Tell me about common cons/scams: "Thanks, you suck. Hello, this is Linda."

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Ask/Tell > Tell me about common cons/scams: "Thanks, you suck. Hello, this is Linda."

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

WampaLord posted:

This is not how ATMs work. If you put in the wrong PIN it says "Hey, wrong PIN" and gives you back your card and tells you to try again.

I've seen machines that swallow the card after three errors or that will block it.

# ¿ Jun 13, 2016 19:28

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# ¿ Mar 15, 2025 22:10

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

Many pages ago someone asked why scammers still say that they're from Nigeria.
Sadly, I can't find the source right now, but a theory is that stating that they're Nigerian immediately allows them to decrease false positives. Since scammers want to avoid investing a lot of time on people who will not fall for the con, it's better to just appeal to idiots from the very beginning. If they start talking to you, they're probably going to fall.

# ¿ Jun 14, 2016 02:51

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

drunk asian neighbor posted:

yeah dude you basically just described how all electronic components, everywhere, are sold

No dude, big box stores are all selling stolen parts!

Edit. For whatever it's worth, buying stolen merchandise is illegal, and there's a minimum diligence you're expected to show. Guy in a trenchcoat going "pssst, dude, do you want some speakers?" would not pass that diligence test.

Redrum and Coke fucked around with this message at 05:46 on Jun 28, 2016

# ¿ Jun 28, 2016 05:44

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

Lutha Mahtin posted:

where are all these stolen chips and parts coming from anyway. the only people buying big orders of computer components are manufacturers. it makes zero sense that "all" the orders that go to manufacturers are then stolen and sold back to the same manufacturers. it makes even less sense when you consider that many components have serial numbers

honestly i don't understand why someone would waltz into the thread full of people who enjoy learning about scams, and spin a tale that's barely above "my uncle works for Nintendo". especially on a forum chock full of computer nerds and people who work in high tech

I think people develop their own pet theories, don't question them, and over time take them as factually correct, despite any evidence to prove them.

# ¿ Jun 28, 2016 17:56

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

Kazak_Hstan posted:

Coolest thing I have read in a week. I hope it's true because i will repeat it as if it is.

Even if it's true that it's a smile, it would be interesting to know if it actually has an effect on people. It might be simply a guess that has just become quackery over time

# ¿ Jul 3, 2016 03:13

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

evobatman posted:

I used to be quite into fake watches, and own a bunch of them. Some are crap and some are of higher quality where you need to know exactly what to look for to tell it's a fake.

The most common scam isn't people selling fake watches as real. What's endlessly more common is scam sites claiming to sell the higher-end replicas, taking your money and then sending you nothing at all, a $50 lovely one, or charging $2-300 more for the good replicas than what they usually sell for.

There are like 3-4 big replica watch forums where you can find "trusted" sellers that to a certain degree has been vetted by the community and will sell at a competitive price with some quality control.

Sellers of fake watches can't be trusted? Well color me surprised!

# ¿ Aug 2, 2016 01:19

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

Lutha Mahtin posted:

do airlines not ask you several times about this exact circumstance when you check in anymore? i haven't flown in a few years but i remember even when i was a kid (90s) they would ask whether anyone had asked you to take anything on the plane for them

I guess the reason why they tell you that is because people still fall for it.

I asked friends to carry stuff for me before (like an envelope for my mom or something like that), and even then I give them everything open, so they can see what they're carrying. The idea of accepting something you haven't personally checked is bizarre, especially from a stranger, but it clearly happens.

# ¿ Aug 28, 2016 21:05

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

drunk asian neighbor posted:

Thankfully, it was on the shuttle from JFK back to NYC I literally did a double-take when I realized how old it was

The whole tax-free thing seems to be somewhat spotty, unless I've just gotten lucky. I've bought booze at a Duty Free store twice while waiting for domestic flights (just a bottle each time) and nobody ever asked me for my international boarding pass. Also, I brought like 6 cartons of cigarettes back from China with no issue, didn't have to declare them or anything.

I'm not a smoker, so I don't know how many cigarettes you're talking about, but you're allowed to import up to 200 https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/53/~/traveler-bringing-tobacco-products-(cigarettes,-cigars,-bidis)-to-the-u.s.-for

The issue of declaring an item is that you are supposed to do it on your own. If somebody tells you that you should have done it it's usually too late for you.

# ¿ Aug 29, 2016 03:22

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

I don't want to answer this question. Doing so would create joinder with all of you.

# ¿ Sep 6, 2016 01:15

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

Josef K. Sourdust posted:

Thanks for those replies. So what is the economic incentive to pay for posters? I know most of the sovcit stuff is scam/paranoia/libertarian/magical thinking so what's the payoff for putting up enigmatic posters?

I think they want to AWAKEN others. Like 9/11 truther posters.
Edit. Plus, the sovereign citizen movements have people making money selling their tips and tricks.

# ¿ Sep 6, 2016 13:33

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

Atticus_1354 posted:

USB sticks are cheap and it can be a good way to target a specific business. Just drop a handful in the parking lot of the company you want to gently caress up or get in their system.

I've seen some DEFCON talks where people who get paid to test vulnerabilities do just that. Apparently the sticks are often picked up and used in the office computer.

# ¿ Sep 25, 2016 02:00

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

Skinnymansbeerbelly posted:

This is good advice, however conservatorship is easier said than done, especially when you are dealing with stubborn olds who waver between good days and bad days.

There's also the fact that it can be hard to tell when they're demented. If you're not spending a lot time with someone, they can tell you about what they did, the places they went to, etc., even though none of it actually happened.

# ¿ Oct 13, 2016 18:54

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

The Sexual Shiite posted:

My folks fell for the water softener scam. They came out to my job to tell me about it, so I started pointing out that A: no one testing water for the city is going to make work for themselves by calling you at home, b: they're not going to try to sell you poo poo, c: you won't have a water softener that they have priced at $5k paid off in 24 payments of 25 dollars, so if they're telling you that, you'll have a hell of a final payment, d: that model of water softener they have listed goes for 250 bucks at lowes, so if you really want a water softener, I'll buy it, and give it to you. Also, I don't care if you committed to the purchase, in our state, you can back out of a purchase within 3 days if they came to sell it to you at your house

Mom gave me some major pushback, so I left the proof up on their computer and left. I didn't see them for a week, and when I did, the first thing they told me was that I was right and they cancelled.

Can you elaborate on the scam? I don't think I've heard of it.

# ¿ Apr 9, 2017 14:34

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

batmansdrawers posted:

Had a funny one the other day... I was in Australia, and the girlfriend was at an exchange booth converting Japanese Yen into Aussie dollars.

Some young asian guy rocks up asking her to to cancel the transaction because he was going to offer her a better deal. The teller at the exchange center was Japanese, so, we were all talking a common language. He says he is going to Japan the day after, and wants to shoot her a better deal, and I step in, because this kid is more Australian than he is Japanese. He starts saying he is going to see his J-dad the day after, and shows me emails, and he is saying he has an Australian mum. My girl says his Japanese is not fluent - it's off point. At this point, everything seems dodgy, so I say to the little oval office, "Oi, nah, mate, this is sus. gently caress off." He hollers out to his Australian mum, and this fat whale comes over with a shopping trolley full of food (for the family who is supposedly leaving to Japan the next day).

She's aggressive, and has a tattoo of a star under her right eye, and she starts screaming me down. I can't really see how he would benefit either party. What's the scam?

Fake bills?

# ¿ Apr 10, 2017 15:01

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

I met an autistic kid who, as I write this, is boarding a flight to Russia to go and personally give 5 thousand pounds to a girl he met who needs it for a heart transplant.

I tried to dissuade him, but apparently his mom signed off on his trip.
.

Edit. I say kid, but it's early 20s

# ¿ May 21, 2017 03:57

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

Proteus Jones posted:

Herbalife is notorious for preying on the Hispanic community. People have lost their life-savings to them.

John Oliver's episode on MLMs is the one I send people who want to know "what's wrong with MLMs?" This is really worth a watch, and he really, really hates Herbalife.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6MwGeOm8iI

He lifts a lot of his segment from the fantastic documentary "Betting on Zero". It's available on Netflix, if anybody is interested.

# ¿ Dec 14, 2017 10:27

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

JacquelineDempsey posted:

My mom had an ileostomy before she died, which is like a colostomy only they route your guts to a bag starting at the small intestine, rather than colon. One of the most heartbreaking conversations I had with her during her last year on earth went like this:

: "So, uh, when you got that done... howzit work? Do they sew your butt closed?"
: "Yep. I don't have a butt anymore."
: "...."
: "...I really miss pooping."

Screw that; if I inherit her weird, rare form of uncurable cancer along with her arthritis and bad knees that I've already got, my plan is:
1. Hike to the top of a remote mountain or cliff
2. Get turbo-high
3. Eat a whole pot of chili
4. Take one last triumphant poo poo
5. Throw myself off said mountain or cliff

fake edit: this is one hella strange derail

They do not sew your butt closed, dude.

# ¿ Sep 7, 2018 00:56

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

I think it was mentioned here before, but the AARP makes a podcast about common cons and scams (seeing that a lot of times the targets are elderly people). It's cohosted by Frank Abegnale, the guy from Catch Me If You Can.

Check out this podcast: The Perfect Scam
http://perfectscam.aarp.libsynpro.com/rss via @PodcastAddict

# ¿ Oct 10, 2018 15:19

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

I think they're useful for younger people to also be aware of what scams are out there, and talk to their own folks about it (not that young people are immune to scams, on the contrary).

BiggerBoat posted:

Interested in this but this link is hosed up

Mine was, directly, the rss feed for the podcast. Try this one:

https://www.aarp.org/podcasts/the-perfect-scam/

# ¿ Oct 10, 2018 15:37

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

Matchstick Men, also whatever the name is of the film where de Niro plays Bernie Madoff.

# ¿ Oct 15, 2018 02:00

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

MightyJoe36 posted:

My power goes out often enough that my router gets rebooted regularly.

Venezuelan lifehack

# ¿ Mar 11, 2019 14:33

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

https://open.spotify.com/show/1HhgxCadyWTQ09MiqQ136u?si=0oDtg4NfTPSfVYQ7z-ViZw

The perfect scam podcast is back with new episodes! It's made by AARP, but it's not just about scamming seniors.

# ¿ Mar 15, 2019 11:36

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

MightyJoe36 posted:

AARP is all about scamming seniors.

The podcast is still fun, it has the dude from Catch Me Of You Can.

Also, I'm not American. What's the deal with AARP?

# ¿ Mar 15, 2019 17:03

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

Tubgoat posted:

Jesus was a Palestinian anarchist. Fight me.

That might explain why the Israelis had him tortured and killed

# ¿ Aug 27, 2019 05:13

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

If any of you has an academic account, you can get it really cheap.
I pay like 20 bucks per year for Adobe CC

Fake edit. Yes, year.

# ¿ Dec 27, 2019 02:39

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

doctorfrog posted:

I feel this depends a lot on whether the device/computer can continue to be used to mine data or obtain something else from the user while they are using. The current situation is that most people will happily give up quite a bit to stream a video or play a game, or have some other amusement. It's a Bonzi scheme.

Right now Windows 10 installs apps you didn't ask for automatically, serves ads, and conducts opt-somewhat-out user surveillance. They're not likely to kill the goose by hitting people with fees or lockouts, because people don't feel like their Hulu or whatever comes from Microsoft, and they'll start getting fussy: it'll look like MS is blocking their Hulu. They'll stop thinking of the Microsoft OS device as their feeding trough and next purchase cycle, avoid it. OTOH, Hulu can charge money AND make you watch ads because they serve the content drip feed, and the user knows it.

As soon as they think they can make one more dollar for charging a monthly fee than not, though...

Bonzi buddy was always into sketchy poo poo.

# ¿ Dec 27, 2019 10:22

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

Inceltown posted:

Votes should be weighted by the dollar amount of tax deductions you claim. Every $1,000 you write off your taxes takes 1% off your vote weight. If you're not contributing your taxes you shouldn't get as much of a say.

Those who are so rich they can claim $100,000 worth of deduction obviously don't need any say because it's already going so well for them.

How can someone know so little about what taxes are?

# ¿ Feb 20, 2020 18:50

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# ¿ Mar 15, 2025 22:10

Redrum and Coke: Feb 25, 2006; wAstIng 10 bUcks ON an aVaTar iS StUpid

Inceltown posted:

I've been reading more on taxes since this post and it seems like the amount should have been $420 not $1,000. The correct number will be used going forward.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean you. I meant the person thinking tenants don't pay taxes.

# ¿ Mar 13, 2020 04:49

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Ask/Tell > Tell me about common cons/scams: "Thanks, you suck. Hello, this is Linda."