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Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 5:32 pm

I've been away from here for a couple,of years, but I need some quick help. My "grandson Jon" (no I don't have a grandson named Jon) called today, allegedly from Santa Barbara CA. Story in short form - got picked up last night for a DUI, needs $1800 by Moneygram before 3pm CST. Talked to lawyer - "Mercedes M. Ritzberg" to whom I'm to send the money. I told them to call me back in 2 hours for the Moneygram number.

I'll play with these two doofusses for the rest of the day, but I need a fake moneygram number and I don't remember the format. Naturally I won't be here when they call back but "Grandma" will tell them to call back in half an hour. Then I'll give them a bogus number. When they call back I'll have to "run to Moneygram to get the right number - call back in 20 minutes"... at that callback maybe Grandma is in tears because I was injured (killed?) in a traffic accident.

The above scenario may change as my creative juices start to flow. Anyhow, I do need the format for a moneygram number, and any other suggestions will be appreciated.

JP

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 5:39 pm

It's 8 numbers. Very Happy

Oh, and welcome back.

Baiting Guru Joined: 27 Mar 2011 Posts: 21158

Quote:

My "grandson Jon" (no I don't have a grandson named Jon) called today

Is this real information?

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 5:53 pm

next victim wrote:

Quote:

My "grandson Jon" (no I don't have a grandson named Jon) called today

Is this real information?

Yup. These folks have my real name and phone number or they couldn't have called me. My guess is they use the name Jon or John because lots of old folks who pick up the phone for this scam have grandsons named Jon or John. The phone call is a phishing expedition. Dunno how many times people say "John who" or hang up...

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 6:20 pm

If they have real information, even if they made up the name of the grandson, it's not baitable. Warn everyone else they told, then drop it.

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 6:23 pm

Fake grandson just called (an hour early). I told him that the Monegram place at the grocery store was closed for lunch, I told you to call me back in 2 hours, not one, then put on my best USCG LtCdr's voice and read him the riot act for not doing what I told him. Call ended with "Jon's" profuse apologies...

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 6:27 pm

As said above; drop them. I'd also contact the local Police as these 'Grandparents' Scams usually run through certain localities. The Police if they are helpful, will issue a press release to alert the community.

If nothing else it might make others aware of this type of Scam.

Edit:Welcome Back!

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 6:39 pm

oscarpiles wrote:

As said above; drop them. I'd also contact the local Police as these 'Grandparents' Scams usually run through certain localities. The Police if they are helpful, will issue a press release to alert the community.

If nothing else it might make others aware of this type of Scam.

The first call I made was to the local cops. They said they'd drop by the house within a hour or so. We live in a very small town in Texas (guns outnumber people 5 to 1) and a stranger stands out here like a battleship in a bathtub. The lad and ladette definitely do not have Texas or southern accents. If they want to drop by, we have a little thing called "the castle doctrine" here so they best be able to outrun a 70# blue-tick coon hound and several rounds of 12 ga. 00 buckshot.

The weekly newspaper comes out on Thursday, so if I can get an article published, it will be a week after the fact.

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 7:08 pm

It's dropped...

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 7:20 pm

Welcome back, Jonas.

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 8:03 pm

Hi Bruin!

I was still going to play these dolts, but the "attorney" asked me how much the transaction cost. I said "damifino" and she hung up. I have to get off my ham radio and revive "Old Buck"... the lads have had it entirely to easy for the last couple of years... heh heh heh!

Have fun!

JP

Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 12:51 am

WB JP

Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 1:37 am

texan gunslinger wrote:

The weekly newspaper comes out on Thursday, so if I can get an article published, it will be a week after the fact.

It doesn't matter how long after, just so long as you get it published. Go for the publicity, don't worry about how long it takes, you will find yourself doing talks and running community awareness groups like I do before long Smile

And, welcome back to the Hotel California Smile

Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 6:25 pm

Quote:

The first call I made was to the local cops. They said they'd drop by the house within a hour or so. We live in a very small town in Texas (guns outnumber people 5 to 1) and a stranger stands out here like a battleship in a bathtub. The lad and ladette definitely do not have Texas or southern accents. If they want to drop by, we have a little thing called "the castle doctrine" here so they best be able to outrun a 70# blue-tick coon hound and several rounds of 12 ga. 00 buckshot.

Note to self, avoid hanging around in small towns in Texas looking as if you are up to something if you ever visit the U.S.A ... a British tourist.

Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 7:41 pm

Welcome back JP and great that you dropped the bait, or the scammer twigged on you. The outcome was for the best as its policy to bait safely.

Having access to guns will not protect you. Many years back I was attending a graduate program and living in a house in the inner city. The house directly across the street had some shady characters that were very well armed. One New Year's Eve they opened up from their front stoop into the air. Even with all their firearms they could not stop a drive by shooting; actually it was a walk up shooting. A few months later I heard some people yelling and saw two kids, maybe no older than 13 pushed out of car. With the occupants of the car still screaming, the two boys walked up to the house and discharged a semi automatic handgun and a revolver at the house. Thirty seconds later the car was streaking down the street. After the police arrived I joined the lookie loos and noticed that the autoloader was a 9mm from the empties and heard that most of the bullets went cleanly though the house. I hear that they use SKS's and Mini-14's for drive bys now but don't ask me why. The handgun ammo shot the house up enough to cause the occupants to get out of Dodge City by that evening and the insurance company to pay for a rehab and a new roof.