General Discussion

jmowreader

(50,557 posts) Tue Jan 21, 2014, 06:43 PM Jan 2014

Scam afoot: Tell your mom

This one comes from one of my newspapers: someone is calling senior citizens and telling them:

* the caller is from the electric company. The name of the electric company is given.
* the person being called is seriously behind on their electric bill, and their electricity will be turned off unless a payment is made today.
* the payment must be made by purchasing a Green Dot MoneyPak card and returning a call with the number on it.

Tell your mom that ANY time someone asks you to buy a Green Dot MoneyPak card, the call is complete bullshit and they are only attempting to steal your money. Then have her call the customer service number at the company the scammer claims to be. (It's in the phone book. WE don't have phone books, but senior citizens DO.)

2 replies

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Scam afoot: Tell your mom (Original Post) jmowreader Jan 2014 OP

anyone saying power will be shut off if payment isn't made that day is a likely scam CreekDog Jan 2014 #1

Scammers now using Green Dot MoneyPak cards seveneyes Jan 2014 #2

CreekDog

(46,192 posts)

1. anyone saying power will be shut off if payment isn't made that day is a likely scam

Reply to jmowreader (Original post)

Tue Jan 21, 2014, 06:46 PM

Jan 2014

not just Green Dot nonsense.

if they get a call like that they should call the number on their utility bill.

seveneyes

(4,631 posts)

2. Scammers now using Green Dot MoneyPak cards

Reply to jmowreader (Original post)

Tue Jan 21, 2014, 07:19 PM

Jan 2014

http://www.kpho.com/story/21291286/scammers-now-using-green-dot-moneypak-cards

I'll add that Green-Dot should be fully engaged with authorities to identify and incarcerate these scum.
Obviously, the punishment for these scammers is way too lenient or it would be a rare feat. I propose a 20-30 year minimum prison sentence for ANY monetary fraud that harms innocent people.

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