[volkman10]

Originally Posted by NPV

Received a call few minutes ago and didn’t pick it looking at the +1 866 xxxx number, went to voicemail and here’s the transcript:
--

Received a call from the same number. I too did not bother to pick it up.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by NPV

...received another call today, this time from Oman...

Noteworthy that many (in fact, most) of these scam calls come from +92 (Pakistan), +96 (Oman), +977 (Nepal) & +98 (Iran) numbers. The spam calls still come from +91 numbers (selling insurance, loans etc.), but the purported calls from income tax, telecom department etc. trying to scam one, seem to invariably originate from Oman, Nepal, Iran, Canada, and once even from Timor Leste (+670 - I'm sure many will Google & look up where that is!).

[IamNikhil]

Noticing a sudden increase in these calls from +91-140xxxxx numbers. The moment you block one number, there's a spurt in calls from similar ones. Absolutely frustrating!

[mukeshgoel]

Originally Posted by IamNikhil

Noticing a sudden increase in these calls from +91-140xxxxx numbers. The moment you block one number, there's a spurt in calls from similar ones. Absolutely frustrating!

+91-140 means registered telemarketers.

You should do your DND (again if already done).

There is a feature to block 140 in TrueCaller. There is an option to block any series also.

.

[ashkamath]

Originally Posted by IamNikhil

Noticing a sudden increase in these calls from +91-140xxxxx numbers. The moment you block one number, there's a spurt in calls from similar ones. Absolutely frustrating!

I have been religiously blocking and deleting the spam calls since months/ years and now suddenly there are almost no more calls. Earlier there were minimum 10 spam calls per day and now many days pass without receiving a single spam call.

It's been quite peaceful on this front in recent times and I absolutely love it.. I have idea SIM and I don't know if they are managing the spam calls better now.

[NPV]

And another one this morning from Iran (+98) supposedly from TRAI saying phone service will be disconnected in 2 hours! I didn’t pick the call and it went to voicemail.

[IamNikhil]

Got calls from Iran, Algeria and Azerbaijan today. Did not pick any and blocked the numbers right away.

[n33rav]

Got scammed 2 days ago for 5 Lakh. Someone whatsapp me impersonating owner of foreign company for which I am working as Freelancer since very long time. He asked for urgent favour in form of Apple Gift Cards in similar style my Boss ask when there is urgent task. Urgency and message from Boss put me in mission mode and I generated and gave 55 gift card codes in 2 hours.

Screenshot of Chat attached so you guys know how this scam works.

When he asked for 50 more, that time all of sudden a random thought came to my mind 'this could be scam'. I called my manager who is his friend and asked if he is really the one who he claims to be. He said "No, you are xxxxxx".

For past few years, I have formed habit to not pickup unknown calls, not to entertain any messages from unknown numbers and blocking them immediately. However, this coming from my long time employer and showing urgency caught me off guard.

I have done the formalities of filing Cyber Crime complaint and all. Talking with many people who got scammed and from internet, it seems hardly anyone got their money back, still finger crossed!

[DigitalOne]

Originally Posted by n33rav

Got scammed 2 days ago for 5 Lakh. Someone whatsapp me impersonating owner of foreign company for which I working as Freelancer since very long time. He asked for urgent favour in form of Apple Gift Cards in similar style my Boss ask when there is urgent task. Urgency and message from Boss put me in mission mode and I generated and gave 55 gift card codes in 2 hours.

Thanks! Hope you get back the money lost to the scamsters.

A few screenshots of the messages would help others, I guess, to understand how this scam happens.

[NomadSK]

Originally Posted by n33rav

Got scammed 2 days ago for 5 Lakh. Someone whatsapp me impersonating owner of foreign company for which I working as Freelancer since very long time. He asked for urgent favour in form of Apple Gift Cards in similar style my Boss ask when there is urgent task. Urgency and message from Boss put me in mission mode and I generated and gave 55 gift card codes in 2 hours.

Damn, send a copy of your gift card and store receipt to apple support. Use them to report Apple gift card scams to the gift card company/person and ask for your money back.

Only scammers will tell you to buy a gift card, like a Apple Card, and give them the numbers off the back of the card. No matter what they say, that’s a scam. No real business or government agency will ever tell you to buy a gift card to pay them. No matter how long ago the scam happened, report it.

Ask for your money back. Some companies are helping stop gift card scams and might give your money back. It’s worth asking.

See if this link below helps;

Link

Apple, iTunes

Call 1 (800) 275-2273. Say “gift card” to connect with a live representative. Follow Apple’s instructions.
Ask if the money is still on the Apple or iTunes gift card. If so, Apple can put a freeze on it. Ask for your money back.
Keep a copy of the Apple or iTunes gift card or your store receipt.
Visit Apple’s website to learn about scams.

I have done the formalities of filing Cyber Crime complaint and all. Talking with many people who got scammed and from internet, it seems hardly anyone got their money back, still finger crossed!

I hope you get your money back.

Edit - How did he got hold of your name ? I guess, It will be a good case study for everyone to find the red-flags in the conversation.

[n33rav]

Originally Posted by DigitalOne

Thanks! Hope you get back the money lost to the scamsters.

A few screenshots of the messages would help others, I guess, to understand how this scam happens.

Attached screenshot of how the conversation went.

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted by n33rav

Attached screenshot of how the conversation went.

Given that you have been on the forum for more than three years and looking at your professional background, I am surprised how easily you fell for this trick. It is sad that you lost a substantial amount but if I were to call a spade a spade, the entire responsibility of the loss rests with you. The fraudster dangled a bait and you got caught instantly.

My sympathies.

Although the likelihood of the money being recovered is remote, it is good that you have filed a complaint with the Cyber police.

[n33rav]

Originally Posted by NomadSK

Damn, send a copy of your gift card and store receipt to apple support. Use them to report Apple gift card scams to the gift card company/person and ask for your money back.

Only scammers will tell you to buy a gift card, like a Apple Card, and give them the numbers off the back of the card. No matter what they say, that’s a scam. No real business or government agency will ever tell you to buy a gift card to pay them. No matter how long ago the scam happened, report it.

Ask for your money back. Some companies are helping stop gift card scams and might give your money back. It’s worth asking.

See if this link below helps;

Link






I hope you get your money back.

Edit - How did he got hold of your name ? I guess, It will be a good case study for everyone to find the red-flags in the conversation.

I did contact Apple support as soon as I realised and send them codes to find details who redeemed it. Apple acting very poorly from what I expected though. They said they will check all codes, block account that redeem it and inform me about possibility of refund via call at scheduled time. Since then I scheduled it 3 times and each time they send mail at scheduled time saying 'We called but couldn’t reach you. If you still need help, let us know. Click the link below, and we’ll connect you with the next available expert.'

[Fx14]

Originally Posted by n33rav

Got scammed 2 days ago for 5 Lakh. Someone whatsapp me impersonating owner of foreign company for which I am working as Freelancer since very long time.

Did you mean the scammer whatsapp-ed you by using / hacking the same contact number of the impersonated owner of foreign company?

Since you did mention the constraint of your bank balance, you could have requested for the funds in advance to facilitate fulfilment of the favour, given the large amount involved.

[HTC]

My friends wife had fallen prey to 'invest' scam. Initially, she was given small returns to gain trust. Total amount at risk was around 1 lac. Since my friend works in banking industry, he got hold of the three accounts she was asked to send money. with his contacts in banking fraternity, got phone number of one of the account holders (in Jammu Kashmir) and spoke directly and informed that he has filed police complaint and asked to return the money. The person agreed to return and returned 16k. remaining money was sent to 2 more accounts in Kerala.

My friend contacted remaining two banks and asked them to freeze those accounts. But they denied saying they can't do it unless they get the ask from cyber crime branch. He had already raised complaint with cyber crime branch and still the accounts are not frozen. recovering rest of money is close to nil. Being a bank employee's wife, she fell for the trap. luckily he got doubt as she was getting constant messages to transfer money and he intervened.