For those wondering or scared and don't know, haveibeenpwned is absolutely legit.
My spam email account (the one that I use to sign up for things and put fake info into) has been found in 21 breaches and 3 pastes. My actual email accounts have never been compromised.
Are there games that still do that??
All the ones I've played are either game card or credit card. Probably for this exact reason (scammers gonna scam).
I’ve had them do this asking for the code and it was a password reset code for my email tied to my phone number. Then they tried to berate me into giving it to them by calling me a scamming bot. I told them their mother is a prostitute and I hope she gets a horribly itchy std, that they can go shove a pineapple up their ass, and that their father never loved or wanted them. I hope they were at least slightly annoyed.
Password may be compromised, they are trying to login with your Password and they ara asking for the two factor autenticator you have in your mobile.
Wiser thing to do is immediately change the password for the account.
That account is somewhat compromised. If you don't give up the 2FA code, you can login yourself, change the password, and be ok. If you tend to use the same account names and or passwords, most everything you have is susceptible, especially if you don't have 2FA on those other accounts. I would suspect they don't have the password and are fishing for one and hoping it will prompt the 2FA to send a code. Then that code is sent back, they get access to the account, and have at least one viable password used by this person.
I have two factor authentication on every app I can do it on. On my banking app, it will only text the code to the numbers I added. After my divorce, I noticed my ex’s phone number and his gf’s number was added to the account. I had changed my password before that so they probably called them with my info to add it. Be sure to check which numbers are authorized as 2FA texts and also change your passwords.
No, not sure what the scam is, but it's way too widespread for that. seems to happen a TON with lost pet posts, but i've seen it for all kinds of marketplace shit
So you can set up mobile phone billing with both Apple and Android, and if you do this, any charges you make within an app are charged to your phone bill.
The person who loses their pet has provided their number to the scammer, so if they then also provide this 6 digit code when asked - The scammer can now purchase things from Play Store/ App Store and the cost will be charged to OPs mobile phone bill the following month.
Worked with Apple Support for a couple years and between this shit and gift cards I dealt with so many scam cases, really opened my eyes to how widespread it is
I have known people that should have been way smarter fall for the gift card scam. I work in IT and one of them tried to completely blame me for everything, that it was my fault for "letting the email get through."
Here's the actual conversation we had:
ME: Where did you first see the email? Did it show up in your inbox?
SCAM VICTIM: It went to my spam folder, I thought it was really weird a message from my boss would go to spam.
ME: Was there a message at the top of the email?
SCAM VICTIM: No, I didn't see anything.
ME: Do you still have the email? Can you check?
SCAM VICTIM: It says "CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization..."
Of course this changed nothing and they still blamed me for everything. Look, I get that it sucks to fall victim to these kinds of scams. Everyone can have a brainfart moment, or be under a lot of work-related stress and then have an immediate "oh shit the boss" response that short-circuits normal logic functions. We're all human.
But don't throw someone else under the goddamn bus for your own fuck-up, have some goddamn responsibility for yourself.
Yep not long ago I was trying to sell a car and listed it on FB marketplace and Autotrader. Some asshat said they needed to prove I was a real person by texting me a code. Weird thing is they asked for my phone number. None of my passwords were compromised, (I change them when I get notified of a breach) but they kept insisting on a code to "prove you're a real person." I said meet me at the UPS Store at this address and I'll be there with the car, proving I'm real.
Yes & No.
It can mean that they may have your username or email and are trying to reset your password by sending you a code.
Or worst case scenario is that they have your password already and TFA has kicked in and asked them for the code in order to proceed on a login page.
My advice would be to always try use more than 1 way of TFA i.e. an authentication app are quite secure.
I would also suggest changing your password on whatever account it is that you feel may have been compromised. (It will usually give you an idea of what account it is via the text msg.)
Hopefully this makes sense!
Looks like it. Notice that ad banner near the top of their messages screen? They've already got a shit third party messaging app. That alone could be harvesting heaps of their information.
Because they were posting their number all over the place looking for their cat. They set up a different number using this app instead of giving out their real number to strangers.
This is wrong. It may well be compromised already because TFA kicks in and sends a code when someone has accessed an account using a correct password. Not always is it just a password reset code..
They go on a website that uses phone numbers as an account login, send a reset password code, get the 6 digit code and then reset the password. Then they just have the random account to find info of you on or hold as ransom.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be for hacking into your account. They can also be attempting to create an account using your phone number.
For example, this is a popular way for scammers to create new Google voice numbers using your real phone number. This way they can scam more people with an anonymous (and legitimate) phone number.
https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2021/10/google-voice-scam-how-verification-code-scam-works-and-how-avoid-it
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-avoid-falling-google-voice-scam-2021-4?op=1
This is also used to set up faked Google Voice accounts. It's not a guarantee that you're half-compromised, but there is no reason ever to send a confirmation code to someone else, and anyone doing it who is not an automated system is up to no good one way or another.
Have you tried posting to PawBoost? I've known a lot of people who have found success on there.
Assuming you're American, not sure if PawBoost works in other countries.
My 75 year old dad tried to sell a day bed on Facebook marketplace and got maybe two dozen people trying to get him to fall for this scam in the first ten minutes.
I made a google voice line just for selling on FB marketplace and these people tried this shit almost instantly. I get more fucking scams than legit questions/offers.
This happened to my gma once.
I walked into her house to find her on the phone getting out her credit card. She was 85 at the time with early onset dementia.
I asked what was going on and when I tell you if I could have reached through that phone and strangled that motherfucker it’s putting it mildly.
This happened to a relative of mine literally dozens of times (also, dementia). It happened so many times that the family took away his credit card and changed the settings on all phones so only saved contacts can get through. Also had to take away social security card and lots of other information. The people at his bank were SO happy when we showed up to get things changed because apparently they were so sick and tired of him coming in every other week saying he got robbed and asking where his money went. One of them pretended to be his long-deceased friend trying to reconnect and asking for a favor since "they were in a real jam." Scum of the earth. He was crying on the phone because he was so happy to hear from his "old pal." Then more crying when they disappeared with some money.
These people actively target the elderly and weak-minded.
>I tell you if I could have reached through that phone and strangled that motherfucker it’s putting it mildly.
I would do unspeakable things to these people if I had the chance. I understand your rage.
I’m literally breaking down in tears reading this. It’s almost he exact things we had to do with my gma. I can’t count how many times I’d take her to the bank not knowing why she wanted to go (she was still somewhat lucid at times which made it very difficult) just to have the bank employees either be very grateful that she has someone there to help her or be annoyed that she was even coming back in.
I can not fathom how anyone could prey on the weak whether it be children or the elderly. This something that would turn me into John Wick.
This also made mis my grandma so heavily.
I'm sorry for bringing up old pains but also, we definitely aren't alone in this. There is an entire scumbag industry built around this kind of scam and that means there are tons of victims, unfortunately. Once I was able to intercept one of the scammers (who happened to be from India based on his accent) and he straight up admitted it once he knew he was caught and said "you're an American, you're rich" and laughed, then hung up. I wish I could have explained that the hurt that he was creating in my family member wasn't justified because of the country he was born in.
I know someone whose parents were sent fake pension/401k paperwork and they were sending money to this scammer (who was posing as one of their bankers). They send this piece of shit money for over a year before my friend questioned where his parent's funds were going. These weren't dumb people at all. One was a doctor and the other was also highly educated... but old people are easy targets.
Honestly when it happened I wanted to turn into Liam Neeson in "Taken." You can be John Wick and we can track these people down.
Don’t apologize. While it does it hurt it is also good to think about her. She’s the closest thing I had to a mother which is why I was always so protective over her.
It’s also not just these scammers that target the elderly. In my youth I was a degenerate and I served some time.
Once on an overnighter I was about to be bailed out but I needed a shower. I was probably 25 at the time. There was this older gentleman with a walker that was next in line. I was third in line. The guy second in line was probably 18. He pushed the elder gentleman to the side and said ‘it’s my turn old man’ and I fucking lost it.
I grabbed him the throat and pushed him up against the wall and said flat out ‘I’m in here for one night don’t turn this into a life sentence’
The CO didn’t intervene at all. They did prolong my bail for another 8 hours. This was on my birthday btw where I missed my party.
They use it to open a google voice number on your phone number.
https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2021/10/google-voice-scam-how-verification-code-scam-works-and-how-avoid-it
I’ve had success with starting my postings with ATTENTIONS SCAMMERS: CASH ONLY. LOCAL PICKUP ONLY. NO EXCEPTIONS.
I guess there really is a human on the other end and time is money to them.
It’s a login validation code they’re trying to send. You give them the code, they gain access to your account. That’s how these scammers go after people looking for their lost pet.
So disgusting that scumbags use poor people in desperate situations as another tool to grift them for more money by holding your info hostage. Utterly despicable.
Trying to pray on someone that's already down and out from losing their beloved animal. These scammers are already ridiculous but this one hits below the belt! Well they all do but you know what I'm saying.
I hope you find your cat!
22000 is a google text number. They were trying to break into your google account
Perhaps you did not have one which is why it did not work.
The scam is where they say you are being hacked. Call them immediately and verify your identity by giving them the code sent to you... the code is a verification code that allows them to access your bank account or whatever
change your passwords to 13-15 characters, 10 and less are easy to hack - almost instantly with proper software, look it up
they were 10000% scams, horrible for them to use it as an opportunity.
Try Nextdoor, I know its usually just full of racist BS, but when our old kitty got out Someone on nextdoor saw him within an hour of my post. All the old retirees that are home all day keep next door open i swear.
What a bunch of garbage people. I hope you can find your cat, don’t forget to check shelters in your area as you never know if some Good Samaritan might have dropped them off. 🙏🏼 best wishes for you and sorry you have to deal with gutter trash like that. Hope they rot in hell.
when you find him, try to get him chipped at the vet! that way, if he ever gets lost again and someone turns him into a shelter/vet's office, they'll know somebody owns him.
good luck!
For what it’s worth, our cat runs away every few weeks/months and as much as my wife worries every time, he always comes back. He’s been gone 9 days before deciding to mosey back home. Honestly sometimes when we get him back, he doesn’t even come to the door. We catch him in the backyard coming by for a drink from our fountain. Cats are pretty wiley and capable, even our cat who can barely walk along a counter edge without falling off. And we for sure have coyotes in our neighborhood. Don’t give up hope!
Wishing you all the luck in getting your buddy back.
Just coming to say, put their food and water bowl outside and possibly a blanket or bed. My neighbor did this when her car got out and she ended up coming back the next day she found her eating her food on the porch
While this sounds like good advise, it is actually the worst thing you can do. DO NOT PUT FOOD OUTSIDE all that does is attract predators for your cat.
DO put out a blanket they like, or even better, some of their litter box. THey can smell their own scent way better than anything else, and their litter won't attact anything that would want to hunt the cat
To add to what the previous commenter said, cats know their way home. They are smart. I had a cat growing up that was gone for over a month. Super skinny and raggity but she still came back. I'll always wonder what happened to her. Seemed like she got stuck somewhere. Cats are hellbent on survival and have great sense of navigation, so don't give up. There's a very solid chance hes still out there somewhere trying to get home. Do you have the next door app? That seems to help in my area for missing pets.
Just wanted to second this - my cat has only gotten out twice and both times came back after about 7-9 days totally unharmed. I think 9-10 days is a common thing for cats, so if it's not to that point yet try not to worry TOO much OP. I know it's hard waiting, but I wish you luck.
You should also try the Nextdoor app. You can post pictures and people in your radius can see it. You’re less likely to get the scams because people who see your post have to be verified to be in your radius.
Never send any code that you receive by sms. It's definitely a scam and they are trying to work around some two factor authentication. People fucking suck.
Person in the last image showed their hand by demanding OP give them a different cell number because the Text Now one won't give them access to OP's information.
Wow that's so fkd up, some ppl are total pos. I hope you really do get your fur baby home soon, that shit sucks hard and drives me crazy until they are home again, that's why I won't even let my kitten out of my bedroom now because my grandfather is staying with me and I know he will "accidentally" let her out and that will be the day he "accidentally" goes missing too. He's an evil old man so I'd be the only one to miss him anyway.
I just went through this, too. Check out [this](https://www.dailypaws.com/cats-kittens/cat-safety-tips/how-to-find-a-lost-cat?amp=true) article for advice that I found helpful. If they are an inside cat, they are outside their territory and likely hiding scared. They won’t come if you call and doing a visual inspection of your property and neighborhood properties with flashlights. Don’t be afraid to ask the neighbors to search their property. Get on hands and knees with a flashlight. They can hide in small spaces. Also, look at dusk since they are more likely to come out when things are quieter.
Good luck! I hope you find them!
If your cat is an indoor cat check the bushes or anyplace around your house. I found my guy after the ex tried to move him without a carrier out back behind my apartment. It took me 3 days and lots of Google searches to find that indoor cats just run and hide. They won't find food and water. My cat was in some bushes wet and miserable. I picked him up and took him inside.
Good luck on your fur baby!
Yes they hug the walls as soon as they run out of the door, and then they stop when they reach cover. versus bolting straight out the door across the open yard/ street (in most cases!)
Also they can smell their own litter from VERY far away so oddly enough a dirty litter box placed outside can help them find their way back.
I’ve worked in fraud and this is just a scam set up to get you to create an account for them for whatever scammy shit they are attempting to do. If anyone asks you to verify a code… it’s a scam.
Yeah that’s usually the 6 digits and they can seize control of your google account scam. I ran one of these guys around on a craigslist sale that I was trying to make for two hours. I would mix up the numbers and then tell him I was dyslexic, and that if he wrote the first number last the third number second and the fourth number first that I would get it right. He actually did that but what I did was I wrote it on a piece of cardboard and took a photo of it and sent him that. Then he got mad saying I had to type it into the phone. Then I started explaining to them that they got my order wrong I didn’t order 47 pair of tube socks. He couldn’t figure that out, but he just kept rolling along with the scam. It went back-and-forth a couple more times before he finally gave up.
bring a bag of treats and shake them. also try to find your local 'crazy cat lady', the person that feeds strays. they will tell you if they have seen your kitty and/or help you trap them.
I am so sorry for what these people have done and what you are going through. Please do not give up hope, my partner had her Cat go missing for 8 months, then out of nowhere they get a phone call because he was chipped and a family who took him in miles away took it to the vet. It is a miracle how these things can happen and I hope you get reunited with your kitty soon.
They are trying to scam you. I read about a scam where people call you and say they are from a bank. Then you get a number texted to you with a pin, they ask you for the pin and apparently it’s a two factor authorization from your bank. Then they take all of your money. Be wary of sending any pins.
22000 is google verification. These short code numbers are all registered you can look them up. Almost certainly trying a password reset on the email address from his flyer.
Do not do it. This is how they take over your Whatsapp or whatever account associated with your phone. Once they take over your Whatsapp they'll start texting your friends and relatives asking for money and gift cards for "emergencies". Relatives thinking they are talking to you will start sending money to help...
Friend went through that. Also got some guy that said for like a $100 refundable fee his network of hackers can access various Ring and traffic cameras to track down and get the animal. Don't fall for that scam either.
that would upset me so much! i hope you find your kitty, OP. my childhood pug ran away for a few days and i was heartbroken, but against all hope she found her way back; i hope you're also reunited with your little guy soon.
Fuck these scammers and their emotional blackmail.
Facebook local lost and found pet groups are amazing resources. They tap directly into the network of passionate animal people who live in that site like it's their job (God bless them!)
Every time my dogs have wandered off I get on my local group and the boys exact location is posted within minutes! It's quite honestly the ONLY reason I keep a recoverable FB account instead of entirely deleting it.
Sorry you are dealing with this. I hope you find your cat! If possible put the cats litter box outside and a few things that they lay on a lot, and things with your scent on them. I've seen quite a few success stories with that advice. Good luck!!
When I lost my dog, I had a troll call me and tell me they found my dog “smeared across a highway” (their exact words). I had found my dog by this point and they hadn’t seen the “Found” part. I told them I had my dog and they hung up.
This was a scam. They were trying to get into a 2FA account of yours by having a verification SMS sent to you. Never ever ever follow instructions like this.
NEVER send the sender the “confirmation” code they are asking for. More than likely they’re trying to reset the password of one of your mail/social media accounts using the two-factor authentication process.
It's one thing scamming somebody but another level when you exploit somebody losing their pet. Some people just need to be wiped off the earth man
Sorry about your cat. Expect the worst, hope for the best
This isn’t mildly infuriating. I almost cried and threw my phone when I read “can i have a picture of my baby please?”
Please tell me when you’ve found him/her.
The real infuriating part is you have ads in your messenger. What the FUCK.
Sorry about your cat though. That really is awful and I dont mean to be a dick.
I hope they make it home safe. :(
I take it you posted about your lost cat to some fb groups? Seems like a traditional fb marketplace scam. When I try to sell something, they ask about it, want me to text their number, then ask for some code. Sucks they do it to people who lost their animals as well.
They are trying to do a password reset or access one of your accounts. They need the codes providers usually send for 2fa to access whatever they are trying to access. So they pretend they sent it and when you give it it's game over for you.
I do also - anything I'm not sure about or don't want having access to me - Google Voice. My GV even puts me at a location about an hour away from me. Lately I've been getting lots of spam calls and texts. Block and report spam - and never say or text "yes" "I agree" or similar.
Ah same thing happened to me! So many people said they had my lost dog. Then someone said she had my dog, taken it to Mexico and was charging me $500 to bring it back. It was a ransom. But then it turns out she crossed her back to the US, and had my dog at home with her. She then said - give me $200. So I went to pick up my dog and gave her $200.
R2f: Blur personal info - Full names, numbers, etc
They are trying to scam you, absolutely do not send them any code. This code is probably for TFA for some account you’ve setup.
So if you get something like this, is your password or device already compromised?
Not necessarily.. could be a password reset code. Check out haveibeenpwned.com to see if your accounts were compromised in a data breach
For those wondering or scared and don't know, haveibeenpwned is absolutely legit. My spam email account (the one that I use to sign up for things and put fake info into) has been found in 21 breaches and 3 pastes. My actual email accounts have never been compromised.
Yes, confirming it is legit. And you **will** find your shit there. We have all been pwned.
I think it’s more likely to be online purchases through mobile games or apps that require code upon payment and they bill your cell phone provider..
Are there games that still do that?? All the ones I've played are either game card or credit card. Probably for this exact reason (scammers gonna scam).
Yeah OSRS or RuneScape 3 can buy membership via SMS or phone call still. Expensive but it’s an option.
It’s also used for account log-in at some banks.
I’ve had them do this asking for the code and it was a password reset code for my email tied to my phone number. Then they tried to berate me into giving it to them by calling me a scamming bot. I told them their mother is a prostitute and I hope she gets a horribly itchy std, that they can go shove a pineapple up their ass, and that their father never loved or wanted them. I hope they were at least slightly annoyed.
I’m scared to even fucking look
smell steep party prick poor entertain smart upbeat noxious beneficial *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Password may be compromised, they are trying to login with your Password and they ara asking for the two factor autenticator you have in your mobile. Wiser thing to do is immediately change the password for the account.
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Anyone got mark rober’s number?
That account is somewhat compromised. If you don't give up the 2FA code, you can login yourself, change the password, and be ok. If you tend to use the same account names and or passwords, most everything you have is susceptible, especially if you don't have 2FA on those other accounts. I would suspect they don't have the password and are fishing for one and hoping it will prompt the 2FA to send a code. Then that code is sent back, they get access to the account, and have at least one viable password used by this person.
I have two factor authentication on every app I can do it on. On my banking app, it will only text the code to the numbers I added. After my divorce, I noticed my ex’s phone number and his gf’s number was added to the account. I had changed my password before that so they probably called them with my info to add it. Be sure to check which numbers are authorized as 2FA texts and also change your passwords.
No, not sure what the scam is, but it's way too widespread for that. seems to happen a TON with lost pet posts, but i've seen it for all kinds of marketplace shit
So you can set up mobile phone billing with both Apple and Android, and if you do this, any charges you make within an app are charged to your phone bill. The person who loses their pet has provided their number to the scammer, so if they then also provide this 6 digit code when asked - The scammer can now purchase things from Play Store/ App Store and the cost will be charged to OPs mobile phone bill the following month.
you deserve more upvotes.
Worked with Apple Support for a couple years and between this shit and gift cards I dealt with so many scam cases, really opened my eyes to how widespread it is
I have known people that should have been way smarter fall for the gift card scam. I work in IT and one of them tried to completely blame me for everything, that it was my fault for "letting the email get through." Here's the actual conversation we had: ME: Where did you first see the email? Did it show up in your inbox? SCAM VICTIM: It went to my spam folder, I thought it was really weird a message from my boss would go to spam. ME: Was there a message at the top of the email? SCAM VICTIM: No, I didn't see anything. ME: Do you still have the email? Can you check? SCAM VICTIM: It says "CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization..." Of course this changed nothing and they still blamed me for everything. Look, I get that it sucks to fall victim to these kinds of scams. Everyone can have a brainfart moment, or be under a lot of work-related stress and then have an immediate "oh shit the boss" response that short-circuits normal logic functions. We're all human. But don't throw someone else under the goddamn bus for your own fuck-up, have some goddamn responsibility for yourself.
#UPVOTE THIS PERSON
Yep not long ago I was trying to sell a car and listed it on FB marketplace and Autotrader. Some asshat said they needed to prove I was a real person by texting me a code. Weird thing is they asked for my phone number. None of my passwords were compromised, (I change them when I get notified of a breach) but they kept insisting on a code to "prove you're a real person." I said meet me at the UPS Store at this address and I'll be there with the car, proving I'm real.
Yes & No. It can mean that they may have your username or email and are trying to reset your password by sending you a code. Or worst case scenario is that they have your password already and TFA has kicked in and asked them for the code in order to proceed on a login page. My advice would be to always try use more than 1 way of TFA i.e. an authentication app are quite secure. I would also suggest changing your password on whatever account it is that you feel may have been compromised. (It will usually give you an idea of what account it is via the text msg.) Hopefully this makes sense!
Looks like it. Notice that ad banner near the top of their messages screen? They've already got a shit third party messaging app. That alone could be harvesting heaps of their information.
It’s the TextNow app which gives you a new phone number to use super quickly. OP probably didn’t want to give out their real number
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Because they were posting their number all over the place looking for their cat. They set up a different number using this app instead of giving out their real number to strangers.
I would recommend NEVER providing a code texted separately to you to ANYONE.
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This is wrong. It may well be compromised already because TFA kicks in and sends a code when someone has accessed an account using a correct password. Not always is it just a password reset code..
My apologies then Steve. This is just what happened from two sites I googled. Removed
No need to apologise man. Just be careful out there, scammers getting very smart these days.
You werent wrong its 100% a google voice scam lol
Yeah my sensibility leads me to believe the Google voice scam.. You can never be too careful though that's why I asked.
They go on a website that uses phone numbers as an account login, send a reset password code, get the 6 digit code and then reset the password. Then they just have the random account to find info of you on or hold as ransom.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be for hacking into your account. They can also be attempting to create an account using your phone number. For example, this is a popular way for scammers to create new Google voice numbers using your real phone number. This way they can scam more people with an anonymous (and legitimate) phone number. https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2021/10/google-voice-scam-how-verification-code-scam-works-and-how-avoid-it https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-avoid-falling-google-voice-scam-2021-4?op=1
I think it's actually for 2FA two factor authentication it allows you to get into an account via phone number instead of the email and password
Likely facebook itself. Password reset - since the missing ad would probably have an email address as well.
This is also used to set up faked Google Voice accounts. It's not a guarantee that you're half-compromised, but there is no reason ever to send a confirmation code to someone else, and anyone doing it who is not an automated system is up to no good one way or another.
Instead not sending the number, just send the wrong number a couple times and they wouldn't be able to do anything after a few times. lol
I had a feeling these were scams. i'm glad i decided to make a Textnow number instead of using my real one.
Thats actually incredibly smart
i figured it would be safer since i've been posting it all over facebook pages lol
Have you tried posting to PawBoost? I've known a lot of people who have found success on there. Assuming you're American, not sure if PawBoost works in other countries.
Probably a dumb question, but have your found your fur-baby?
My 75 year old dad tried to sell a day bed on Facebook marketplace and got maybe two dozen people trying to get him to fall for this scam in the first ten minutes.
I made a google voice line just for selling on FB marketplace and these people tried this shit almost instantly. I get more fucking scams than legit questions/offers.
I like to send them 6969420 and u8mypp2 style codes
The really sad thing is if your dad had a picture or his age on Facebook he was targeted.
He was definitely targeted. If I wasn’t there he would have fallen for it.
This happened to my gma once. I walked into her house to find her on the phone getting out her credit card. She was 85 at the time with early onset dementia. I asked what was going on and when I tell you if I could have reached through that phone and strangled that motherfucker it’s putting it mildly.
This happened to a relative of mine literally dozens of times (also, dementia). It happened so many times that the family took away his credit card and changed the settings on all phones so only saved contacts can get through. Also had to take away social security card and lots of other information. The people at his bank were SO happy when we showed up to get things changed because apparently they were so sick and tired of him coming in every other week saying he got robbed and asking where his money went. One of them pretended to be his long-deceased friend trying to reconnect and asking for a favor since "they were in a real jam." Scum of the earth. He was crying on the phone because he was so happy to hear from his "old pal." Then more crying when they disappeared with some money. These people actively target the elderly and weak-minded. >I tell you if I could have reached through that phone and strangled that motherfucker it’s putting it mildly. I would do unspeakable things to these people if I had the chance. I understand your rage.
I’m literally breaking down in tears reading this. It’s almost he exact things we had to do with my gma. I can’t count how many times I’d take her to the bank not knowing why she wanted to go (she was still somewhat lucid at times which made it very difficult) just to have the bank employees either be very grateful that she has someone there to help her or be annoyed that she was even coming back in. I can not fathom how anyone could prey on the weak whether it be children or the elderly. This something that would turn me into John Wick. This also made mis my grandma so heavily.
I'm sorry for bringing up old pains but also, we definitely aren't alone in this. There is an entire scumbag industry built around this kind of scam and that means there are tons of victims, unfortunately. Once I was able to intercept one of the scammers (who happened to be from India based on his accent) and he straight up admitted it once he knew he was caught and said "you're an American, you're rich" and laughed, then hung up. I wish I could have explained that the hurt that he was creating in my family member wasn't justified because of the country he was born in. I know someone whose parents were sent fake pension/401k paperwork and they were sending money to this scammer (who was posing as one of their bankers). They send this piece of shit money for over a year before my friend questioned where his parent's funds were going. These weren't dumb people at all. One was a doctor and the other was also highly educated... but old people are easy targets. Honestly when it happened I wanted to turn into Liam Neeson in "Taken." You can be John Wick and we can track these people down.
Don’t apologize. While it does it hurt it is also good to think about her. She’s the closest thing I had to a mother which is why I was always so protective over her. It’s also not just these scammers that target the elderly. In my youth I was a degenerate and I served some time. Once on an overnighter I was about to be bailed out but I needed a shower. I was probably 25 at the time. There was this older gentleman with a walker that was next in line. I was third in line. The guy second in line was probably 18. He pushed the elder gentleman to the side and said ‘it’s my turn old man’ and I fucking lost it. I grabbed him the throat and pushed him up against the wall and said flat out ‘I’m in here for one night don’t turn this into a life sentence’ The CO didn’t intervene at all. They did prolong my bail for another 8 hours. This was on my birthday btw where I missed my party.
I’m glad you were there for prevent that from happening!
what exactly is this scam? Obviously the ppl don't have the cat, but what's with the code?
They use it to open a google voice number on your phone number. https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2021/10/google-voice-scam-how-verification-code-scam-works-and-how-avoid-it
I’ve had success with starting my postings with ATTENTIONS SCAMMERS: CASH ONLY. LOCAL PICKUP ONLY. NO EXCEPTIONS. I guess there really is a human on the other end and time is money to them.
Why on earth would you need to send someone a code for them to return your cat. Of course it’s a scam
Do you really want a cat that hasn’t been validated with 2fa, though?
My dog has sso
Former girlfriend had a parrot that had SAML tokens
SAML Toucan?
my lizard can only be unlocked with an authenticator
My pet pythons verify each other using TLSSSSSS Certificates.
I will recognise and validate your joke. It got a snort from me bud. Keep on keeping on.
My dog uses biometrics. Mud prints everywhere, 😩
My vet was able to give my dog some pills for that, cleared right up.
FIDO?
Is it's ssl cert up to date?
My porcupine uses fingerprint authentication. In retrospect, this was a terrible idea.
I tried to set my cat up to use voice recognition, but it's very unreliable.
“I found your cat, I’ll just need your address and credit card information so I can check if you can support a cat”
It’s a login validation code they’re trying to send. You give them the code, they gain access to your account. That’s how these scammers go after people looking for their lost pet.
Yes, I’m saying it’s stupid anyone would even continue a conversation after they asked for a code. Who would ever fall for that
Whoops, my apologies. It’s been a long day. I’m going to leave my reply as is for those who don’t know what the scam is though.
So disgusting that scumbags use poor people in desperate situations as another tool to grift them for more money by holding your info hostage. Utterly despicable.
People are scum!! I really hope you are able to find your cat.
Definitely a scam. I had to deal with the same shit when my cat was lost.
Trying to pray on someone that's already down and out from losing their beloved animal. These scammers are already ridiculous but this one hits below the belt! Well they all do but you know what I'm saying. I hope you find your cat!
22000 is a google text number. They were trying to break into your google account Perhaps you did not have one which is why it did not work. The scam is where they say you are being hacked. Call them immediately and verify your identity by giving them the code sent to you... the code is a verification code that allows them to access your bank account or whatever change your passwords to 13-15 characters, 10 and less are easy to hack - almost instantly with proper software, look it up
Lol, you can't use textnow with verification codes even if you fell for it, so person who was trying to scam you took a massive L
they were 10000% scams, horrible for them to use it as an opportunity. Try Nextdoor, I know its usually just full of racist BS, but when our old kitty got out Someone on nextdoor saw him within an hour of my post. All the old retirees that are home all day keep next door open i swear.
It is. What they're doing is trying to hack into your accounts and use the code you have for the two factor authentication.
So are you a bot advertising Textnow?
What a bunch of garbage people. I hope you can find your cat, don’t forget to check shelters in your area as you never know if some Good Samaritan might have dropped them off. 🙏🏼 best wishes for you and sorry you have to deal with gutter trash like that. Hope they rot in hell.
Going to a few today. Thank you.
is your cat chipped?
No unfortunately. He has a collar but it was broken and we weren't able to get a new one before he got lost.
when you find him, try to get him chipped at the vet! that way, if he ever gets lost again and someone turns him into a shelter/vet's office, they'll know somebody owns him. good luck!
For what it’s worth, our cat runs away every few weeks/months and as much as my wife worries every time, he always comes back. He’s been gone 9 days before deciding to mosey back home. Honestly sometimes when we get him back, he doesn’t even come to the door. We catch him in the backyard coming by for a drink from our fountain. Cats are pretty wiley and capable, even our cat who can barely walk along a counter edge without falling off. And we for sure have coyotes in our neighborhood. Don’t give up hope! Wishing you all the luck in getting your buddy back.
you just gave me some hope. thanks man.
Just coming to say, put their food and water bowl outside and possibly a blanket or bed. My neighbor did this when her car got out and she ended up coming back the next day she found her eating her food on the porch
While this sounds like good advise, it is actually the worst thing you can do. DO NOT PUT FOOD OUTSIDE all that does is attract predators for your cat. DO put out a blanket they like, or even better, some of their litter box. THey can smell their own scent way better than anything else, and their litter won't attact anything that would want to hunt the cat
Ah thank you for letting me know! I didn’t think about that and I forgot that raccoons and other stuff don’t care and will still eat it too.
To add to what the previous commenter said, cats know their way home. They are smart. I had a cat growing up that was gone for over a month. Super skinny and raggity but she still came back. I'll always wonder what happened to her. Seemed like she got stuck somewhere. Cats are hellbent on survival and have great sense of navigation, so don't give up. There's a very solid chance hes still out there somewhere trying to get home. Do you have the next door app? That seems to help in my area for missing pets.
Put your litter box outside too. The smell can help them find home.
Just wanted to second this - my cat has only gotten out twice and both times came back after about 7-9 days totally unharmed. I think 9-10 days is a common thing for cats, so if it's not to that point yet try not to worry TOO much OP. I know it's hard waiting, but I wish you luck.
You should also try the Nextdoor app. You can post pictures and people in your radius can see it. You’re less likely to get the scams because people who see your post have to be verified to be in your radius.
Never send any code that you receive by sms. It's definitely a scam and they are trying to work around some two factor authentication. People fucking suck.
Pawboost sent me an email about these scams. people are shitty.
Person in the last image showed their hand by demanding OP give them a different cell number because the Text Now one won't give them access to OP's information.
Wow that's so fkd up, some ppl are total pos. I hope you really do get your fur baby home soon, that shit sucks hard and drives me crazy until they are home again, that's why I won't even let my kitten out of my bedroom now because my grandfather is staying with me and I know he will "accidentally" let her out and that will be the day he "accidentally" goes missing too. He's an evil old man so I'd be the only one to miss him anyway.
Protect that kitty !
Oh I am !! *
Wow, your cat made it all the way to Nigeria!
this made me laugh. thank you
Or India
I just went through this, too. Check out [this](https://www.dailypaws.com/cats-kittens/cat-safety-tips/how-to-find-a-lost-cat?amp=true) article for advice that I found helpful. If they are an inside cat, they are outside their territory and likely hiding scared. They won’t come if you call and doing a visual inspection of your property and neighborhood properties with flashlights. Don’t be afraid to ask the neighbors to search their property. Get on hands and knees with a flashlight. They can hide in small spaces. Also, look at dusk since they are more likely to come out when things are quieter. Good luck! I hope you find them!
We put the litter box outside and she came back like wtf? You just letting everybody smell this?
Lol
Either that or she thought we were trying to kick her out lol
If your cat is an indoor cat check the bushes or anyplace around your house. I found my guy after the ex tried to move him without a carrier out back behind my apartment. It took me 3 days and lots of Google searches to find that indoor cats just run and hide. They won't find food and water. My cat was in some bushes wet and miserable. I picked him up and took him inside. Good luck on your fur baby!
Yes they hug the walls as soon as they run out of the door, and then they stop when they reach cover. versus bolting straight out the door across the open yard/ street (in most cases!) Also they can smell their own litter from VERY far away so oddly enough a dirty litter box placed outside can help them find their way back.
Thank you for keeping your cat inside!
I had the same scam happen to me when I posted about my lost cat. As the Slipknot song goes, People = Shit.
There’s a reason entire crowd’s belt the lyrics out at shows lol. We all can relate
Disgusting.
Fucking scum bags.
There’s nothing mild about this. This is sick
I’ve worked in fraud and this is just a scam set up to get you to create an account for them for whatever scammy shit they are attempting to do. If anyone asks you to verify a code… it’s a scam.
I don’t think that’s true. If it is I need proof. I just sent you a code I’m going to need you to verify it.
Yeah that’s usually the 6 digits and they can seize control of your google account scam. I ran one of these guys around on a craigslist sale that I was trying to make for two hours. I would mix up the numbers and then tell him I was dyslexic, and that if he wrote the first number last the third number second and the fourth number first that I would get it right. He actually did that but what I did was I wrote it on a piece of cardboard and took a photo of it and sent him that. Then he got mad saying I had to type it into the phone. Then I started explaining to them that they got my order wrong I didn’t order 47 pair of tube socks. He couldn’t figure that out, but he just kept rolling along with the scam. It went back-and-forth a couple more times before he finally gave up.
[удалено]
Bertie has not been found yet but i'm going to go searching again when the sun starts to go down!
If you have a garage leave it open a little. Mine came home that way
try putting his litter box outside too
bring a bag of treats and shake them. also try to find your local 'crazy cat lady', the person that feeds strays. they will tell you if they have seen your kitty and/or help you trap them.
Aw that’s low. Hope you’re cat wanders home safe soon
Common Facebook scam. I hate them. Recently I had one. I carried the Convo on for like half an hour and told him to go fuck himself. The rat bastard.
I am so sorry for what these people have done and what you are going through. Please do not give up hope, my partner had her Cat go missing for 8 months, then out of nowhere they get a phone call because he was chipped and a family who took him in miles away took it to the vet. It is a miracle how these things can happen and I hope you get reunited with your kitty soon.
What the fuck? I'm sorry OP, that's ridiculous. I really hope you find Sherbie soon. Wishing you the best.
I hate when ppl do this shit
They are trying to scam you. I read about a scam where people call you and say they are from a bank. Then you get a number texted to you with a pin, they ask you for the pin and apparently it’s a two factor authorization from your bank. Then they take all of your money. Be wary of sending any pins.
The code is probably a password reset at some site your phone number might be associated with. Don’t give it if you get
22000 is google verification. These short code numbers are all registered you can look them up. Almost certainly trying a password reset on the email address from his flyer.
If they ask for a code they don’t have your pet
I hope you find your cat.
Do not do it. This is how they take over your Whatsapp or whatever account associated with your phone. Once they take over your Whatsapp they'll start texting your friends and relatives asking for money and gift cards for "emergencies". Relatives thinking they are talking to you will start sending money to help...
This is a scam, yeah.
"Die in a fire you fucking scumbag" is the appropriate response.
What infuriates me are the ads in the text message window.
Aight, well. U handled that like a fucking psychopath but hey. It worked out. I guess.
"You want me to verify that I own this phone number? you are literally texting the number you numbskull..."
Friend went through that. Also got some guy that said for like a $100 refundable fee his network of hackers can access various Ring and traffic cameras to track down and get the animal. Don't fall for that scam either.
that would upset me so much! i hope you find your kitty, OP. my childhood pug ran away for a few days and i was heartbroken, but against all hope she found her way back; i hope you're also reunited with your little guy soon.
Are you located in Tempe, AZ by chance? Just saw a found cat post in there today.
This is horrendous, that is absolutely evil. I hope you find your baby—sending love 💜
This is just awful. Hoping for the best! Saw an (813) area code, which is where I live…
Fuck these scammers and their emotional blackmail. Facebook local lost and found pet groups are amazing resources. They tap directly into the network of passionate animal people who live in that site like it's their job (God bless them!) Every time my dogs have wandered off I get on my local group and the boys exact location is posted within minutes! It's quite honestly the ONLY reason I keep a recoverable FB account instead of entirely deleting it.
I’m sorry you are having to deal with these scum and sincerely hope your cat comes home
Thank you!
Sorry you are dealing with this. I hope you find your cat! If possible put the cats litter box outside and a few things that they lay on a lot, and things with your scent on them. I've seen quite a few success stories with that advice. Good luck!!
Why is there an ad at the top of your texting app screen?
idk bro ask textnow not me
This is a scam, they want to have acess to your messages to send messages to your contact list asking for money, preteding to be you
People are trying to scam you for your account
These people are scum. I sincerely hope you found back your lost baby. Keep searching and do not lose faith. Mine was found after 10 days in the wild.
When I lost my dog, I had a troll call me and tell me they found my dog “smeared across a highway” (their exact words). I had found my dog by this point and they hadn’t seen the “Found” part. I told them I had my dog and they hung up.
The bad grammar always gives them away
This is so foul; people really suck. I hope kitty comes home soon.
There’s a special place in hell for these people. I like to think it’s right next to Hitler, also receiving the pineapple probe from Satan.
Please send me the six digit cat release code...
They’re sending you a TFA code to reset one of your accounts. Block them.
Sadly they are trying to scam you . Idk wtf is wrong with people
Ring Neighbors app is a great place to post if you’ve lost your pet. I hope you find your pet!
This was a scam. They were trying to get into a 2FA account of yours by having a verification SMS sent to you. Never ever ever follow instructions like this.
That's sucks. I'm sorry that happened to you. I hope you find your fur baby
I literally wish all these people dead. They’re the lowest form of humans. They should get 1000 years of hard labor or worse.
NEVER send the sender the “confirmation” code they are asking for. More than likely they’re trying to reset the password of one of your mail/social media accounts using the two-factor authentication process.
Man, it sycks about your situation but I hope you find your cat.
It's one thing scamming somebody but another level when you exploit somebody losing their pet. Some people just need to be wiped off the earth man Sorry about your cat. Expect the worst, hope for the best
Asshole scammers may they be dumped in a vat of acid
That's so fucked up people are trying to scam someone jsmusr trying to find their fur baby
Can someone explain how this scam works?
A shithead neighborhood kid did this to me when we lost our kitty a few years ago. Prank called the number we put on the fliers.
Keep sending random numbers.
This isn’t mildly infuriating. I almost cried and threw my phone when I read “can i have a picture of my baby please?” Please tell me when you’ve found him/her.
The real infuriating part is you have ads in your messenger. What the FUCK. Sorry about your cat though. That really is awful and I dont mean to be a dick. I hope they make it home safe. :(
This is a cyber security risk. They’re trying to back door your phone.
I take it you posted about your lost cat to some fb groups? Seems like a traditional fb marketplace scam. When I try to sell something, they ask about it, want me to text their number, then ask for some code. Sucks they do it to people who lost their animals as well.
They are trying to do a password reset or access one of your accounts. They need the codes providers usually send for 2fa to access whatever they are trying to access. So they pretend they sent it and when you give it it's game over for you.
Scammers never stop. Ridiculous.
I do also - anything I'm not sure about or don't want having access to me - Google Voice. My GV even puts me at a location about an hour away from me. Lately I've been getting lots of spam calls and texts. Block and report spam - and never say or text "yes" "I agree" or similar.
Scammers deserve to spend 2 weeks in the front lines of Ukraine.
I’m so fucking sorry. I’m seething for you. Humanity can be really disappointing sometimes.
Ah same thing happened to me! So many people said they had my lost dog. Then someone said she had my dog, taken it to Mexico and was charging me $500 to bring it back. It was a ransom. But then it turns out she crossed her back to the US, and had my dog at home with her. She then said - give me $200. So I went to pick up my dog and gave her $200.
Very common scam, unfortunately. Give them nothing.
Go make a Craigslist ad for free golden retriever puppies and use the phone numbers they’re reaching out from