This is a TRUE STORY ----- I received this call from number 412-465-1834 … I let it go to voicemail and it stated
“This call is to inform you there’s a legal enforcement action that is file on your social security number.” I knew this was the oldest scam in the book (SOCIAL SECURITY OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY WOULD NEVER CALL YOU IN REGARDS TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS) It’s Monday morning we are in this pandemic, no where to go … so I decided to have a little fun and play along. When I called back… a guy (Indian accent; dont remember his name, dont care really) claims a woman in Texas was impersonating me and stole my social security… he tells me she was doing money laundering and in order to give me further info, he needs the last 4 digits of my social security number … for security reasons of course lol… so I gave him a fake one…
With the FAKE last 4 digits of my SSN, he then proceeds to tell me more information.. he claims this woman has access to my bank accounts too. I said "Oh no really??" He then ASKS me who do I bank with ... and how many accounts did I have. (Shouldn't you know this sir?, after all YOU told me she had access to them...but ok) I said "Hmm I have 3 accounts, a personal, a business, and a savings account." At this point my sister comes into the room, so I put my phone on speaker so she can listen in! Anyways, after telling the scammer I had 3 accounts, he then asks how much was in each account. I told him-- I have $40,000 in my savings, about $12,000 in my personal, and a little over half a million in my business. (None of this is true... My sister was laughing so hard tears were coming down her face) So the scammer proceeds to take down all this information (not sure why, they should have all this stuff right?) So he says I need to send him a copy of my drivers license to HIS CELL PHONE LOL... (cell phone: 915-213-5837) I lied and said it would not go through... he then said to drive to my bank take out $2000 because they need to make sure the money is safe from the woman impersonating me. (I can't believe they think this is how our justice system works but ok LOL LOL ) He said he would WAIT ON HOLD until I got to the bank...I said "Sir, are you sure? My bank is sorta far, I can always call you back." He says, "No, no I can hold, just let me know when you get there." I said well ok... and I put him on hold and made me some breakfast! (just to kill time) So I get back on the line and tell him I withdrew $2000 so what do I do next? He ask if there was a Lowe's or Target nearby... I told him "Oh yea its right next door... how convenient!" LOL LOL...
He then says to go inside and buy 4 Target gift cards each with $500 on it. So I said done, and he then instructs me to remove the strip on the back and give him he numbers on the card. (Are these people for real? LOL LOL) So you want to know what I did... I gave him my daughters old Target gift card number from a few years ago. LOL... of course he tries to access the funds as we are sitting on the phone.. no luck of course. So then he says email him pictures of the gift cards to [email protected] - I then tell him "Oh no my phone is going to die" He says go inside Target and charge it; LOL... at this point I got bored, I honestly couldn't believe he actually thought I would do all this, so I hung up.. but I did finally text him a picture that said "F YOU" How stupid do you think I am." He actually responded, "Yea you are stupid" LOL This is a TRUE story guys, I wish I could upload a screenshot of the text. My sister actually thanked me, because she's sort of gullible and she told me, she may have fallen victim if it was her. Honestly its quite scary that people can still fall victim this this sort of thing... PLEASE PLEASE REMEMBER no government official will EVER contact you this way. And they would NEVER tell you to send personal data (social security cards, drivers licence, passport) to a random phone number. NEVER! I had fun scamming a scammer today... I hope this story helps someone. HAVE AN AMAZING WEEK!