Online Scams

Discussion in 'Money & Finances' started by Yvonne Smith, Apr 5, 2016.

  1. Marilyn Pahl

    Marilyn Pahl Veteran Member
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    Gosh this woman didn't ask for a clear title on the vehicle? That would be the only way I'd buy a used vehicle is clear title. If not they are still making payments on it, or stolen in this case.:rolleyes:
     
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  2. Yvonne Smith

    Yvonne Smith Senior Staff
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    I found this amazing video on Youtube, and it talks about a Treasury Direct Account, and it states that everyone with a SS number has one of these. According to the video, we can use it to pay bills with just like our own checking account; but the bill are paid directly through the US Treasury.
    It seems to fantastic to be true !
    Maybe some of the math people here in the forum can understand how this works and do some research about it.
    I could certainly use a secret account to pay my bills with, and probably so could all of the rest of us here.

     
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  3. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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    Not finding any positive info on this.

    Even if I was starving I wouldn't use this to pay for anything. Why trust some stranger on a YouTube video?

    Yes, I'm a 100% skeptic but.....
     
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    Last edited: Jul 24, 2017
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  4. Harry Havens

    Harry Havens Veteran Member
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  5. Ina I. Wonder

    Ina I. Wonder Supreme Member
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    Interesting. First of all, I worry anytime someone is disguising themselves, or is double-speaking. I would wonder about anything that "seems" to be free.

    But I would be interested to hear what @Harry Havens knows or can find out about this subject. The more one knows about finances, the more likely they are to understand such information. I would be interested in understanding the purpose of this and other such transmissions.
     
    #35
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  6. Harry Havens

    Harry Havens Veteran Member
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    Being a very curious type about many things, I considered I might have been hasty with my previous post... as it seemed to be too good to be true.

    A. My skepticism started with the notion that my S.S. card somehow correlated with a specific Federal Reserve Bank. Imagine someone born in Maine within the Boston Fed district and now living in California, which is the S.F. District. That would require a new social security card issued with the correct information on the back. What about someone that has bank accounts in 2 different FED districts?

    B. I could not find any “number” on the back of my S.S. card that correlated with anything. I suspect no one can.

    C. I decided to move on to the next step, which is likely the anticipated outcome.

    D. The speaker refers to a website and states www dot use bank locations dot com. (I stated it in this fashion to prevent a deadlink). However, www dot us bank locations dot com is a valid link. But is it a safe link?

    E. At this point, it became clear that I could not proceed. The speaker very clearly stated I would need to input my S.S. # as my name and then provide my bank routing number and bank account number. The three things required to set up any automatic payment, automatic deposit, transfer of funds, etc. I am NOT going to provide that information to just anyone.

    I cannot say with absolute certainty this is a scam, but I will not be the one to find out either way.
     
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  7. Ina I. Wonder

    Ina I. Wonder Supreme Member
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    Thank you @Harry Havens. Your points in E. were what I meant about double-speak. The person in the video made all sound so formal that one might not pick up on his true intent, which was to steal your identity.

    This makes me wonder if there is a site that debunks such charges. o_O
     
    #37
  8. Harry Havens

    Harry Havens Veteran Member
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    Eventually, but this derivation seems to be rather new, as in the past few months.

    A previous but similar scam... http://www.snopes.com/birth-certificates-financial-accounts/

    I did run across a few videos of an elderly guy talking about the current "issue". He used terms such as "as we all know", "common sense indicates" etc. As most people don't wish to appear unknowing, they will generally accept the principle and let the hook be set (fishing term). Rare is the individual that says I did not know or asks how so.
     
    #38
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  9. Neville Telen

    Neville Telen Veteran Member
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    I have not been able to dig up much yet on the YouTube stuff, but I can probably find you "a site that debunks such charges" if you want to mention what country you're in.

    Edit: I did find this (https://www.treasurydirect.gov/indiv/myaccount/myaccount_treasurydirect.htm), but it sounds different from the YouTube thing.
     
    #39
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  10. Don Alaska

    Don Alaska Supreme Member
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    @Neville Telen, your link make perfect sense. It appears to be a place where you and buy, manage, and redeem government securities.
     
    #40
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  11. Neville Telen

    Neville Telen Veteran Member
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    Problem being it sounds different from the YouTube video, so I'm unclear what to make of it....obviously my link is legit as it comes from the government....but what about the YouTube video stuff? Is it talking about something else? Is it trying to namedrop the government site as a smokescreen for some nasty work? No idea!
     
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  12. Don Alaska

    Don Alaska Supreme Member
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    Probably as @Harry Havens said previously, it appears to be a way to obtain access to the bank accounts of those naïve enough to follow the instruction.
     
    #42
  13. Lon Tanner

    Lon Tanner Supreme Member
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    I am very glad that Chase is on the ball and declined a charge by someone using my card number. I was notified both by phone and email. They are deactivating my old card and mailing me a new one.
     
    #43
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  14. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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    Yes, happened a few years ago.

    Same scenario as yours..also Chase Bank.

    Sent a new card.
     
    #44
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  15. Bess Barber

    Bess Barber Veteran Member
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    Yes, but it was my bank debit card. It got red flagged because it took place out of the country and I had not informed my bank I would be in another country. In case anyone didn't know, IF you are going to travel to another country, let your bank and credit card companies know. If not, there is a hold up on them paying the merchant. Great policy.

    I'm glad they caught it @ Lon Tanner before you were out any money.
     
    #45
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