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SteveNotSteveNot

"She had forgotten that I was on her bank account, so I drained it and left her $3k and put the rest in a savings account so it wouldn’t get taken." Finally someone who has the courage to act instead of just asking nicely for the victim to stop giving away all their money.


ji99901

Great! Now, wouldn't it be convenient if her phone accidentally fell into the fish tank?


sarcasmismygame

Please do an online police report and a report to the FBI, your state Attorney General's Office, and any elder abuse groups in your area as well. It sounds like the scammers are using older folks for money laundering. Fucking ghouls, this pisses me off more than anything else. See if someone can actually get access to her Facebook and "hack" her account so she can't chat with the scammers. We had to do that with my mom with her email and forward her phone to my sibling's so that the scammers couldn't talk to her. Good luck, I hope this helps.


hazzakthule

I had taken her iphone that she bought just so she could send them apple cards, as well as her computer when I found out about Kevin. She than blackmailed me into returning them or else she would throw my aunt and cousin out into the streets. So I changed all her passwords and returned them, so my aunt could keep living there. My mother did make a brand new facebook to continue communicating with these a-holes.


sarcasmismygame

Man that is too bad. I guess you can try to get Power of Attorney for her then. As for throwing out people if the aunt and cousin have been living there a while I don't know what laws are in place in your state so I'd check in to that as the scammers will likely ask her to sell her home to them. Be aware of that one, they tried to do that with my mom ugh! Anyways, I am sorry you guys are dealing with this crap.


EtonRd

Keanu Reeves has been liking all my comments on Facebook, I’m pretty sure we’re headed for a committed relationship.


crochetcat555

I hear he’s really nice. 👍🏻


2crowsonmymantle

A little short on cash, though.He might need a small loan…


Fogmoose

But sad...


LanMama

🤣


ISurfTooMuch

I'm not sure I'd have left the $3k, since she's just going to give it to the scammer. Take everything out, then tell her you'll help her put all her bills on autopay. If she needs to go shopping, give her a gift card for the specific store she's going to. And what you need isn't a power of attorney, it's a conservatorship.


hazzakthule

Working on the conservatorship, waiting for APS to show up, since I did the report, and than go from there. She refuses to go to the doctors, and to get her there Id have to drag her kicking and screaming.


ISurfTooMuch

If you were applying for a conservatorship, I'm not sure she'd get to choose whether or not she gets the eval done.


valkasha

My mom had a three year "relationship" with Taylor Kinney from Chicago Fire. All ten or eleven of them on Facebook. It was ridiculous but she would not accept that it was a scam. It finally tapered off when her Alzheimer's and Glaucoma got worse and she couldn't remember how to use the phone or see the chats.


TemptressToo

My mother is corresponding with Elon Musk. She even sent Apple cards for Little X's birthday, because apparently Elon wanted to surprise his delightful son. And ya'll REALLY have to see the photo Elon sent her with his drivers license to prove he's a real person. FML....


Necessary-Peace9672

Funny thing: Elon HATES Apple!


DannyTorranceShines

I didn’t notice which sub this was, saw the first line and was wildly jealous and impressed. Sorry your mom fell prey to this.


Otherwise_Rabbit3049

I'm so glad my grandma doesn't own a computer.


RudbeckiaIS

Yes, it's money laundering. The elder in Texas was supposed to cash the check, keep something for himself (say $2000) and either transfer the rest to another bank account or use it to buy crypto and send it to some money drop. Fortunately he either got greedy or confused and the ruse fell through. Given this disturbing development I'd say it's mandatory to first have law enforcement involved, then to apply for adult guardianship. Involve law enforcement because money laundering is no joke, even if the persons taking part in it are just unwitting dupes: after the money laundering ring QQAAZZ was broken up by authorities (with several members going into hiding and likely still active), European and US courts have become much less forgiving with accessories/accomplices in money laundering cases. At 88 prison is unlikely for non-violent crimes, but large fines and crippling legal bills aren't. better go to them before they come to you: you may want to get a lawyer involved. Given what I read here, adult guardianship is pretty much the only way forward. It's not pretty but if the alternative is to threaten relatives just to keep sending money to a criminal, so be it.


creepyposta

Some of them are victims too, they’re told that if they cooperate they’re helping the “investigation” to recover their own funds that were scammed. Scammer Payback on YouTube found a woman who had her life’s savings stolen and had been unwittingly been duped into becoming a mule by the same scam group. He showed up on her doorstep to confront her as a mule but very quickly learned what really happened. His community fundraised something like $35K to help make her whole.


OhLordHeBompin

Late to the party, but for future reference: !fakecheck I also want to give a shout out to OP for taking initiative!!!! Good job.


AutoModerator

Hi /u/OhLordHeBompin, AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the Fake check scam. The fake check scam arises from many different situations (fake job scams, fake payment scams, etc), but the bottom line is always the same, you receive a check (a digital photo or a physical paper check), you deposit a check (via mobile deposit or via an ATM) and see the money in your account, and then you use the funds to give money to the scammer (usually through gift cards or crypto). Sometimes the scammers will ask you to order things through a site, but that is just another way they get your money. Banks are legally obligated to make money available to you fast, but they can take their time to bounce it. Hence the window of time exploited by the scam. During that window of time the scammer asks you to send money back, because you are under the illusion that the funds cleared. When the check finally bounces, the bank will take the initial deposit back, and any money you sent to the scammer will come out of your own personal funds. Usually the fake check deposit will be reversed in a few weeks, but it can also take several months. If you do not have the funds to cover the amount, your balance will go negative. Your bank will usually charge a fee for depositing a bad check, and your account may be closed depending on the severity of the scam. Here is an article from the FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams, and here is an article from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/your-money/fake-check-scam.html If you deposited a bad check, we recommend that you notify your bank immediately. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*


cheekymoonbuns

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. Your mom is very lucky to have you. It has to be hard to have her fight you the whole time you're doing what's best. I hope the Conservatorship goes through soon. Scammers who prey on the elderly are the scum of the earth. I'm so sorry for everyone who is having to deal with scammers. Best wishes to everyone.


[deleted]

[удалено]


iamcarlgauss

A similar situation came up a few weeks ago (it was Elon Musk that time), and someone pointed out that ultimately you need guardianship, not POA. POA lets you do things on someone's behalf, but doesn't stop them from doing anything. Guardianship limits their ability to keep doing damage. You may have to get POA first, depending on where you live, but it's not the end goal.


hazzakthule

We’ve been trying to. My mother refuses to do it. She also refuses to go get checked for dementia. Trying to get adult preventative services involved to go check on her so that it would help getting her diagnosed.


lynnejen

I’m glad you brought up adult protective services and I hope they can help.


Southbayyy

Contact "Catfished" the youtube channel and they could probably help


[deleted]

One of my biggest pet peeves is people using acronyms that no one can understand. What is PCH?


Temporary-Ocelot3790

And Pacific Coast Highway. I agree that we are being acronymmed to death.


Bird_Brain4101112

Publishers Clearing House.


RudbeckiaIS

Publisher Clearing House


ccannon707

I knew that one but Google that stuff all the time.