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Author Topic: Got an interesting call from fake grandson yesterday.  (Read 668 times)
John Schmidt
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a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike

De Pere, WI (Green Bay)


« on: September 01, 2020, 06:54:28 PM »

The scammers never quit trying I guess. Phone rings and the caller in a slightly familiar voice said "hi grandpa." Being cautious I asked who's calling and the response was "this is your oldest grandson, don't you know me?" Me: "oh...hey, how's it going, are you still living in PA?" He: "yes, still living here and making a buck." Me: "I'll bet that machine shop where you work is doing big business and working your ass off with all the cut backs!" Then me again: "by the way, when you said 'oldest grandson' it reminded me you just had your 39th b'day recently." Of course the caller agreed, not knowing a couple important items; 1) my eldest grandson turned 41 in May. 2) he lives in NE Ohio. A few more things came up from the caller during the conversation, he told me that he and some friends had been out drinking and got in a car accident and he's now in jail and needs bail money....among other things. It was then I'd had enough so suggested with his slight but thinly veiled Latin sounding accent that maybe he could call his congressman.....and about that time I was told to become a self-made man and he hung up.

I spotted the accent from the beginning but other than that, his voice was a dead ringer for my grandson. Plus, he has his own cell phone which comes through on caller ID, have rec'd. numerous calls from him. He and is twin sister survived an horrendous car accident in 1987 that killed his father and little sister. His dad fell asleep at the wheel and drifted to the side and ran under a semi that had just pulled over due to some tire noise he was going to check. The driver didn't even have a chance to get out of the cab when something caused the rig to lurch forward a couple feet. When my son-in-law slumped forward it made him press on the gas as well, troopers figured he was doing over 80mph when he hit, taking the top clean off the car. The grandson suffered a serious brain stem injury and hasn't developed much beyond his mid-teens. Can't drive, learned to ride a bike all over again(8 yrs. old when it happened), can only hold small jobs with no real responsibility but does live by himself which is a miracle in itself. His sister is alive and well, living in Sanford, FL, but had numerous surgeries to her face to repair 27 facial fractures. She's married, has two boys about 12 & 10, and a husband. He's a full time trucker, she's a supervisor with some dept. in the local VA facility. The neatest part....they both ride and she loves it. He's the one that bought the GL1200 I reworked a few years back, now both riding something much newer. OK....so much for some family history, hope I didn't bore anyone. Life does have its interesting & sometimes heartbreaking turns and if you're (not spelled 'your') smart, you'll not try to muddle through on your own power.  Wink
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Rams
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Posts: 16260


So many colors to choose from yet so few stand out

Covington, TN


« Reply #1 on: September 01, 2020, 07:26:34 PM »

Good story and glad to know you recognized a scam when you heard one.

Rams
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Learning the majority of life's lessons the hard way.

Every trip is an adventure, enjoy it while it lasts.
..
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Maggie Valley, NC


« Reply #2 on: September 01, 2020, 07:44:37 PM »

A friend of mine has received 2 such calls.
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John Schmidt
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Posts: 15223


a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike

De Pere, WI (Green Bay)


« Reply #3 on: September 01, 2020, 08:19:40 PM »

Good story and glad to know you recognized a scam when you heard one.

Rams
Two things gave it away quickly....his slight accent which he did a good job of covering it up, and the area code wasn't my grandson's. I get those calls a couple times a year and always from my supposed grandson. I don't always mess with them like this time, just kinda fun to piss them off when they suddenly realize they're being led down a dead end path and I've known all along it wasn't my grandson. Grin
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old2soon
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Posts: 23402

Willow Springs mo


« Reply #4 on: September 01, 2020, 08:22:22 PM »

           And I'd like to think I'd respond like this-WHAT you've Already burned thru that gift card with $5000.00 on It I gave you for yer birthday less than a week ago?  2funny Good on ya fer seein thru the lie John. Go on ahead and attempt to mess with old guys!  Grin RIDE SAFE.
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Today is the tommorow you worried about yesterday. If at first you don't succeed screw it-save it for nite check.  1964  1968 U S Navy. Two cruises off Nam.
VRCCDS0240  2012 GL1800 Gold Wing Motor Trike conversion
DDT (12)
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Sometimes ya just gotta go...

Winter Springs, FL - Occasionally...


« Reply #5 on: September 02, 2020, 03:41:21 AM »

John,

Good job of 'scam detection'. We all need to be as aware and vigilant as you are for such frauds and schemes... they do seem to be getting worse all the time, too! The trials of your family's health history is also another lesson for the rest of us in realizing just how fragile and tentative live truly is for each of us and for those we hold dear...

The statement you made that resonates most strongly with this eager student is: "Life does have its interesting & sometimes heartbreaking turns and if you're (not spelled 'your') smart, you'll not try to muddle through on your own power." My experience has taught me that none of us get through this life without helping AND being helped along the way. We should take from that the lesson that humility and generosity both are necessary behaviors we'll need to call upon at some point. Thanks for sharing... and for the timely reminders...

DDT
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old2soon
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Posts: 23402

Willow Springs mo


« Reply #6 on: September 02, 2020, 10:44:49 AM »

      NOT being a smart azz but I do have a small suggestion that has worked for me since I've gotten my first cell phone. I just looked and the cell phone indicates I have 98 contacts in my phone Family Friends P G R Riders and My Drs. # and Clinic #. Point I'm trying to make-IF the calling # does Not show as one of the 98 contacta already in my phone I DO NOT Answer that call. And should the calling party choose to Not leave a voice mail I DO NOT return that call. Even after hearing the voice mail I Still may Not return call-IE-just won the cuban lottery. And John my Friend-similar do NOT mean the same these days! WAY too Many freakin scams out there these days!  Lips Sealed And the end result-ALL those scammers want yer money!  tickedoff RIDE SAFE.
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Today is the tommorow you worried about yesterday. If at first you don't succeed screw it-save it for nite check.  1964  1968 U S Navy. Two cruises off Nam.
VRCCDS0240  2012 GL1800 Gold Wing Motor Trike conversion
scooperhsd
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Posts: 5718

Kansas City KS


« Reply #7 on: September 02, 2020, 11:42:40 AM »

There are not too many calls I will take on my cell phone that are not already on my contacts list. My home VoIP service has a telemarketer block, that I have allowed people on my "whitelist" to go straight through, while anybody else who calls will get a request to enter a given digit - and that digit can be from 0 to 9 (randomly selected) .

If you want to call / talk to me, you better text / email me first (and yes, you can text my home number as well).
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Serk
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Rowlett, TX


« Reply #8 on: September 02, 2020, 11:57:45 AM »

My aunt had a call like that claiming to be my sister saying she needed $20k+ cash immediately or something... My aunt went to her bank and was trying to withdraw the cash, luckily the bank teller asked her what it was for, and when she told her she explained it was a scam.....
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