This morning, as I scrolled through my emails looking for real mail, I came across a message from Geek Squad. The subject line was “Your subscription has been renewed for two years.” I didn’t recall having a subscription, and I was leery. Two years ago, my old computer was on its deathbed, and I was frustrated, and it is possible that I did seek some help. The cost exceeded five hundred dollars, so I decided I had better follow up.I dialed the number on the bill. I got through almost immediately and had a very clear line. Immediately, I was suspicious because the man who answered had a heavy accent. I continued the call and he led me through a number of button pushes that led to a screen titled Screen Connect Client, with two buttons : Accept, or Deny. The alarms went off in stereo. He insisted I open this screen and I asked him why he needed to get into my computer to cancel the subscription.” “I am not getting into your computer.”
“Why does it say “Screen Connect Client?”
He answered my question with a question. “Don’t you want me to help you cancel this order?”
I responded, “How can your company take orders from your end, but you must cancel them from mine?” At this point, I noticed some agitation in his voice. He continued arguing that he wanted to help me and that I should cooperate by clicking the button. I accused him of being a scammer. Now, his voice turned to anger. A legitimate customer service rep would not get angry by my questions and accusations.
“This phone call is over.” I clicked the button to end the call. I’ll deal with my credit card company, that is, if there is a charge.
Not ten minutes later, I answered a call that was identified as a scam. The caller was a male from another country. He read me a long dissertation about how I was selected to win 25 million dollars and a new Mercedes Benz. All I had to do was to follow him through his company’s procedure. I was congenial and replied that he would have to follow mine before I complied with his company’s protocol. It is simple, I said, “Go to your bank and have a certified check made for twenty-five million dollars, and deliver it to my front door in the new Mercedes.” He ignored my protocol and continued with questions. “All we need is your driver’s license.”
“I don’t have a license or own a car, so I am excited that you will give me a new Mercedes.”
“How about your Social Security Number?”
“I never applied for Social Security and don’t have a number.”
“How about a State ID number?”
“Nope, I don’t have that either. You don’t need any of that stuff. You found me at my desk over the phone, and that is all the ID you need to know it is me.”
“We have to be very careful because twenty-five million dollars is a lot of money.”
“Twenty-five million is a drop in the bucket. I am independently wealthy, and my wealth far exceeds twenty-five million.” He didn’t give up and changed his line of attack. “We can direct the money to a charity of your choice. All we need is to be sure you are who you say you are.”
“You know who I am. You were able to find me at my desk in my house.” I was getting bored with his attempts to get me to send him more info, so I ended the call.
Two minutes later he called again. “You are having fun with me right?”
“No, I am not,” and I hung up.
Filed under: Aging, Seniors | Tagged: Geek Squad Scam, Scams | 2 Comments »
