Scam

A user received a suspicious text message claiming to be from PayPal about a $300 transaction hold, but the message used an Outlook email instead of a phone number and provided a non-official fraud department phone number. The automated message included a copyright notice and urged immediate action, leading the user to question its legitimacy as a potential scam.

The user is receiving unsolicited messages and calls from websites they never visited, claiming they created accounts or showed interest in tools. They received a call from Ceat Tyres alleging a query was raised from their number, which they deny. The user is concerned about potential hacking or scams.

A user reports persistent harassment from 'Credence Resource Management,' a company with 235 one-star Google reviews alleging scams and credit score impacts. During a call, an Indian woman claimed the user was listed under a fake name, 'Frank Woody,' which the user suspects is a tactic to extract personal information.

A user is considering an interview for a Marketing Assistant position at Valore Events Inc., listed on Indeed as a 'confidential' company offering $600-800 weekly. They express concerns about the company being a scam due to lack of specific details and their own struggles in the job market.

Alex Delgado, a longtime journalist, was scammed out of $72,000 after receiving a fake text message. The incident highlights the risks of scam communications targeting individuals.

A Reddit user fell for a scam after clicking a suspicious link, leading to account takeover and email change by an imposter on Discord. The user reported the scam and is seeking help to recover their account.

Former news anchor Alex Delgado was scammed out of $72,000 after a fake text. He is now back in the news with a personal story.

A person hired for a customer service job discovered it involved sales efforts pushing donations for 'the national firefighters thing,' raising concerns about the legitimacy and destination of funds. The individual questions if the operation is a scam and notes tactics to avoid being identified as telemarketers.

A person received a suspicious PayPal email claiming a payment was completed for Charles Cook, including an invoice and phone number. After verifying PayPal's official contact information and reporting the email, the issue was resolved. The individual expressed concern due to an ex-partner's family members previously using their name for fraudulent orders.

A user's friend received a suspicious Discord message requesting them to download a CurseForge plugin for a Minecraft server. The sender's account may be compromised, as the request involves an unverified ZIP file and JSON file that showed no results on VirusTotal. The user is unsure if this is a scam or a legitimate request.

A user (F19) received multiple emails asking if they still had an 8.5 Nike item for sale on Vinted, despite not using the platform. The sender provided a Vinted link after being questioned about potential scams, and the user blocked them after realizing they may have clicked a Vinted ad on YouTube.

A user fell victim to a Payactiv scam after sharing a photo of their ID and personal information with a fraudulent support agent. They later discovered the call was likely a scam and have taken steps like filing a police report and planning to obtain a new ID. The scammer obtained their employee ID, phone number, and email address.

A user canceled their Starz account and received a refund but later got an email containing a chat transcript from their cancellation. They responded 'yes' to the email but are now concerned it might be a scam due to suspicious 'kbounces' in the security details.

A scammer called pretending to be PayPal, providing the user's details and requesting a verification code for a 'suspicious transaction.' The user initially hesitated but later realized the call was fraudulent after their baby cried and they discovered the scammer was not affiliated with PayPal.

A Canadian resident claims they were scammed by Global Work and Travel after paying $1 to apply for a teaching position in Costa Rica, only to be charged $7,400. Despite requesting a refund, they were unable to recover the money and found legal action impractical due to international costs. The individual alleges misleading advertising and billing practices by the company.

A British tourist was shocked by an Australian crocodile travel rule, mistakenly believing it to be a scam. The incident highlights a cultural or regulatory misunderstanding between the traveler and local authorities.

A person received a suspicious call from an unknown number claiming to be from 'protective services' (not a real US agency) at 8 PM on a Sunday night. The AI-generated voice message urged a callback, followed by a text with a blurry business card image, raising concerns about a potential scam.

A business receives daily scam calls from individuals impersonating 'Merchant Services' to request sensitive information about a non-existent merchant account. Callers use spoofed caller IDs and attempt to deceive employees into divulging details, though no legitimate account or personnel exist. The scam appears designed to exploit potential vulnerabilities through social engineering.

A scammer named Luis, claiming to be Brazilian, attempted to solicit a $450 'annual donation' on Savannah's River Street by discussing water conservation and oysters. The scammer and a partner wore vests with green clovers, but the victim's child intervened and avoided the transaction. The incident highlights a potential scam in the area.

A user was scammed out of $2,500 after being tricked by a fake Discord moderator through a friend's hacked account. The scam involved threats and a fabricated report, but the user avoided sharing sensitive information like their SSN or passwords.

A user received a Samsung account verification code via iPhone's Message app despite never creating a Samsung account. The same verification code was sent in 2024 with a different account number, raising concerns about potential scamming.

A user attended a free 4th of July party listed on Eventbrite but found that the venue staff had no knowledge of the event. The event was promoted on Instagram by the host, but upon arrival, multiple attendees faced confusion as the staff denied any awareness of the party. The organizer did not respond to inquiries.

A grammar school chief is investigating parents who used fake addresses to secure their child's school placement. The case involves fraudulent practices to gain admission.

A user suspects a scam after being recruited via WhatsApp by a 'co-founder' exhibiting red flags, including a fake company deck, lack of LinkedIn profile, and AI-like communication. The user questions the scammer's intent and notes a parallel phone-based job scam attempt.

A user received an automated call from Bank of America claiming an unauthorized Apple transaction, but suspects it is a scam due to no active BofA account. The user questions if scammers are targeting Apple Pay linked to old accounts or using general phishing tactics.

A user reported being scammed by BK8, a betting website allegedly based in Malaysia and Vietnam. After depositing Bitcoin, the user encountered delays in processing and repeated requests for additional funds under various excuses, such as system delays or unmet quotas.

A Chinese student in Australia reported being scammed 200k AUD and monitored for two months, leading to severe psychological stress. She is now dealing with police, embassy, and banking authorities in both China and Australia. Her friend seeks external help but has limited details due to her reluctance to repeat her ordeal.

A business owner is inquiring about experiences with Bench Craft Company and Direct Fairways Company, which claim to offer golf score card advertising through exclusive partnerships with local golf courses. The owner questions if these companies are scams after receiving persistent cold calls from them.

A user reports receiving mysterious call notifications with a California number on their Motorola Edge phone, despite no actual call or voicemail. The notifications resemble missed calls but lack corresponding voicemails, leading to confusion about whether it's a scam or a phone feature.

A user received an international call from a number claiming to be Google with a California-based 818 area code. The caller sent multiple emails requesting verification codes and recovery email acceptance, which the user suspects is a scam. The user blocked the number after declining the requests.

A man and his girlfriend encountered a hostile scam at the Chinderah service station when a stranger accused them of an unpaid fuel balance. The man displayed a fake ticket and became confrontational, prompting the couple to confront him. The scammer claimed to have their license plate details before walking away.

A person on Discord friended and messaged the user, offering a weekly allowance and gifts, and claimed to send a paycheck via mobile banking. The user suspects this is a scam and seeks confirmation from others.

A postman in a small Australian town receives unclaimed eBay return parcels addressed to a non-existent business at the local community hall. The parcels, containing low-value items like fake orchids, are linked to a Victoria-based eBay seller with 22,000 sales over five years, some of which involved automated responses and prior returns.

The individual recovered most of their money (~$1,000) from a Cash App scam but remains out $295 from Apple gift card payments. Apple refused to assist with the loss after their account was hacked. The person acknowledges their luck in recovering most funds and emphasizes the difficulty others face in scam recovery.

A user received a call from an unknown number displaying their full name as the caller ID, suspecting it was a scam. They questioned the purpose of using the victim's name in caller ID spoofing but acknowledged it is likely a scam tactic.

Telegram and Signal received notices regarding their username feature, following WhatsApp's directive to pause a similar feature due to scam and impersonation concerns. Spokespersons for Telegram and Signal did not immediately comment.

A scam involving Earthmoving MSU, operated by a 'salesman' named Mike, led to victims wiring money for equipment that was never delivered. The scammer used delayed USPS processes to hinder fund recovery, and multiple victims reported similar experiences on Reddit. Bank of America confirmed the associated account was closed, preventing fund retrieval.

A person had their phone stolen in Italy last year and filed a report but did not recover it. Recently, they received a call from someone claiming to be an Italian police officer attempting to return the phone via the consulate. After verifying the officer's authenticity with Italian police headquarters, the individual is questioning if the situation could still be a scam despite the officer's legitimacy.

A user on Snapchat received a request from an unknown individual asking if they model for his company. The user clarified they are a cosplayer, shared some photos, and expressed uncertainty about whether the interaction is a scam.

A relative fell victim to a Canadian ETA scam where scammers used her details to submit a fraudulent application with false information, causing delays and demands for extra money. The victim has contacted the Canada immigration web portal but has seen no progress after a week. The scam is described as common, with difficulties in contacting Canadian immigration via phone.