SCAM: Received a call from CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION

[tomriddle]

jeuss effin christ i can't believe i fell for this crap.. the worst part is how the hell do they know that I have incoming reps?!

like the timing/coincidence is unreal this is why i entertained the call..

THANKFULLY, the call got dropped before i gave any sensitive information and i was able to google it before anything else but already i thought crap they got me. i was already thinking of excuses in my head and telling them just junk it that's fine. it's a broken watch yada yada yada..



The guy gave me a badge ID and everything, Case #, etc..

i'm so pissed.. these are the scams that get people because the timing/coincidence is just insane

grr.. anyhows, sharing it with all y'alls.. it's rough regarding the nature of our hobby but when you get this call.. just be careful..

it's a scam

 

[tomriddle]

from CBP's website:

CBP Warns Against Phone Scams​

WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection is aware of numerous telephone scams targeting residents nationwide.

Individuals nationwide have received unsolicited calls from scammers posing as U.S. Border Patrol agents and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers. Residents are reporting calls with a pre-recorded message stating, “a box of drugs and money being shipped has your name on it and has been intercepted.” Others are reporting calls from individuals claiming to be CBP employees and informing call recipients that there is a warrant for their arrest or requesting information in exchange for Bitcoin. In either case, the resident is instructed to provide banking information or other personal identifiable information, such as social security numbers or dates of birth.

These calls are phone scams/phishing attempts and have been around for the last few years. Residents are urged to not provide the caller with any information. The Department of Homeland Security and CBP does not solicit money over the phone, nor does it use Bitcoin other digital currency or gift cards. If such calls are received, people should make a note of the number and any other pertinent details about the call and immediately hang up, and then report the incident to your local police department and the Federal Trade Commissioner at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/. If you would still like to talk to someone from CBP, please contact the CBP Information Center at (877) 227-5511.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the comprehensive management, control, and protection of our nation’s borders, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection at and between official ports of entry.

 

[tomriddle]

man i'm heated.. i'm the one usually doing the scamming so the last person to ever fall for any type of scam but holy crap this just hit too close to home

i hate that i have 1 incoming rep right now and that's why i thought this might be real

 

[Feefo]

i'm the one usually doing the scamming

 

[Reaps]

The reason this happens is because cheap shipping carriers will literally sell your information (phone number, name, address) to less than scruplous data brokers to make a quick buck.

Scammers buy a bunch of this crap, they know that you have packages inbound and have your number...

 

[tomriddle]

part of my youth hacker group etc.. stopped when some friends got caught by interpol so yeah.. I'd be the last person to fall for these things that's why i got so annoyed they "got me" yesterday..

and the #1 rule of anything really is never ever give information out to people calling you on the phone (ALTHOUGH IT DOES ACTUALLY HAPPEN)

case in point: I had my passport renewed by mail.. the passport government agency actually called me because i was missing something.. then in order to verify if i was the proper person started asking MY information dob etc.. i told the lady, "you'll never get that from me.. because you called. it's one thing if i called and you have to verify my identity but you're calling me.."

then the lady went into the detail of the call and that's when it hit me that it actually was for my passport application so yeah.. it DOES happen but rarely do any legit agencies ask for your info over the phone. In hindsight, i am grateful for that woman doing her due diligence

The reason this happens is because cheap shipping carriers will literally sell your information (phone number, name, address) to less than scruplous data brokers to make a quick buck.

Scammers buy a bunch of this crap, they know that you have packages inbound and have your number...

yeah that's part of the checklist i was running thru my head while he was talking to me i was like "how the hell did "customs" get my number when i never gave it to the seller/etc?! it's not going to be on the package/etc.."

but really i can see why so many people get scammed.. they hit the right timing and already your heart is racing because you know it's related to something important and true to you (in my case, i have an incoming package)

....and to make it worse, i was asking myself "how the hell did customs intercept this package when it's coming from FL?!"

 

[Feefo]

part of my youth hacker group etc.. stopped when some friends got caught by interpol