Apple Refund Phone Scam

Anyone crazy enough to fall for it needs a sitter. When scammers call, I cut them short by hanging up. Sometimes I might say screw you scammer before I hang up. However, once in a great while, when in the mood for it, I will start telling them a long story which they will interrupt in attempts to regain control. I simply re-interrupt them, continuing the story.

Often, I don't answer my phone at all. Drives Christine crazy. She thinks it must be answered. I've always felt that just because someone wants to talk with me right friggin' now, it doesn't mean that I want to talk with them. It can wait.

It has taken me years to train Christine not to answer questions from telemarketers. I hate it when someone calls and their first question is to ask who I am.

"Who were you calling?"

"I just need to verify your name."

"Who are you?"

"My name is Kim. What is yours?"

"I don't know any Kims. You have the wrong number."

"No, I just need to get your name so I can find you in our system."

"That information is classified."

"Classified?"

"Right. Ever since that fiasco in Baghdad a few years back, my identity has been classified, and this is not a secure line."

Dial tone. Damn, didn't even get the chance to tell her a Baghdad story. I wonder what it would have been...
 
My default ringtone is silent. I only hear calls from people in my contact list. I tried a block list but they always fill up.
 
I use Call Blocker by Vlad, only get calls from contacts list. Never thought to do the silent default ringtone, might try that.

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I love when these scammers attempt to have a conversation with my voice mail. I think they're all using automated systems with voice recognition because in addition to the fact that they ignore the greeting that clearly stated I'm not available and to leave a message, they always ask a yes/no question. If you say "yes" you'll be transferred to a real human being, but if you say anything other than "yes" (even "correct" or "sure") it'll just hang up on you, or if you don't say anything (because you're not there!) it'll repeat the question a few times until it gives up.
 
Even though I'm retired I don't have time for that BS. If they call on the phone from out side the US I automatically hang up. If they call from the US and I don't like them I block their calls. With the newer operating systems from Apple I have much fewer issues off the internet, and I have changed e-mail addresses, so that should make things pretty Quiet gain.
 
john5220 said:
I've been getting the phone scam telling me that I'm entitled to money back from Apple since they've ceased operations...
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The company with the highest ever valuation (>$1T) has "ceased operations"? I guess that explains the recent iPhone Xs launch. ;)
 
E-Stat said:
The company with the highest ever valuation (>$1T) has "ceased operations"? I guess that explains the recent iPhone Xs launch. ;)
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I recently heard an interesting explanation for silliness like "Apple have ceased operations" or the obvious misspellings and ludicrous stories in email spam: They're designed to filter out (relatively) smart people and catch the terminally stupid.

Smart people immediately recognise the scam and hang up the phone or delete the spam email. Thus, the mark pre-qualifies himself as not being a suitable target, without wasting the scammer's time or effort.

The terminally stupid don't recognise the obvious and intentional scamminess of the scam -- the ridiculous story or obvious misspellings -- so if they stay on the phone or respond to the spam email, they've already demonstrated they're likely to be gullible enough to be worth the scammer's time and effort.
 
****FINAL UPDATE****
I called back and got "Dwayne" and he seemed to be on the first day of the job. I actually asked him how much my refund was, and he said $349....this was the third different figure that was quoted for my refund.

After a few minutes, I asked who they were calling for and he told me Mr. Lane. (not my name!) Now, the trap was set. I immediately went into the scenario where I was investigating Mr. Lane's murder and I needed some information from HIM! After prodding, he told me he was in Texas....yeah, right.....and then I asked what city so I could have the local authorities come to him to ask about the murder. He started getting antsy....and said HE didn't trust ME since he didn't know ME. He wanted to know why I called him, I told him HE CALLED ME... When I again asked for his address he, of course, refused and told me he was getting scared! CLICK!

Maybe he quit his job and can rethink his employment path! :)
 
DaveVoorhis said:
I recently heard an interesting explanation for silliness like "Apple have ceased operations" or the obvious misspellings and ludicrous stories in email spam: They're designed to filter out (relatively) smart people and catch the terminally stupid.

Smart people immediately recognise the scam and hang up the phone or delete the spam email. Thus, the mark pre-qualifies himself as not being a suitable target, without wasting the scammer's time or effort.

The terminally stupid don't recognise the obvious and intentional scamminess of the scam -- the ridiculous story or obvious misspellings -- so if they stay on the phone or respond to the spam email, they've already demonstrated they're likely to be gullible enough to be worth the scammer's time and effort.
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IOW they cast a very large net. Then toss the smart fish overboard and process and eat the rest.
 
musichal said:
Anyone crazy enough to fall for it needs a sitter. When scammers call, I cut them short by hanging up. Sometimes I might say screw you scammer before I hang up. However, once in a great while, when in the mood for it, I will start telling them a long story which they will interrupt in attempts to regain control. I simply re-interrupt them, continuing the story.

Often, I don't answer my phone at all. Drives Christine crazy. She thinks it must be answered. I've always felt that just because someone wants to talk with me right friggin' now, it doesn't mean that I want to talk with them. It can wait.

It has taken me years to train Christine not to answer questions from telemarketers. I hate it when someone calls and their first question is to ask who I am.

"Who were you calling?"

"I just need to verify your name."

"Who are you?"

"My name is Kim. What is yours?"

"I don't know any Kims. You have the wrong number."

"No, I just need to get your name so I can find you in our system."

"That information is classified."

"Classified?"

"Right. Ever since that fiasco in Baghdad a few years back, my identity has been classified, and this is not a secure line."

Dial tone. Damn, didn't even get the chance to tell her a Baghdad story. I wonder what it would have been...
Click to expand...

I don't think it's a matter of being "crazy" to fall for these scumbags! They prey on the elderly and too trusting folks out there....not folks like us who can see through their BS!
 
On another forum, a fellow said he was caught by one of those "We're from Microsoft and we need to fix your computer" scams. He said he knew it was a scam from the start, but they kept calling back and were so insistent that he finally gave in.

I find it unbelievable that anyone could be so malleable, but I guess it happens. I wonder how many people out there are neither gullible, nor foolish, but are simply unable to resist persistence and insistence even when they know better.
 
DaveVoorhis said:
On another forum, a fellow said he was caught by one of those "We're from Microsoft and we need to fix your computer" scams. He said he knew it was a scam from the start, but they kept calling back and were so insistent that he finally gave in.

I find it unbelievable that anyone could be so malleable, but I guess it happens. I wonder how many people out there are neither gullible, nor foolish, but are simply unable to resist persistence and insistence even when they know better.
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His definition of knew obviously differs from mine.

I was talking on the phone with with an acquaintance once who said, "Hang on, somebody's trying to get through. I'll be right back."

Abut ten seconds later he flashed back on and said, "Got to go, having some kind of problem with my computer."

"Are you on your computer now? What kind of trouble?"

"No, Microsoft is holding. They say we have to act fast to stop it. Talk to you later."

"No man, it's a scam Microsoft doesn't -" But he'd already flashed me off.

I tried to call him back, but he wasn't answering. About two hours later he called and told me, "Man, that was no fun. They couldn't stop the virus, and it ended up costing me $149 to get rid of it. They handled it all, though."

"Hate to tell you, but you just got scammed. Microsoft doesn't make calls like that. Google it, you'll see. The scammer claims you're having computer problems, then gets your info and sends a virus, then charges you to fix it. It's a well-known scam. I tried to tell you but you hung up on me."

"Ho, I think this actually was Microsoft in this case."

"Sorry, but no. Microsoft even warns people about it. They never make calls like that. Do you really think they guard your computer - and everybody else's - like that? Not possible. The only thing you ever need do with unsolicited calls about your computer is hang up. Sorry you got burned, but I'm just telling you this so that it won't happen to you again."

The guy wasn't aged, just naïve about computers. And a bit slower on the uptake than I'd previously realized.
 
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musichal said:
His definition of knew obviously differs from mine.

I was talking on the phone with with an acquaintance once who said, "Hang on, somebody's trying to get through. I'll be right back."

Abut ten seconds later he flashed back on and said, "Got to go, having some kind of problem with my computer."

"Are you on your computer now? What kind of trouble?"

"No, Microsoft is holding. They say we have to act fast to stop it. Talk to you later."

"No man, it's a scam Microsoft doesn't -" But he'd already flashed me off.

I tried to call him back, but he wasn't answering. About two hours later he called and told me, "Man, that was no fun. They couldn't stop the virus, and it ended up costing me $149 to get rid of it. They handled it all, though."

"Hate to tell you, but you just got scammed. Microsoft doesn't make calls like that. Google it, you'll see. The scammer claims you're having computer problems, then gets your info and sends a virus, then charges you to fix it. It's a well-known scam. I tried to tell you but you hung up on me."

"Ho, I think this actually was Microsoft in this case."

"Sorry, but no. Microsoft even warns people about it. They never make calls like that. Do you really think they guard your computer - and everybody else's - like that? Not possible. The only thing you ever need do with unsolicited calls about your computer is hang up. Sorry you got burned, but I'm just telling you this so that it won't happen to you again."

The guy wasn't aged, just naïve about computers. And a bit slower on the uptake than I'd previously realized.
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I know a person that fell for that. Not dumb, either, they have a degree.
Some people just get panicky about stuff like this.

I usually just ignore those calls, but a few years back they just wouldn't stop calling at odd hours.
One day I rope a doped one for awhile. I went on and on like an idiot, described all kinds of stuff on my screen(it wasn't pleasant), and had them assuming the had me.

And then I said, "Wait. You said you're calling from Microsoft about my Windows?"
"Yes"
"I'm sorry. I don't use Windows"
"Oh, you use Apple?" with a hint of anticipation.
"No. I use Linux"
"What's that?"
:rflmao:
 
Having to use a voice prosthesis to speak results in most voice recognition programs not acknowledging me talking. This is a good thing as far as spammers go. I say hello and they hang up. OTOH when I make a call to a voice operated system I have problems getting them to recognize my voice. I usually have to say yes multiple times to be recognized. Thankfully many of them will connect you to a live person if you press 0 enough times.
 
DaveVoorhis said:
On another forum, a fellow said he was caught by one of those "We're from Microsoft and we need to fix your computer" scams. He said he knew it was a scam from the start, but they kept calling back and were so insistent that he finally gave in.
Click to expand...

musichal said:
His definition of knew obviously differs from mine.
...
The guy wasn't aged, just naïve about computers. And a bit slower on the uptake than I'd previously realized.
Click to expand...

KrisM said:
I know a person that fell for that. Not dumb, either, they have a degree.
Some people just get panicky about stuff like this.
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The guy I cited said he was fully aware it was a scam right from the beginning. He gave in because the caller(s) were persistent and insisted he do what they said. So he did. He said something like, "They kept asking me to do it, so I finally had to."

Odd, that.

I wonder if I could have emailed him every day asking for, say, £1000. Would he eventually turn over the cash?

I suspect he would. Some folks seem unable to resist being commanded. I bet the scammers and spammers rely on it in addition to naivety and gullibility.
 
All kinds of scams, Microsoft, Apple, Windows, etc...

The latest in our part of the world is some guy with a heavy Punjabi accent who is named "Richard Williams" claiming he is from the Canada Revenue Agency regarding taxes being owed and that there is an arrest warrant out for the guy getting the call, to meet at a specified meeting place with cash otherwise he will be arrested.


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