Beware! I have just had a long email from someone who goes by the name SUS101. She starts by saying she has less than a week to live, and then says'you are specially chosen'. Wants to give you bank details so that you can transfer funds, for a host of projects she wants to carry out. She goes on to say her late husband was worth £8 million pounds, but needs more. I sent a very short answer, telling her I couldn't help her. I don't know where she got my email address from, but mentions that she's sorry to put this request on HU. I am going to report it.
Scam alert..................: Beware! I have just... - PMRGCAuk
Scam alert..................
Written by
karools16
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78 Replies
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Umm, Karools and everyone else, never reply to letters like that. If you're on a site, like your email, where you can block the sender, do so. On here the right thing is to report it.
No, I shouldn't have replied. I do wonder now who else has my email address, esp if I don't know them? She didn't mention the site, just HU.
hOW DOES THAT WORK?
If you feel uneasy, change your passwords. I think that's supposed to help. And who knows how these trolls work? It probably isn't even a "she" just some little exploited person at a computer in India or some other place, phishing!
I didn't mean to use capitals.No, I am not a PC boffin, so password must remain.I had giggle about the 'she', being a little exploited person..........!
My stepmother was scammed, over the phone, over several years, out of several hundred thousand dollars, despite all we tried to do to stop her willingly sending money away. It was my inheritance, so I'm very aware of the problems with internet and other fraud. I also think a lot of the people involved are not the big men at the top who will reap most of the benefits but those who badly need work and sadly have got caught up in this dark business. That's who is calling us and emailing us. The mob boss has better things to do with his time I expect.
Heron. I’m so sorry. That is devastating. Oh my gosh how did you cope with your anger? I’m so sorry xxxx
I guess my anger was directed towards the criminals. My father had escaped from Poland at the beginning of the war and after a number of years ended up in Nova Scotia, a medical doctor, with hardly a penny to his name. When he died not even thirty years later, he was only 64, he said everything would come to me after my stepmother died, and for many years this was the way things were going to be. His legacy grew a whole lot because of wise financial advice. She married again, a lawyer, who was smart enough to have a prenup to protect his own children but no one ever thought I needed protection. By the time she died I was having to tell the facility where she was living (a very nice place where she was getting hospice level care at the end) that once all the money had been drained from her account we, her family, would not be able to pick up the tab. Fortunately there was enough left to see her to the end and pay the legal and a few other fees. I was angry because both of those husbands had worked very hard, both had served their respective countries and made a positive mark in the world, both had left this woman more than enough to see her comfortable for the rest of her days, and to see this money taken was heartbreaking. It's one thing to use the money for your own enjoyment, living in a nice place, travelling, that sort of thing, which we wanted for her and encouraged, but to see her sending it away to who knows who and unable to do more than slow the process down was extremely frustrating. Oddly enough no one ever used the words "elder abuse". All we kept being told was she had a right to do what she wanted with her own money (you see how a differently prepared will might have protected me) and unless she admitted she had been duped and pressed charges no one could do anything. She was very good at passing cognitive tests with flying colours even though we know she sometimes lied through her teeth. We've told our kids if we ever start acting strange and doing things like this they are not to pussyfoot around but to deal with it!
Heron that is a horrible story. Did you ever find out where the money went. My sister was recently scammed, you would never believe, if you knew her, that she could fall for something like that, but she said they got her mind into such a state that she couldn't think clearly. They phoned her saying it was her bank and it had come to their notice that her computer was riddled with viruses and would she like them to clear it up. To cut a long story short they were on the phone to her on and off all day, she gave them access to her computer and they managed to clear out one of her savings accounts, it was only when the man swore at her she realised something was wrong and broke the connection but she lost a few thousand she had put aside to spend on her new grandson and she was bitterly disappointed. We need to learn to trust no-one and question everything but it doesn't seem a very nice way to live!!
Not really. There were various things. A long story:
A policeman told me that they'd got back "some" of her money when she was ripped off by a scam sweepstakes. He was very keen for her to admit she was making a mistake and allow the police to investigate the new issues but he said they couldn't unless she admitted this was happening. At that point a man was calling her from Canada (she lived in the States) saying he loved her voice and would she marry him... and we think it was this individual who got the $300,000. We managed to put a stop to that (he claimed he had a sick daughter and never followed through any promises to visit, and also he was doing important work for the Canadian government - we figured he was in jail). Unfortunately she was targeted by a second person who claimed to be in Jamaica. This one was even stranger as she was told she'd won $3 million and could collect it herself. She was even found once waiting to be collected to be taken to the airport, although naturally the limousine had never showed up. Again it was a man who said he wanted to marry her. Bear in mind she was about 90 when this is going on. So we suppose the rest of her wealth (bar the $20,000 split amongst myself and the three grandchildren plus whatever fees and transportation costs which came out of her estate) went to this second felon. I think at least in the latter case he was working out of a call centre which might indeed have been in the Caribbean.
I talked to members of police forces in both Canada and the USA, including FBI and RCMP, to an ombudsman in Indianapolis who had something to do with seniors, to the people who ran the place where she was living, to clergy, hired a lawyer, involved the people who had power of attorney, her financial advisor, basically talked to everyone I could think of. No one could do anything.
And we would never have found out any of this had she not said something about having a falling out with her financial advisor and changing companies. I called him and at first he was reluctant (client or I guess former client confidentiality) but in the end I found out he'd refused to represent her any more because of what she was doing. With the help of the new financial guy we were able to restrict her access to funds but it was voluntary and after a few months she cancelled the agreement. By this time she was very ill, having dialysis three times a week, and there were constant phone calls for her every day as "they" tried to squeeze every last dime out of her. It was really horrible. And still she thought she was going to get her three million, her Mercedes, and a new husband. Yet she passed all the cognitive tests with flying colours.
Her image of herself was obviously different from reality. Who would think vanity could be quite so destructive. But I suppose it is ny on impossible to talk someone out of their delusions and there are plenty of evil people to prey on them. I hope you are managing now, and able to start putting this behind you.
Oh, long water under the bridge! But as you can tell from the way the words spewed out it had an enormous effect on me. Can't blame PMR on that stress, however, as it didn't arrive until about four years later!
We think she was targeted after her husband died. Apparently these people read obituaries to find survivors who might be a vulnerable, and profitable mark.
I know one old lady who had the scammers who came to her husband’s funeral even. It is dreadful what is going on, it seems that the banks don’t care as it is not their money that is being scammed. I had a scammer phoned me up on a boiler room scam and I must admit he really was very good and nearly tricked me. I suppose to be a con man you have to be really nice to people.
As already been said anyone can join, she wouldn't have had your email details though - messaging goes through HU who do have your email and let you know when you have a message. This person will move on now to try their hand elsewhere - it's the invasive feel that can linger but don't beat yourself up about it - no great harm done. It was on my laptop for a day before I saw it and was immediately suspicious as didn't recognise the name, or at least they haven't contributed before and I'm only used to getting PMs from people I already chat to - they must have been carefully calculating when to pounce.....
Thanks for the heads up. It has occurred to me that a kind supportive forum like this might become a target, but it is monitored.
Hi karools, thanks for the scam alert 
I was messaged via HU from someone saying they can sell me herbs from Africa to cure me. I reported it.
Ha! As I was typing the above, the very same message about the $8.3 million came through to me also. Presumably, they have had to become forum members first?
in reply to SnazzyD
Me too!
in reply to SnazzyD
We had a lot of the ‘Cures’ on the Breast Cancer HU where l think it’s particularly malicious as some of the Members have Stage Four & are desperate, l personally reported two/three of the Snake Oil Salesmen & the Moderators blocked them!
Preying on the Vulnerable & desperate! 😡
PMRproAmbassador
It isn't the first and the first thing to do is block it, the second is to report it. But ALWAYS ignore it- however kindly you may be feeling. Often they start with a long preamble about their medical problems, often over weeks on the forum, tugging at heartstrings. Then they go into private message mode.
I'm sure Mark will explain the techniques - we had a long discussion about it on a previous occasion.
Thanks PMRpro. Yep, I've been a 'victim' of a financial scam: fortunately on a relatively small scale, and in far more complex personal circumstances than the one that karools describes here. A long and intriguing story for another time, but I survived it at all levels..
That said, professional Scammers are increasingly very clever and strategic: at whatever level from communication via the Internet to Personal Relationships, Financial, Telephone, Banking, Identity fraud and Romantic (or any / all?): and I'll be happy to help anyone here from my own experience.
Clearly, this one (as karools describes it) seems pretty obvious as an internet phishing scam. On the other hand, for some of Us Lot - or others who might not be totally 'with it' for whatever reason, any engagement with the scammer on the internet (even by responding to them) can leave a trail that can let them back in...
Mark my daughter in law’s Mum, a widow and pensioner was scammed by someone threatening arrest due to “ unpaid tax”. It’s vile and disgusting.
Me too Mark, many years ago now but been scammed through my bank twice within 3 months. They bought loads of things and even did an internet shop! and donated to a charity - bloody cheek. I have the 'do not reply to anything you do not recognise' imprinted in my brain by my techy son. Feel for the very elderly and vulnerable.
Ohhh.. Terri.
Mine was a bit different. On one of my trips to Ukraine a few years ago I had my wallet 'lifted' whilst wedged between 2 very large blokes when boarding a crowded bus. 20 seconds later I found it on the floor with some cash missing but credit cards, passport etc intact (and the 2 blokes vanished..). Oh well.. I thought. But the more sinister outcome (which I only discovered later) was that in those 20 seconds the pickpocket(s) had also electronically 'swiped' my credit card and tried to use it. When I got home I received a call from my bank's fraud department reporting suspicious activity on my account and asking if I had recently visited Thailand! When I explained what happened, they confirmed the scam. Fortunately, the bank had blocked the suspicious transactions and I didn't have much money in that account anyway - but it left me with a nasty feeling for some time. Conclusion? This sort of thing can happen to even the most careful of us - and of course online financial fraud is a growth industry..
If they’re out to get you there’s a chance they will- I always said it was insider dealings at the bank with mine.
I have one of those RFID (radio frequency ID) blocking card holders. Just a small card holder that has a layer of metal that makes a ‘cage’ around your cards to block rogue hand held card readers accessing your personal details- which they can do from up to 10’ away!!
Many thanks for the heads up on that one.
Yes I had one yesterday too. Shucks - and I thought I had been specially selected! I think she/he just joined the forum and then sent a private mail to members which is easy to do. They don’t need to know your email to do that. They also said that they would leave the forum as there would be no need to remain. I reported it straight away.
I reported it straight away last night...……..
I realised after I had read and replied that I shouldn't have opened it in the first place.I am not a softie and didn't feel sympathetic at all, esp when a bank/money is mentioned. I am 'relieved' that others have also had this twat!
Me too, deleted it .
Never reply to requests like this. It confirms your email is live. Even that information is worth money to someone. They can be very plausible, but just bin them. This fictitious person will be dead now anyway. Well dead, the scam will have been rolling round for weeks 😬
Hi Karools16, I got the same through private messaging - was going to put a post on it but you've beaten me to it, thanks.
I have reported it to HU though and blocked any further messages from this person. I didn't answer it as knew it was a scam...as the name was unknown to me on this site and through PM!! I was waiting to hear back from HU but they will read this now - you have to be a member to go on HU and particularly through PM I wonder how they've managed to do it.........anyway me and you we are the chosen ones........ plus anymore that turn up....
Anyone can join the forum just the same way as you did. It is no more private than you having to pay for the gym except here is free. People join to push their own agendas - whether it is advertising or scamming.
And I'm sorry to say that the reaction of admin here is very slow and often just a gentle "Pretty please don't do this, it isn't nice" instead of an immediate block.
Suppose so.... just relieved it's nothing worse - I'm now getting it, if I've got it right, why you can't change your name on here!
I thought you could change it once
If I remember correctly (and that’s not a given) it does say initially “think carefully about your name - you can only change it twice!”
Never tried, so I don’t know.
Dear Karools16,
Yes DO report it! It IS, almost certainly, a Scam- a cleaver one, but STILL a Scam!
One thought though, in the VERY unlikely event, it isn't a scam (it is) then you might actually help someone.
I have 'Posted', many such, Warnings on here- and elsewhere- I have even been 'Declared Dead, in America. If I send ALL my Details 'They' will sort it all out....How kind!'
Sometimes, just occasionally, you do 'Get It Wrong'. I remember being very 'Cagey', with a caller I didn't recognise....It was a Hospital Consultant, who 'didn't mind' one bit! He agreed Better Safe Than Sorry.
Let me know how you Get On, with the fruit, will you?
Happy cooking
AndrewT
That is a very old scam. I haven't seen one for about 10 years. I think they originate in Nigeria. There are harvesting programmes which are specifically created to to trawl the internet for email addresses, so somehow yours must have been visible to the spiders and hoovered up! They should just be deleted without opening and security tightened up on your email package. If they are opened - it is imperative not to click on any hyper links included in the email as this could open the flood gates for a virus invasion.
Not to scare but beware! E Mail Addresses are picked up so easily by scammers. We give them away like telephone numbers! A hack into any of your contacts & bingo there you are E. Mail exposed. These could be friends, family,companies,banks...Whatever! I've had a Bitcoin ransom threat recently! Where the hell did that come from! What's a Bitcoin anyway!!
Money you can’t see, touch or use other than on t’internet! Mind you, after Brexit (sorry for 🤬 swearing) it might be all we have!
in reply to DorsetLady
None political me! I just vote! Seems some didn't like the result!! Bitcoin trading ! What the !!
Don’t worry it won’t reach Brum!
in reply to DorsetLady
What!! Brexit! Or Bitcoin! It's ok for you lot down in the sticks! We're landlocked & squeezed all round here! ATB
Telian in reply to
It’s a trading tool, you buy them and they make money for you just like ‘that’- give it a whirl if you fancy making the money they say it will!!! A bit like shares but don’t forget the saying the value can go down as well as up. This is all being said tongue in cheek so DON’T try it at home!
I posted on here last night but the post went onto another page about diet,l do not know how that happened .l just want to say that l have experienced many annoying phone calls telling me my internet is about to crash,obviously if l pressed the number on my phone that they gave me,to learn how to deal with the supposed threat to my internet server,l would be charged a premium rate. Yesterday another caller,foreign accent as usual,said he needed my debit card details to stop cold callers,he said it was a yearly payment now due .l have never paid any money for this before and told him that l never give my bank card details to people like him,we seem to be constantly bombarded with all sorts of scams,my husband was taken in by one and had to smash the hard drive on his laptop as soon as he realised they would be able to get access to his online banking.He had allowed them complete access to everything stored on the laptop.lt is a sad and very annoying part of life now that these criminals seem to try all sorts of ways to take our hard earned money.
in reply to Grants148
Wild west the internet is! Wide open! Who knows where it will go! Person control gone! " Brave new world"! Same one! Just different!
So true,Pepper,l remember when life was far slower,and l find it hard to keep up sometimes,but l do appreciate the internet giving me access to this forum,l have found it so friendly and helpful.
I would offer to make it less than a day for her to live!! Bad, bad people.
Always ‘Block’Delete & empty your ‘Trash’
I can’t block on my phone but do it in the PC as you don’t know if there are any Virus’s etc.
And, if l get any more emails from UPS asking me to follow a link to collect a Parcel!........ And Me the Internet Shopping Queen 👸🏻 but it is a scam!
Mrs N
I had the same sent a few days ago. Deleted it as I could see it was a scam. Keep your eyes peeled all the time.
I received this one and immediately contacted John, and Sue. He asked if HU was aware, of it. I didn't know, at the time, but Clearly do now. What IS IT, with these people? To tell you Someone is DYING! Especially, to tell, one of us....Without intending a Blasphemy.. Jesus Christ, our Lord in Heaven.
I have, no other, words.
AndrewT
My son wants me to change my phone number,to stop the unwanted cold calls,l do not want to do this as l shall have to inform a lot of people if l change it.l have decided to not answer the landline and check who has called and phone people l know back.l have not given my mobile number to anyone but my two sons and my monitored alarm system ,so hopefully l will not get nuisance calls on that.These scammers really do blight people’s lives,and to say that someone is dying cannot get any lower.
Are you registered with the TPS....Telephone Preference Service? It has blocked almost all cold-calling, on my landline. Do you have Caller Display? That way you can see the name/number who is calling, and decide whether to answer or not. No, I don't give out my mobile number either, except to friends or really reliable services, etc. Gosh, changing your number is huge, as I have found with all my moving. Despite a list, it is inevitable someone will not have been notified.
Me too, same message. I have reported her.
With respect this Site is a very useful option for everyone suffering from PMR and associated conditions to learn and benefit from individual lessons learnt from others and also from technical medical advice from the experts.
Cluttering up this Site with details of Internet scams is surely best left other outlets like Facebook etc SO PLEASE GIVE US ALL A BREAK !!!
Wolfgang237
Mmm wolfgang237. I think you'll get lots of responses to this one...
If you don't like this conversation - which was initiated because of something that happened through HU - then unfollow it and ignore it.
Well said PMRpro.
Maybe some Forum Users here (whether 'visible' or not) forget that this is ultimately a Social / Community internet forum - like many others - and NOT a formal source of medical advice (as clearly stated in the blurb)?
Although there is a wealth of anecdotal advice, experience and support here around many things PMR / GCA and related issues, Users always have the choice to either engage with Posts / Threads - or to pass them by if not relevant and / or helpful in whatever way. Or.. to openly express an opinion (however controversial) - and face the response from others?
In my experience, the Ramblings (and sometimes Rantings - Ha!) of some of Us Lot add massive therapeutic value in that, whether 'on-topic' or not, they often bring a sense of fun and humanity - and can be a welcome distraction from the often more serious / technical stuff of coping with chronic illnesses like ours. In my books, that's more than ok: and it seems that many people here feel the same way.
Finally (as I understand things): if a Forum User finds a Post and / or the responses to it, PMs or Threads inappropriate or offensive, there is a clear mechanism to report them to the HU Forum Moderators who will adjudicate either way.
As you say, this (karools') Post is very relevant in that it sent an Alert to Us Lot to beware of potential internet / e.mail Scams - and so in my view it's far from irrelevant or (q.) 'cluttering the forum'. And, of course, it also promoted some lively discussion here!
There you go - that's my take on things, for better or worse. Responses on a Postcard please..?
'Uncle' MB 
Junk mail keeps arriving too! From the moment of 50 years of age it was Saga, Funeral Plans,Equity Release, etc! Now is Cotton Traders, Thompson & Morgan & various Charities!
The waste of paper,postage & the hit on recycling which we try to do! Aahhh!
No such thing here!!!! Lovely. There is a sticker on the letter box downstairs say "No advertising" and it is illegal for the postie to shove anything in that isn't addressed by name.
Ditto!
You do not have to read everything on this site ,if you don,t like it ,ignore it! I find it helps take my mind off my health issues for a while ,and that does me good ,and sometimes it lightens things up to go off course a bit now and then Wolfgang 237.
Hear, hear Grants. I agree...
Hi Karools16,l do have ‘caller display ‘ on my landline,l can try that of course ,as long as l have my glasses on as the phone only rings 5 times,by the time l look for them it is too late by the time l reach the phone. The PMR does slow me down and l am not as quick off the mark as l used to be ! All the best and Thankyou for your reply.P S l hope l will not be banned from this site for not keeping to medical issues .
WE won't be banned!
No danger of that karools...
I got the same message.. I reported the account.. It's pathetic how people can be making of this site to spread fraudulent message
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