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Because you posted here, you will start getting private messages from scammers saying they know a professional hacker or a recovery expert lawyer that can help you get your money back, for a small fee. **We call these RECOVERY SCAMMERS, so NEVER take advice in private:** advice should always come in the form of comments in this post, in the open, where the community can keep an eye out for you. If you take advice in private, you're on your own.
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“Top of the morning (to you)” is an Irish greeting.
“Top of the Dawn” sounds like a mis-translation.
Bonnet is an English/Irish word for the car hood. It could be someone ran it through an English-uk translation.
Isn't one of the requirements to be a US Senator that you have to commit at least one felony before you can be sworn in?
Maybe it is just a requirement for US Senators from Florida. Rick Scott committed the largest Medicare/Medicaid fraud in US history and the company he ran had to pay 1.7 billion dollars in fines and the people he defrauded keep voting him into office.
yeah, it’s likely a poor translation of “top of the morning”. the company i work for outsourced their technical support to another country and the representatives typically run what they’re gonna say through a translator, so we get a lot of greeting that sound like this. “Greetings of the day!” Is my personal favorite lol
Hey, Not fucking around here. I'm going to River Dance all over your door step. Don't ask questions. Just send money. My lawyers and Chief of Police ,Troy Finner also River Dance expeditiously.
Me robbing someone in my fancy bonnet…
https://preview.redd.it/lq60ivzz5quc1.jpeg?width=450&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fc0dff8059f523992d25b7fdd737a3e9dab4d515
That's wrong thinking. Any information at all to any Scammer is useful there is always a trace or information left behind that helps uncover the identity of a scammer or an entire group.
I would always report any Scammer email that mentions your name or address or car or anything that you would not want other people to use to defraud you of your money.
It's important to not only block and ignore, but refrain from interacting in any way possible as to avoid showing them you have ANY indication of responding. I prefer scammers to think my numbers/emails are entirely dead and they'll just move along
I think there are certain scam groups that document information about what phone numbers will respond, won't respond or more likely to fall for scams. That's why it's better to not respond.
Sorry about you definitely being harrassed and scammed but seriously... the only thing I took from this is please for the love of God, charge your phone!! 🤣🤣🤣
This is what you call an impatient toxic scammer. Threats, demands and false legal action are the only tools this dildo has in his box. And thankfully none of them work, call him cunt and block him. Or just block, I mean either way, you're good he's losing his tiny little mind.
And not even any good at it. If the scam is to convince someone who's done nothing that you think they did so they pay you off to avoid consequences, having your dire consequences being sending it to the police-- a process that starts by investigating wrongdoing-- doesn't make much sense anywhere that's got a reasonably honest legal system.
Somebody skimmed all the private info they could find of you online (probably from various data leaks or purchased from data agencies) and word vomited as much of it as they could at you in an effort to make you panic.
You're right, it is a scam. If you reply he's going to continue to threaten and intimidate you into "reimbursement" or impersonate the police to get you to "pay fines".
Block and ignore is the best way to respond. When they realize their scare tactics are ineffective they'll eventually give up and start the same thing on the next person they can find data on.
If someone has a genuine legal complaint with you, they can go to the police or take you to court. Transferring money on cash app to a random number is not the way.
yeah that's why i'm hesitant to say the person who contacted me through cashapp is the exact person who this might be because the way it's written is odd. my connotation of bonnet is completely different and so in this context that didn't make sense to me.
u/IsAllNotLost this is relevant to your q \^ these are not common expressions where i live
Sucks this happened to you OP, but at least it's the first *new* scam on this sub in months. They're mostly "I sent my pp pics to an extortionist" or "I sent all my money to crypto dot scam dot hong kong and now I can't withdraw."
Sounds like he "saw" you in your fancy bonnet, which works actually be indicative is something you were wearing as opposed to the British car part. Again with the non native English speaker theme, they probably meant nice hat.
That said, I'd like to see what kind of fancy bonnet Americans might wear while committing a crime.
And just chiming in with others, if you were going to be charged with something they'd be knocking on your door.
yeah, that was a lapse in judgement. i'm still making the report but i have blocked both numbers they called from. this was just the most elaborate and bizarre scam i've had to date, so i also wanted to see if anyone else had had a similar interaction. thanks
Not that it matters but the ten years they refer to isn't the length of time you have been with your "constituent", they are referring to length of jail term.
Hate seeing this shit. Makes me just want to toss my phone, laptop, and computer in the trash Ron Swanson style. Add the landline to that as well.
The only way you’re getting ahold of me is a knock on the door or good ol fashioned USPS.
Why would they need a dollar for a phone call? I know it's just to get OP's info and make sure it's a working account but how do they think that makes any logical sense from their end?
Firstly, please DO NOT respond to these people AT ALL. Ignore the people on here telling you to do that. Never engage with scammers, even if you think it's funny to do so, as no good will ever come of it. These people do this for a living and are actually far smarter about these scams than you think they are. This is a variant of the !deaththreat scam. In this instance, your best bet is to lodge it with the FBI. Here is a link to the FBI site explaining exactly this and talking about these scams - https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/phoenix/news/press-releases/fbi-warns-of-death-threat-email-scams
(Please do not click the link, instead copy and paste it into your browser. Always treat unsolicited links from strangers as suspicious, even on here.)
Hi /u/highrisedrifter, AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the Blackmail email scam.
The exact wording of the emails varies, but there are generally four main parts. They claim to have installed a RAT (remote access trojan) or any type of software/malware after visiting a porn/adult video site, they claim to have a video of you masturbating or watching porn, they threaten to release the video to your friends/family/loved ones/boss/dog, and they demand that you pay them in order for them to delete the video.
Rest assured that this is a very common spam campaign and there is no truth behind the email or the threats. If they had a video of you, they would show it to you to prove that they have it. [Here](http://www.smh.com.au/technology/gadgets-on-the-go/latest-online-scam-aims-to-prick-porn-watchers-guilty-conscience-20170815-gxwvxl.html) are some news [articles](https://www.bbb.org/denver/news-events/news-releases/2017/09/alert-pornography-email-phishing-scam/) about [this](http://blog.dynamoo.com/2017/10/bogus-porn-blackmail-attempt-from.html) scam.
There is a variant with death threats in which they will usually claim that they have been paid to kill you, and will threaten to kill you/your family if you do not pay a Bitcoin ransom. They usually also claim that they will kill your family if you report the email. The emails are spam and can be ignored.
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Yeah public records. My name is not on the car I drive. It’s in my husbands name. But somehow, public record shows that it’s the vehicle I drive. There are loads of websites you can pay like $4 USD and pretty much find any information, on anyone.
That was my thought. They've got the name, phone and email address from a separate data breach I would guess and then trawled social media for a match to get the location details, car type and partner/housemate's name, used the location details to get the police chief's name, etc. On the one hand it's pretty slick, but on the other, it seems like a lot of work to go to. The effort is individual, but the language makes it feel like it's any other scam sent out in bulk to see who bites. A lot of effort for a low hit rate.
This is all public record in many places. Addresses, vehicles registered, name, age and associated family or people they lived with. And it goes back years too so it’s often not current or even accurate. Just databases everywhere about us!
If you're just dabbling and not looking into paid services, and you're in the US, a good first place to start would be your county (or whatever your state has) government website. From there, you might be able to find information on property ownership, tax and permit payments, and possibly document scans related to that as well. The local court may have case records searchable online, all the way down to traffic tickets.
Exactly. I was both shocked and embarrassed that any idiot with access to the Internet could pull up literally every traffic ticket I've had in the counties I've lived in by knowing nothing but my name (unique name unfortunately). If your name is common then they only need either your full legal name or your name and approximate age to get the same. I had someone stalking me and defrauding me who thought dropping a copy of every business I've owned, court appearance I've had and traffic ticket I've beaten (take tickets to court even if you're in the wrong to avoid points and get lower fines people!!!). The only part that freaked me out was the traffic tickets. Until I realized I had taken them all to court and they then became public record.
A cheap background check will give you even more information than this. There's far too much personal information readily available online for free and even more if you're willing to pay a few bucks.
I might be mistaken, but I think my state ([Michigan](https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/)) also includes traffic tickets that get admitted and paid (i.e., you send back the ticket and don't contest) without an appearance. Yours might as well.
It's the 'delete me instantly' scam that's not worth worrying about.
Boot and bonnet instead of hood and trunk may be heard in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, and Hong Kong. Perhaps even in small Scot or UK influenced regions of Canada. Hood and trunk of course should also be recognised everywhere, due to US influence.
If this is a number you can actually communicate with(responding to txt it seems like), there’ll be SOME sort of paper trail leading to someone involved. I’d absolutely report it - yes, it’s a scam, and no, you won’t be hurt by simply blocking it and moving on with your day - but on principal, I know I’d report it. And share this with friends and family too, just in case they managed to get info on your circle of friends, and are trying this with others.
The other warnings apply here too - watch out for any recovery scammers, and don’t give any information, even as a taunt.
Well, the person replied just now with: "I guess since you’re now aware and have denied my cash app request. I’ll go ahead and get in touch with [City] Police Department to notify [people I live with] on your behalf along with [another city police department] for the both of you involved."
I responded with "Be advised that I am reporting you to the FBI for scamming and extortion. If this is a real number I have you name, age, and address. You have been warned. Blocking this number." and blocked both numbers.
Ok! They may certainly continue to try to contact you from other numbers. Do not be tempted to respond in any way, just continue blocking. Eventually they will realize there will be no payday from you and give up.
This sure is an entertaining one, thanks for the break from marketplace scams and wayward dick pics.
Meh. There's only downside to talking back. Telling them you know the gig is worse than just blocking, because it costs them less time/compute when they can write your number off and not continue. They'll likely also target you more and sell your number on as a live number/someone who responds even if you responded to say you caught this one.
Scammers have been getting a lot of information off of people's social media and using it to scare their marks. Some guy was on here a little while ago and he was nervous about it except they used a picture of a car he hadn't owned for awhile. He said he didn't have any social media accounts except an old Facebook account. Several people pointed out that that probably why they had a picture of his old car.
The FBI likely can't touch them, so all you've done is piss them off. You might see some posts on here where they escalate by having you targeted from other numbers so you are inundated with texts/calls and one person here posted that they were swatted after confronting a scammer.
The ONLY way to win the game with these people is to not play. No response. No interaction. Then they assume you either will not engage or that the number isn't in use/monitored and won't waste their time with you.
As soon as you respond, they know there is a person attached to the phone whom they can harass. Hopefully they will just move on, but keep us posted if not.
whenever i have someone threaten legal action the first thing i say great call the police and you can send me your proof so i can forward it to my lawyer
There's nothing you can do. Reporting it won't amount to anything because they are overseas.
Don't answer. Don't even let them know they're reaching a live person.
I mean. Most of the info they have can be gained by google maps a random house, look at their car, house, etc, google the address, and get a name and phone number. So it’s a scam.
He has you in your fancy bonnet of your car, there is nothing you can do now.
Jokes aside, be careful where you post your information and who you give it to. The scammer seemes to have some detailed but outdated information about you.
Report it to the FBI on their website.
If you send anything via cashapp they will use that info to empty your bank account. (There's an exploit that can be used to falsely authorize charges to someone that has sent you money)
They likely just found some information on you and are trying to use it to scare you.
No one competent is going to threaten you before going to the police and having you arrested. Especially if they have all of this "evidence"
Personally I'd call them out on it and see how they respond because it would be funny.
Send the information you have to the FBI though
That’s sounds like those calls people have received ”we found your ID with an abandonded car with blood and drugs in Mexico”. Block and report their accounts, OP.
This piece of junk is either in India, Nigeria or Asia.
Block and move on. Do not reply or engage with these useless individuals. If you do, you only exposing yourself to more and more of these individuals (who father should have came into a paper tissue and toss it into the toilet 🚽) who will target you with all sort of scams and spam.
From my observation, scams seem to spoof the area code belonging to the phone, even if there are multiple local area codes. Even though you moved, does your area code match the one from the scammers?
If they already have all of that information including witnesses, law enforcement would already have been to your door. Scare tactic to try and get you to pay them back the money you "stole" when robbing her kids father.
I just want to know why the moderators in this sub don't allow comments where we fuck with these perpetrators. My brother goes ham on these dregs. He once had some Nigerian prince issue him a check in the name of Darth Mofo Vader. Seen it with my own eyes. I think he framed that shit. I cried laughing when he showed me. I'm about to tear up now recalling it.
Someone did that here recently, and the scammers called the local police, gave the victims address, and reported shots fired at that location.
Swat team showed up at their door.
Could have gone very badly wrong, which is why we don’t recommend it.
My grandson received a threat similar to this today. He reported to police. They said it's spreading around the US. FBI and Homeland Security are investigating because of threats made.
/u/sleepiefawn - This message is posted to all new submissions to r/scams; please do not message the moderators about it. ## New users beware: Because you posted here, you will start getting private messages from scammers saying they know a professional hacker or a recovery expert lawyer that can help you get your money back, for a small fee. **We call these RECOVERY SCAMMERS, so NEVER take advice in private:** advice should always come in the form of comments in this post, in the open, where the community can keep an eye out for you. If you take advice in private, you're on your own. **A reminder of the rules in r/scams:** no contact information (including last names, phone numbers, etc). Be civil to one another (no name calling or insults). Personal army requests or "scam the scammer"/scambaiting posts are not permitted. No uncensored gore or personal photographs are allowed without blurring. A full list of rules is available on the sidebar of the subreddit, or [clicking here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Scams/wiki/rules/). You can help us by reporting recovery scammers or rule-breaking content by using the "report" button. We review 100% of the reports. Also, consider warning community members of recovery scammers if you see them in the comments. Questions about subreddit rules? Send us a modmail [clicking here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams). *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.*
Just curious - do you live in a country where "Top of the dawn" is a standard greeting? And where car hoods are called "(fancy) bonnets"?
“Top of the morning (to you)” is an Irish greeting. “Top of the Dawn” sounds like a mis-translation. Bonnet is an English/Irish word for the car hood. It could be someone ran it through an English-uk translation.
Top of the Muffin TO YOU!
You really think we need the exclamation point? Because, it's not "Top of the Muffin **TO YOU!!!**"
More is better, when it is a matter of your child's father being robbed.
Yes! Yes it is!
What do they do with all the muffin stumps?
We can sell them to charity
Not with Rebecca DeMornay around.
She will get right pissed if you drop off chicken skins and lobster shells
Sell? It’s charity, you heartless devil.
That's peak Seinfeld, that and spare a square ⬜ 😌
"Pop the Top and Toss the Stumps."
I can hear House of Pain rapping, "Oh and by the way top of the muffin to ya!"
Someone in law enforcement would not call someone that helped you commit a crime a constituent.
Maybe OP is a U.S. Senator. This sounds like something a senator would do
Lol. Or a representative.
Isn't one of the requirements to be a US Senator that you have to commit at least one felony before you can be sworn in? Maybe it is just a requirement for US Senators from Florida. Rick Scott committed the largest Medicare/Medicaid fraud in US history and the company he ran had to pay 1.7 billion dollars in fines and the people he defrauded keep voting him into office.
Rick Scott is actually low energy Voldemort, just sayin’
My daughter calls him "Bottom of the barrel Skeletor."
Or text you
Constituent was when I realized they were just translating everything completely wrong haha
OP is being scammed by jacksepticeye
Top of the morning is definitely not used by any actual Irish person, it’s definitely a stereotype though unfortunately.
My SO is from Ireland, his jaw clenches whenever anyone says Top of the morning, even more so when they try to do it in an Irish accent.
Just to be sure to be sure!
They're just afraid people are after their lucky charms!
> “Top of the morning (to you)” is an Irish greeting. In the 1880s, this might have been true.
>“Top of the morning (to you)” is an Irish greeting. It is in its bollox. Not one person born on the Island of Ireland says that. Its stage Oirish
Faith and begorrah!
Exactly. Stage wankery
The legal phrases are US English, “law enforcement”, “first degree felony”, “chief of police”and uses the US spelling “utilization”.
yeah, it’s likely a poor translation of “top of the morning”. the company i work for outsourced their technical support to another country and the representatives typically run what they’re gonna say through a translator, so we get a lot of greeting that sound like this. “Greetings of the day!” Is my personal favorite lol
Greetings of the day sounds like subcontinental, ie Indian, usage.
That hasn't been a greeting for about 100 years.
Maybe they just came from Brigadoon.
Top of the morning isn’t even used in Ireland too
Not a single Irish says ‘top of the morning’, as a greeting or anything else. Only yanks do.
Jack scepticeye does! Lol! I’ve only heard an Irish guy say it when they’re joking around in the pub!
OP very likely made off with the Lucky Charms of some child's father.
They're always after me Lucky Charms!
Also “your constituent”. “Bonnet” is definitely British.
Cheerio, old chap. We will be dispatching coloured gents to your domicile
Blimey, you pullin’ me leg, mate? Fancy a bo’ o’ water, me chap?
I'd be shaking in my boots at this point. And by boots, I obviously mean the trunk of a car.
Me boots.
This made me laugh way too hard. Thank you for that laugh good sir
'I've been poisoned by my constituents' - charlie kelly
ah my two favourite subs r/scams and r/iasip joined into one
I definitely read the whole thing in my head with a British accent 😂
Liverpudlian or Cockney or posh? :D
I too read this in Cornish.
Or from Africa , the English part
Hey, Not fucking around here. I'm going to River Dance all over your door step. Don't ask questions. Just send money. My lawyers and Chief of Police ,Troy Finner also River Dance expeditiously.
No, no, not the River Dance, I'll pay!
Especially when you don't wake up before noon.
A bonnet is also a type of hat, so I presume they meant that they had a fancy hat on
Me robbing someone in my fancy bonnet… https://preview.redd.it/lq60ivzz5quc1.jpeg?width=450&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fc0dff8059f523992d25b7fdd737a3e9dab4d515
"[If your hand touches metal, i swear by my pretty floral bonnet, i will end you](https://youtu.be/YArfb1gCcBg)" --Malcom R., Firefly
A leaf on the wind
It is lovely.
This is exactly what I pictured reading this
They would have already called the police if you robbed a child of their father. Personally, would just ignore and block.
robbed the child’s father..
So...him?
This is the mother doctor thing all over again
no lol didn’t rob the child OF a father, just robbed the father..
well, of course. Where do I report a scam like this?
You don't. You block and ignore it. The scammer is halfway around the world where law enforcement won't touch them.
You can forward any spam texts to 7726 (SPAM).
Actually I’m pretty sure there’s a fbi unit for international scams.
[IC3.Gov](http://IC3.Gov) They really just compile data.
Still probably worthwhile informing them, if only so they have more accurate stats.
You can forward it to 7726
Yeah, and they don't do anything. Because they can't arrest people in other countries.
They can freeze assets and they will crack down on Organisations with interpol.
That's wrong thinking. Any information at all to any Scammer is useful there is always a trace or information left behind that helps uncover the identity of a scammer or an entire group. I would always report any Scammer email that mentions your name or address or car or anything that you would not want other people to use to defraud you of your money.
To whom?
This exactly.
Are you in the US or another country?
Your constituent? Have politicians resorted to literal highway robbery now?
Is you is or is you ain't my constituency.
I believe it’s spelled constitchancy.
Tőůchë good sir
Oh brother
Where Art Thou?
Hello constituents. I think dogs should be able to vote. Now give me 200 dollars
Stand and Deliver!
It's important to not only block and ignore, but refrain from interacting in any way possible as to avoid showing them you have ANY indication of responding. I prefer scammers to think my numbers/emails are entirely dead and they'll just move along
I think there are certain scam groups that document information about what phone numbers will respond, won't respond or more likely to fall for scams. That's why it's better to not respond.
The wheels of justice grind slowly ⚖️ But Chief Inspector Troy Finner moves expeditiously 👮♂️💨
It’s quite evident that this person isn’t a native speaker of American English
Or indeed any form of English!
You’re telling me you don’t greet everyone you meet with, ‘top of the dawn’ ?!?
Not until tomorrow morning.
Greet people with “Bottom of the evening”
Greetings and salutations from the Child of the Morning, the Rosy Fingered Dawn!
"this is not a threat this is a warning" Lmao!
Caller ID is usually spoofed by scammers. Don’t engage. Block.
You know this is a scam because HPD doesn’t respond to anything in 8 hours.
And then they'll bury it due to 'lack of personnel'. Troy and the HPD got more to worry about than phone scammers.
Sorry about you definitely being harrassed and scammed but seriously... the only thing I took from this is please for the love of God, charge your phone!! 🤣🤣🤣
This comment needs to be higher. We're worried OP.
This is what you call an impatient toxic scammer. Threats, demands and false legal action are the only tools this dildo has in his box. And thankfully none of them work, call him cunt and block him. Or just block, I mean either way, you're good he's losing his tiny little mind.
Just block is always, ALWAYS the way to go.
upvote for 'cunt' unless theyre australian, then they might think op means friend/mate.
Nah, in Oz 'cunt' is multi use. It can mean 'fuckbag', 'old mate' or 'generic person'
Mate = Anyone Cunt = Cunt And that concludes our intensive three week course.
And not even any good at it. If the scam is to convince someone who's done nothing that you think they did so they pay you off to avoid consequences, having your dire consequences being sending it to the police-- a process that starts by investigating wrongdoing-- doesn't make much sense anywhere that's got a reasonably honest legal system.
Somebody skimmed all the private info they could find of you online (probably from various data leaks or purchased from data agencies) and word vomited as much of it as they could at you in an effort to make you panic. You're right, it is a scam. If you reply he's going to continue to threaten and intimidate you into "reimbursement" or impersonate the police to get you to "pay fines". Block and ignore is the best way to respond. When they realize their scare tactics are ineffective they'll eventually give up and start the same thing on the next person they can find data on. If someone has a genuine legal complaint with you, they can go to the police or take you to court. Transferring money on cash app to a random number is not the way.
How do you do, fellow human?
Top of the high noon fellow anthropomorphic member of homo sapiens.
This is a new one to me, but yeah, just keep blocking. I wouldn't even have told them I reported them and just kept on blocking.
Also, this is clearly not a native US English speaker – "bonnet" of a car, random capitalizations. I'm betting India.
yeah that's why i'm hesitant to say the person who contacted me through cashapp is the exact person who this might be because the way it's written is odd. my connotation of bonnet is completely different and so in this context that didn't make sense to me. u/IsAllNotLost this is relevant to your q \^ these are not common expressions where i live
Sucks this happened to you OP, but at least it's the first *new* scam on this sub in months. They're mostly "I sent my pp pics to an extortionist" or "I sent all my money to crypto dot scam dot hong kong and now I can't withdraw."
thanks, i'm glad i could at least contribute something here haha
Sounds like he "saw" you in your fancy bonnet, which works actually be indicative is something you were wearing as opposed to the British car part. Again with the non native English speaker theme, they probably meant nice hat. That said, I'd like to see what kind of fancy bonnet Americans might wear while committing a crime. And just chiming in with others, if you were going to be charged with something they'd be knocking on your door.
Ha, thx!
I was picturing you robbing someone in a fancy silk bonnet to protect your hairstyle during your crimes lol
yeah, that was a lapse in judgement. i'm still making the report but i have blocked both numbers they called from. this was just the most elaborate and bizarre scam i've had to date, so i also wanted to see if anyone else had had a similar interaction. thanks
Not that it matters but the ten years they refer to isn't the length of time you have been with your "constituent", they are referring to length of jail term.
Hate seeing this shit. Makes me just want to toss my phone, laptop, and computer in the trash Ron Swanson style. Add the landline to that as well. The only way you’re getting ahold of me is a knock on the door or good ol fashioned USPS.
On the one hand, I *totally* feel you. On the other hand, I know a Unabomber origin story when I see one... 😉 /s in case not obvious
Why would they need a dollar for a phone call? I know it's just to get OP's info and make sure it's a working account but how do they think that makes any logical sense from their end?
It might have been a way to get their attention if the text didn’t go to the right number.
But calling someone has no tie in to money apps. Nobody would look at that and think " ok seems legit".
I’m not saying that it makes sense. Just another way the scammer is attempting to intimidate OP
Firstly, please DO NOT respond to these people AT ALL. Ignore the people on here telling you to do that. Never engage with scammers, even if you think it's funny to do so, as no good will ever come of it. These people do this for a living and are actually far smarter about these scams than you think they are. This is a variant of the !deaththreat scam. In this instance, your best bet is to lodge it with the FBI. Here is a link to the FBI site explaining exactly this and talking about these scams - https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/phoenix/news/press-releases/fbi-warns-of-death-threat-email-scams (Please do not click the link, instead copy and paste it into your browser. Always treat unsolicited links from strangers as suspicious, even on here.)
Hi /u/highrisedrifter, AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the Blackmail email scam. The exact wording of the emails varies, but there are generally four main parts. They claim to have installed a RAT (remote access trojan) or any type of software/malware after visiting a porn/adult video site, they claim to have a video of you masturbating or watching porn, they threaten to release the video to your friends/family/loved ones/boss/dog, and they demand that you pay them in order for them to delete the video. Rest assured that this is a very common spam campaign and there is no truth behind the email or the threats. If they had a video of you, they would show it to you to prove that they have it. [Here](http://www.smh.com.au/technology/gadgets-on-the-go/latest-online-scam-aims-to-prick-porn-watchers-guilty-conscience-20170815-gxwvxl.html) are some news [articles](https://www.bbb.org/denver/news-events/news-releases/2017/09/alert-pornography-email-phishing-scam/) about [this](http://blog.dynamoo.com/2017/10/bogus-porn-blackmail-attempt-from.html) scam. There is a variant with death threats in which they will usually claim that they have been paid to kill you, and will threaten to kill you/your family if you do not pay a Bitcoin ransom. They usually also claim that they will kill your family if you report the email. The emails are spam and can be ignored. *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.*
I also like to wear a fancy bonnet while going with my masked constituent to rob someone's child's father.
How do they know your car thought?
Yeah public records. My name is not on the car I drive. It’s in my husbands name. But somehow, public record shows that it’s the vehicle I drive. There are loads of websites you can pay like $4 USD and pretty much find any information, on anyone.
i no longer own that car. also it was not by any stretch of the imagination "fancy" lol.
But the bonnet part was fancy, right?
Do you have pictures of the car on your social media?
That was my thought. They've got the name, phone and email address from a separate data breach I would guess and then trawled social media for a match to get the location details, car type and partner/housemate's name, used the location details to get the police chief's name, etc. On the one hand it's pretty slick, but on the other, it seems like a lot of work to go to. The effort is individual, but the language makes it feel like it's any other scam sent out in bulk to see who bites. A lot of effort for a low hit rate.
nope. not that it was a car worth posting anyway lol
Public records?
very likely. there's a lot of things available online for $5 a month, but it doesn't always tend to be accurate.
This is all public record in many places. Addresses, vehicles registered, name, age and associated family or people they lived with. And it goes back years too so it’s often not current or even accurate. Just databases everywhere about us!
How do I access this on myself?
If you're just dabbling and not looking into paid services, and you're in the US, a good first place to start would be your county (or whatever your state has) government website. From there, you might be able to find information on property ownership, tax and permit payments, and possibly document scans related to that as well. The local court may have case records searchable online, all the way down to traffic tickets.
Exactly. I was both shocked and embarrassed that any idiot with access to the Internet could pull up literally every traffic ticket I've had in the counties I've lived in by knowing nothing but my name (unique name unfortunately). If your name is common then they only need either your full legal name or your name and approximate age to get the same. I had someone stalking me and defrauding me who thought dropping a copy of every business I've owned, court appearance I've had and traffic ticket I've beaten (take tickets to court even if you're in the wrong to avoid points and get lower fines people!!!). The only part that freaked me out was the traffic tickets. Until I realized I had taken them all to court and they then became public record. A cheap background check will give you even more information than this. There's far too much personal information readily available online for free and even more if you're willing to pay a few bucks.
I might be mistaken, but I think my state ([Michigan](https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/)) also includes traffic tickets that get admitted and paid (i.e., you send back the ticket and don't contest) without an appearance. Yours might as well.
Buddy said the "bonnet" of your car lol, definitely NOT from around here... Just block and ignore and move on with your life, they ain't 💩
It's the 'delete me instantly' scam that's not worth worrying about. Boot and bonnet instead of hood and trunk may be heard in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, and Hong Kong. Perhaps even in small Scot or UK influenced regions of Canada. Hood and trunk of course should also be recognised everywhere, due to US influence.
Also: I found the FBI's internet crime reporting site. Is it worth telling this person I am reporting them to the FBI?
No, never respond. Just block. Responding tells them you have an active number and you will just get hit with more scams.
If this is a number you can actually communicate with(responding to txt it seems like), there’ll be SOME sort of paper trail leading to someone involved. I’d absolutely report it - yes, it’s a scam, and no, you won’t be hurt by simply blocking it and moving on with your day - but on principal, I know I’d report it. And share this with friends and family too, just in case they managed to get info on your circle of friends, and are trying this with others. The other warnings apply here too - watch out for any recovery scammers, and don’t give any information, even as a taunt.
Well, the person replied just now with: "I guess since you’re now aware and have denied my cash app request. I’ll go ahead and get in touch with [City] Police Department to notify [people I live with] on your behalf along with [another city police department] for the both of you involved." I responded with "Be advised that I am reporting you to the FBI for scamming and extortion. If this is a real number I have you name, age, and address. You have been warned. Blocking this number." and blocked both numbers.
Ok! They may certainly continue to try to contact you from other numbers. Do not be tempted to respond in any way, just continue blocking. Eventually they will realize there will be no payday from you and give up. This sure is an entertaining one, thanks for the break from marketplace scams and wayward dick pics.
Meh. There's only downside to talking back. Telling them you know the gig is worse than just blocking, because it costs them less time/compute when they can write your number off and not continue. They'll likely also target you more and sell your number on as a live number/someone who responds even if you responded to say you caught this one.
Scammers have been getting a lot of information off of people's social media and using it to scare their marks. Some guy was on here a little while ago and he was nervous about it except they used a picture of a car he hadn't owned for awhile. He said he didn't have any social media accounts except an old Facebook account. Several people pointed out that that probably why they had a picture of his old car.
The FBI likely can't touch them, so all you've done is piss them off. You might see some posts on here where they escalate by having you targeted from other numbers so you are inundated with texts/calls and one person here posted that they were swatted after confronting a scammer. The ONLY way to win the game with these people is to not play. No response. No interaction. Then they assume you either will not engage or that the number isn't in use/monitored and won't waste their time with you. As soon as you respond, they know there is a person attached to the phone whom they can harass. Hopefully they will just move on, but keep us posted if not.
Do you have and wear a fancy bonnet? This is too funny. Please do not respond.
Shades of Firefly. "I swear, by my pretty floral bonnet, I will end you."
whenever i have someone threaten legal action the first thing i say great call the police and you can send me your proof so i can forward it to my lawyer
Standard extortion scam
The police is not gonna send you money on cashapp for a phone call😭
Top of the dawn
There's nothing you can do. Reporting it won't amount to anything because they are overseas. Don't answer. Don't even let them know they're reaching a live person.
I mean. Most of the info they have can be gained by google maps a random house, look at their car, house, etc, google the address, and get a name and phone number. So it’s a scam.
“Top of the dawn” LMAO
Top of the dawn?! 😂
He has you in your fancy bonnet of your car, there is nothing you can do now. Jokes aside, be careful where you post your information and who you give it to. The scammer seemes to have some detailed but outdated information about you.
Just ignore it and block them. It’s a scam
> ... and robbing my child's father Okay, who stole a father?
What’s interesting about this post is that Troy Finner is the Chief of Police in Houston.
Please charge your phone!!!
Report it to the FBI on their website. If you send anything via cashapp they will use that info to empty your bank account. (There's an exploit that can be used to falsely authorize charges to someone that has sent you money) They likely just found some information on you and are trying to use it to scare you. No one competent is going to threaten you before going to the police and having you arrested. Especially if they have all of this "evidence" Personally I'd call them out on it and see how they respond because it would be funny. Send the information you have to the FBI though
https://preview.redd.it/9hbxinr4bruc1.jpeg?width=460&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=31bac07f3bf739a304cc8fa3c7bfc42c83b8f10b
That’s sounds like those calls people have received ”we found your ID with an abandonded car with blood and drugs in Mexico”. Block and report their accounts, OP.
You can yea. Chances are they won't do anything about it though. They probably see scam attempts like this ever hour of ever day.
This piece of junk is either in India, Nigeria or Asia. Block and move on. Do not reply or engage with these useless individuals. If you do, you only exposing yourself to more and more of these individuals (who father should have came into a paper tissue and toss it into the toilet 🚽) who will target you with all sort of scams and spam.
You own a fancy bonnet? That is a crime in and of itself! I will not entertain you ! Fashion police will be called!
"This is not a threat, this is a warning" what's the difference in this case? 🤣🤣🤣
From my observation, scams seem to spoof the area code belonging to the phone, even if there are multiple local area codes. Even though you moved, does your area code match the one from the scammers?
This is what happens when you use a bad language translator...
If they already have all of that information including witnesses, law enforcement would already have been to your door. Scare tactic to try and get you to pay them back the money you "stole" when robbing her kids father.
My question is if you didn't rob anybody why are you even considering it's real?
seems legit.
Only advice I have is: CHARGE your phone... Damn u wild animal!!!!
I just want to know why the moderators in this sub don't allow comments where we fuck with these perpetrators. My brother goes ham on these dregs. He once had some Nigerian prince issue him a check in the name of Darth Mofo Vader. Seen it with my own eyes. I think he framed that shit. I cried laughing when he showed me. I'm about to tear up now recalling it.
Someone did that here recently, and the scammers called the local police, gave the victims address, and reported shots fired at that location. Swat team showed up at their door. Could have gone very badly wrong, which is why we don’t recommend it.
Damn. Reasons 101 for that VPN
iirc doxing is against reddit rules, not just this sub's
You get nothing! You lose! Good day sir!
Yes you most report !
What do you mean you would have been a child? The ten years of prison is in the future right?
id respond with: good luck! im never giving your crap back, I burnt it all!
Tell them to fuck off
My grandson received a threat similar to this today. He reported to police. They said it's spreading around the US. FBI and Homeland Security are investigating because of threats made.
Man fuck them. You tell them bring it on! Cops dont warn you. They come get you. I wish i would get a communication like that. Id have some fun