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From: leichter@lrw.com (Jerry Leichter)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: New, Very Simple Phone Scam
Message-ID: <16404@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 24 Jan 91 12:17:23 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 66, Message 4 of 16


The {New York Times} a couple of days ago reported on a return to good
old American values: No complicated high tech for these phone
scammers, just simple fast talking.  What they do is pick a number at
random, dial it, and tell whoever answers that they are with telephone
security and in the midst of some kind of test.  As part of the test,
the victim will shortly receive a call from an operator asking whether
they approve of a third-party charge.  The victim is to cooperate with
the investigators and say "yes".  If the victim agrees ... well, it
doesn't take much guessing to fill in what happens next.

If the victim disagrees, the scammers will often threaten to cut off
phone service.

Apparently they have little trouble convincing enough people to go
along to make this a going business.


Jerry