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Featured Replies

AI is a game changer here.  You have the ability to spoof all sorts of numbers.  I get a minimum of 10 calls every day trying to sell me something, enroll me in something, save me from some emergency, whatever.

But the new wrinkle I just saw this week was that somehow their AI engine spoofed a Soccer association I used to be active in.  Not sure how they got that info, some BBS, or tournament registration material online somewhere?  Anyhow, pretty fucking sophisticated.  Got me to answer.

On 5/7/2025 at 8:59 AM, statsman said:

The WSJ had an article about elderly scams. You know the one where they use your family members’ public social media to learn that a teen is in Mexico? And then they have someone call the grandparents, claiming to be the kid and needing a few thousand $$? Evidently AI is making the voices more realistic. The article suggested having a code word for kids to say to let family know it’s really them. 

$13K in gift cards for a friend of ours Mom.  The folks at the bank tried to stop her, the folks at HEB tried to stop her, but nobody could stop her from throwing away that $13,000.  

Then later the daughter of the same woman got scammed into thinking there was some unauthorized activity on her moms account.  I think she gave them remote access?  $26,000 poof!  Luckily they were very liquid and losing $40K was not a big deal.  

IF there is ANY time urgency, it's always bullshit.

When I first started practicing law 20 years ago the Baby Boomers generation would get so frustrated at their WWII parents for falling for financial scams. Now those Baby Boomers are the same age their parents were and are falling for the same shit. 

2 hours ago, horn4life said:

AI is a game changer here.  You have the ability to spoof all sorts of numbers.  I get a minimum of 10 calls every day trying to sell me something, enroll me in something, save me from some emergency, whatever.

But the new wrinkle I just saw this week was that somehow their AI engine spoofed a Soccer association I used to be active in.  Not sure how they got that info, some BBS, or tournament registration material online somewhere?  Anyhow, pretty fucking sophisticated.  Got me to answer.

$13K in gift cards for a friend of ours Mom.  The folks at the bank tried to stop her, the folks at HEB tried to stop her, but nobody could stop her from throwing away that $13,000.  

Then later the daughter of the same woman got scammed into thinking there was some unauthorized activity on her moms account.  I think she gave them remote access?  $26,000 poof!  Luckily they were very liquid and losing $40K was not a big deal.  

IF there is ANY time urgency, it's always bullshit.

damn, that's terrible.

can I get the mom's phone number? 

AI + criminals + dementia = print money for those criminals.

If you see an older person mentally slipping, it’s critical to remove their access to large sums of money. Fine, let them have a few hundred in cash, or a credit card with a low limit. But if they need more, require someone else sign off. Convincing them to agree and stick to this is the tough part.

of course in their dementia/paranoia they feel the person, who is truly trying to help and protect them, is the bad guy.

31 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

truly trying to help and protect them, is the bad guy.

Or truly concerned for their inheritance. 

2 hours ago, Kennythetiger said:

Or truly concerned for their inheritance. 

Most people really want to leave something to their heirs. I know that I do. 
 
And I had an elderly relative whose son stole from him, and that was a rough one to talk through 

Edited by statsman

On 5/31/2025 at 10:10 AM, Kennythetiger said:

Or truly concerned for their inheritance. 

I fought like hell to protect my mom from the bullshit and various "diggers."  I told her all of the time, if she wanted to spend every dollar she had, IDGAF, but I wanted to ensure it was her deliberate choice.

She could not resist helping others.  She thought everyone else in the world was as honest as she was.  They (obviously) were not.

Fuck the scammers.  They should be fucking shot.  No questions asked.

  • Author
On 5/30/2025 at 3:38 PM, Kennythetiger said:

 Baby Boomers are the same age their parents were and are falling for the same shit. 

image.jpeg.0d10d4370739fc978355169b54725714.jpeg

I guess I am fortunate both parents are dead so I don’t have to deal with this. Only thing I had was my mom buying 20 of same item from AMZN as her drunk ass would forget she had bought it. 
 

7 hours ago, BrazilHorn said:

I guess I am fortunate both parents are dead so I don’t have to deal with this. Only thing I had was my mom buying 20 of same item from AMZN as her drunk ass would forget she had bought it. 
 

Hitting a bit too close to home, as I purchased multiple sets of these one night back in the early 90s when I got home after some beverages and turned on the TV...

81MFwS-S1NL._UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg

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