the autodialer computers don't seem to know how to proceed.


And to the topic, Marketplace did a long series on this.
https://www.marketplace.org/2019/05/16/brains-losses-aging-fraud-financial-scams-seniors/

I press 2 on my keypad when I get questionable calls. I can usually hear the other end drop the call.

 

[goldtrigger]

I got a similar call a couple months ago. I don't have a grandson, so I was amused for a while as I listened to the story. Then I got bored and hung up.

 

[churchmouse]

I let my kids know without any uncertainty, that if they go to jail, they aren't getting bailed out by ANYONE. If you are dumb enough to get arrested, then you can stay in jail.

Bingo.

My MIL was almost sucked into this 5 years ago. This is an ongoing scam.

 

[Ark]

It's funny until they get lucky and catch you with something that makes sense in your current life. Your grandson might not be a scumbag who frequently needs bailed out, but somebody's is.

At this point I'm wishing we could find and drone strike the call centers. Maybe this crap would stop if some rented offices in India started mysteriously exploding.

 

[red_zr24x4]

My mom got this call a couple of years ago , they actually used one of my stepsons names, she told the she didn't have any money and hung up

I let my kids know without any uncertainty, that if they go to jail, they aren't getting bailed out by ANYONE. If you are dumb enough to get arrested, then you can stay in jail.

Been telling the kids this since they were teenagers.
The one time I was arrested(long story), My father in law was there to bail me out in 20 min

 

[Rookie]

Interesting to hear that folks actually answer calls from unknown numbers.

No kidding. If I don't recognize the number, I don't answer. If it's important, they can leave a message.

 

[Sylvain]

I know someone who fell for that, English is not their first language.

Hey!

 

[DRob]

In very general terms, if the phone rings and the caller is not in your directory, it's a scammer. We still have one of those old fashioned land line things. Service is from Xfinity. We also have their internet and TV service. I've installed their NoMoRobo program. Robo calls ring once and disappear. Don't even show in the caller ID log.

 

[bwframe]

Anyone have luck with android apps to screen out the robocalls?

Obviously, we cannot afford to lose even one important business or personal call, but it would be nice to not have the phone not even ring for the junk calls.

 

[laf]

I was getting 3 to 5 robo calls a week for my cars warranty, health insurance, or that stupid chinese visa expiring scam they pull on Purdue students. Back in February I re-recorded my voicemail and included the SIT for Number Not In Service. You've all heard it before; "Doo-De-DEE The number you are trying to reach is no longer in service...." I went to youtube, found that someone that had a high quality recording and re-recorded my greeting first plaing that tone back, waited 3 seconds then just used my normal outgoing message. It took maybe a month but now I'm getting less than 2 a month. Sorry everyone that has to listen to my voicemail and gets those tones that is a real person, but until I can block all unknown callers you have to listen to the tones. The robo dialers hear that and assume your number is out of service and will gradually drop you off their calling list.

 

[Rookie]

I got a call today from an unknown number. I let it go to voicemail. They left a message saying, in broken english, something about me committing a felony. I forgot to call them back...