[Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] Scammers are so creative

[Stan Rose]

I am usually extremely careful in recognizing and avoiding scams but was
caught by one last month, and not by an email, text message or web pop up.

We were about to watch a movie on Amazon Prime via the Prime Video app on
our Sony Smart TV. When we started the app, a very real looking message
came up on the TV that we needed to renew our Prime subscription. It gave
an 800 number to call to expedite renewal. When I called that number, the
person offered a 2 year discount for $190 instead of the usual $119 per
year.

After giving him the card info, the TV went through the normal process of
asking me to enter it's displayed code into my phone's prime video app.
That all looked normal.

After that, I checked if my Prime subscription was extended the promised 2
years and saw it wasn't. It was only then that I rememberd I had renewed my
subscription in April so it had not expired. I called Chase and they
reversed the charge and have subsequently been told they made the refund
permanent.

I guess I was sucked in by believing this couldn't happen on the TV but now
I know it can. I don't know how they did it, but they did. I thought I had
done everything to protect my network, such as changing the WiFi SSID and
password and even changing the normal 192.168.1.1 address to something
else. I've changed the password on all Iot devices.

Anyone know how they pulled that off?

Stan

On Mon, Oct 17, 2022 at 12:51 AM Robert Primak <bobprimak at yahoo.com> wrote:

> There are also scams very similar to this one revolving around hurricane
> relief from Ian. There was one billionnaire who did pledge direct relief to
> homeowners affected by Ian, but I think that was Elon Musk, andf it was not
> in the form of free Internet, though he also is offering that for a few
> areas of SW FL.
>
> You have to be very careful about everything these days. None of these
> charitable foundatiuons will use email as their first method of contact,
> out of the blue. Nor a phone call, especially to a cell phone.  If it looks
> too good to be ture, check with the original source. Use an independent
> direct link or contact method. And don't be in a rush -- there is never so
> much time pressure that you can't use some well-known method to verify an
> offer. Or a threat.
>
> That said, I have had to deal with a couple of truly insider scams in
> recent years. Some of these problems originated with actual fraudulent
> accounts opened with my personal information, probably obtained through
> data leaks from places I should have been able to trust, like in one
> instance, a medical billing service. Yeah sure, they apologized, paid and
> offered credit monitoring -- but the damages were already done.
>
> Be safe out there!
>
> -- Bob Primak
>
>
>
> On Sunday, October 16, 2022 at 10:09:14 PM EDT, <carllazarus at comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
>
> Here is a new scam.  I received an email that says I am pre-qualified for
> the Scott Mackenzie Foundation relief fund, and there is an email address I
> am to contact for more details.  I think they meant Mackenzie Scott,
> ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, but you can’t get everything right.  Her foundation
> is giving grants to many causes, but I doubt they are getting ready to give
> me money.
>
>
>
> -- Carl
>
>
>
> Carl Lazarus
>
> H: 617-964-7241
>
> carllazarus at comcast.net
>
>
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-- 
Stan Rose

stan_rose at alum.mit.edu
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