Grandpa,
I got a call from a machine telling me that my social security number has been suspended due to a foreign entity getting ahold of my file. They asked me to hold while they connected me to an official. I did not. I figured that because I am still getting my check, I would not appease them. I did, however, call the Social Security office in Aurora. Before I ever got to talk with a live person, their machine warned of the scam! I just thought you should know about this scam.
Grandpa,
I am a retired real estate broker. I am used to getting ads asking me to invest in various real estate enterprises. I do not, however, invest in these so-called classes on how to make money from real estate by using other people’s money. I find that usually, the other people are elderly folks who cannot afford have the equity in their home stolen by slick experts in real estate, even if the expert does a television show. Lately, I have been getting text messages from (a phone number advertised on television) to confirm my appointment to attend one of their free seminars. I have asked several times to be removed from their list. I finally had to threaten them with a civil law suit for harassment. They have stopped for a while. Please warn readers that these kinds of seminars are not true real estate classes. The real estate industry is an honorable profession and I am proud to have been a broker. These classes are just scamming to make the attendee one of the other people who may add to their greed.
Grandpa,
I keep getting calls from a machine telling me that my car is eligible for an extended warranty. I am getting as many as three calls a day from this machine. The phone number is 219-215-9330. I just want to let everyone know not to answer that number. I did once and then my phone was billed for a call to Pakistan! My phone company reversed the charges and told me when I get a call from a machine, I should just hang up. I never paid attention to your advice about hanging up. I apologize for that. You were right.
Grandpa says: I thank all three of you for writing. Please, never respond to a robo-call, not even if the claim is to confirm a medical appointment. Should your doctor’s office robo-call to confirm an appointment, hang up and call them to confirm. They will understand! Thieves are out to get your information any way they can. Do not try to out smart them. You have other things in life to do. They spend days thinking of ways to cheat unsuspecting, honest, individuals. If you get repetitive calls from the same number, save the number in your phone and mark it as “scam – do not answer”. When they call, you will see it on the screen and can ignore the call. Eventually, they will give up. I have learned that from personal experience! I bid you peace
Got something stuck in your craw? Ask Grandpa. Address your letters to Ask Grandpa c/o The Voice, PO Box 123, Aurora, IL 60507 or send an E-mail to askgrandpa@thevoice.us.