Friday, March 18, 2022

A New Scam

2 months ago I received a message in my WhatsApp from a Hong Kong phone number and it stated: 

“Hello Peter. I have almost finished your project and let us discuss when you have time”. 

I replied: I am not Peter. You must have got the wrong number. 

She replied: I am sorry. My secretary must have written down the wrong phone number. I will correct it. 

This must stop right now if it is legit. No. The next day she continued to message about how things are going, how is the weather in California, etc. I knew this was a scam but I wanted to play in her own game. I replied in a friendly manner. After 2 or 3 messages back and forth, she asked me if I am interested to buy cryptocurrency. I said I am very poor and I do not have money even to buy my food. The message from her stopped. 

In the past 2 months I received 3 more WhatsApp messages bearing Chinese female names asking me how I am doing, I replied fine and you have the wrong number. Same message again – My secretary must have written down the wrong phone number. These 3 times I said I am very poor and can she loan me some money to buy food for my starving children. 

She/they think they are intelligent. Don’t they realize they are contacting the same number with the same modus operandi – my secretary must have written down the wrong phone number. 

Day before yesterday, I got a message. I reproduce the conversation below: 

[10:51 AM, 3/16/2022] +1 (470) 499-4964: Long time no see. How are you? 

[10:51 AM, 3/16/2022] Rajan: I am fine. Can you introduce yourself please? 

[10:52 AM, 3/16/2022] +1 (470) 499-4964: I'm Lin Ziqi, don't you know me? Amir, what else do I need to introduce? 

[10:53 AM, 3/16/2022] Rajan: I am not Amir. You must have the wrong person 

[10:54 AM, 3/16/2022] +1 (470) 499-4964: Ahh it's embarrassing 

[10:54 AM, 3/16/2022] +1 (470) 499-4964: Sorry, I may have added the wrong person, maybe my new assistant did a good job, maybe she saved the wrong number, hope you don't mind 

[10:55 AM, 3/16/2022] Rajan: It is ok. But I want to tell you I am not interested in crypto currencies. 

No more messages from her.
at

18 comments:

  1. DeeMarch 18, 2022 at 12:55 PM

    You have a lot of patience....I have also received them....just ignored and deleted...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SGMarch 18, 2022 at 1:02 PM

      Thanks for your comments Dee. It is not that I have lot of patience. Now, I have lot of time.

      Delete
  2. GOWRISHANKARMarch 18, 2022 at 2:32 PM

    You had a good time pass.I think it's better to ignore the calls/messages from unknown numbers since we can't even imagine, with this thing the hackers can get complete details of our bank account.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Destination InfinityMarch 19, 2022 at 10:14 AM

    I too ignore such messages. I wonder what's the success rate of their business.. Have they sold any thru this method?

    Destination Infinity

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SGMarch 19, 2022 at 10:53 AM

      Thanks for your comments Rajesh. Older people in this country fall for this.

      Delete
  4. KParthasarathiMarch 19, 2022 at 11:40 PM

    I ignore as others do but check with true caller if there are repeated calls immediately from the same number to see if it is from any known person. I block the spam numbers invariably but that does not reduce such calls!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anita SabatMarch 20, 2022 at 7:59 AM

    You did the right thing! "I am very poor and can she loan me some money to buy food"! :)

    The spam messages have increased like anything- SMS, email, WhatsApp... they are everywhere.
    we have to very careful.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Pradeep NairMarch 20, 2022 at 11:51 PM

    I have never received such messages on my WhatApp. But plenty of such stuff on email and SMS. I have so far ignored.

    But when I have time, I have engaged the the other side patiently. Those are genuine sales calls for loans and credit cards. The more they push the product, the more patiently I explain why I don't need it. They may never have heard anyone like me explaining very scientifically / morally / financially why I don't need a loan or a credit card. The caller never calls again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SGMarch 21, 2022 at 12:56 PM

      Thanks for your comments Pradeep. You are a gentleman.

      Delete
  7. Pandian RamaiahMarch 21, 2022 at 2:28 AM

    Their target are older people or less-techies. They loot in millions by destroying lives of innocent and ignorants.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SGMarch 21, 2022 at 12:59 PM

      Thanks for your comments Pandian. And welcome to my blog. As you said old people are the prime target.

      Pandian, please visit here as often as you can. Thanks.

      Delete
  8. rudraprayagaMarch 24, 2022 at 12:38 AM

    How many innocent ones might have fallen in their trap! Your final answer said things well, SG. They thought long time friendship may push you to the trap. Nice topic.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Pooja MahimkarMarch 26, 2022 at 11:28 PM

    Oh so this is a scam! I got a similar message but because it was an unknown number I just blocked it.

    ReplyDelete