NationStates Jolt Archive


And people sink to new lows...

Siylva
01-06-2007, 22:12
Link: http://www.schriever.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123055510

New scam targets military spouses

by Staff Report
American Forces Press Service

6/1/2007 - WASHINGTON, D.C. (AFPN) -- The American Red Cross is warning military spouses about a new identity-theft scam that targets family members of deployed troops.

The Red Cross was alerted of the scam earlier this month, said Red Cross spokesperson Devorah Goldburg.

The scam involves a person with an American accent calling a military spouse, identifying herself as a representative of the Red Cross, and telling the spouse that her husband was hurt in Iraq and was medically evacuated to Germany. The caller then says that doctors cannot start treatment until paperwork is completed, and that to start the paperwork, they need the spouse to verify her husband's Social Security number and date of birth.

It is hard to determine how many spouses have been targeted by this scam, Ms. Goldburg said, as there are many ways for spouses to report problems like this. However, one confirmed report was enough for the Red Cross to act, she said.

"We know that it happened to one person; it was probably going to happen to others, and we wanted to be prudent and alert people," she said.

American Red Cross representatives typically do not contact military members or dependents directly and almost always go through a commander or first sergeant, according to a Red Cross news release. Military family members are urged not to give out any personal information over the phone if contacted by unknown individuals, including confirmation that their spouse is deployed.

In addition, Red Cross representatives contact military members or dependents directly only in response to an emergency message initiated by a family member, the news release said. The Red Cross does not report any type of casualty information to family members; the Defense Department will contact families directly about family members' injuries.

It is a federal crime, punishable by up to five years in prison, for a person to fraudulently pretend to be a member of, or an agent for, the American Red Cross for the purpose of soliciting, collecting, or receiving money or material, according to the news release.

Any local military family member who receives such a call is urged to report it to the Schriever Airman and Family Readiness Center at 567-3920 or the Military Personnel Flight at 567-5900.

(Courtesy of American Forces Press Service)


You know, this is just pitiful. People taking advantage of the wives of our military men why they sacrifice over in Iraq? Why does it seem like good people are always the ones who get taken advantage of?
Khadgar
01-06-2007, 22:13
What kind of fucking idiot would fall for that?
Ifreann
01-06-2007, 22:13
Is it really that easy to get the phone number of people who have a relative who's in the military overseas?
Drunk commies deleted
01-06-2007, 22:13
That's humans for you. This shit was bound to happen.

As for why it seems like only good people are taken advantage of, well, bad people don't report being conned out of money. Rip off a guy in a drug deal and he's not going to the police to admit he was attempting to buy several kilos of cocaine in order to get you in trouble.
Infinite Revolution
01-06-2007, 22:14
that's pretty low, but it's no lower than scamming a pensioner out of their savings or any other scam preying on the stupid and infirm.
Dempublicents1
01-06-2007, 22:41
What kind of fucking idiot would fall for that?

Prey on a person's worst fears, and their better judgment may not come into play.
Neesika
01-06-2007, 22:43
Prey on a person's worst fears, and their better judgment may not come into play.

No doubt. It's not that unbelievable.
Entropic Creation
01-06-2007, 22:48
That's humans for you. This shit was bound to happen.

As for why it seems like only good people are taken advantage of, well, bad people don't report being conned out of money. Rip off a guy in a drug deal and he's not going to the police to admit he was attempting to buy several kilos of cocaine in order to get you in trouble.

You would think so, but it does actually happen now and then.
The stories of dumb criminals can get quite amusing.
Raistlins Apprentice
01-06-2007, 23:02
You know, this is just pitiful. People taking advantage of the wives of our military men why they sacrifice over in Iraq? Why does it seem like good people are always the ones who get taken advantage of?

Why are people taking advantage? Because they can.

Not that it's cool in any way, shape, or form. :mad:
Philosopy
01-06-2007, 23:08
What kind of fucking idiot would fall for that?

If you were told that your spouse had just been injured, I doubt you'd be thinking that straight.
Arinola
01-06-2007, 23:22
Sad, messed up people.
Skibereen
01-06-2007, 23:22
Is it really that easy to get the phone number of people who have a relative who's in the military overseas?

Data miners sell lists.
All you have to do is say your demographic is military families and purchase a list.

I have old list of names from a marketing deal I was getting into years ago of people who had requested work at home business info over the previous 12 months.

I got names, addresses, phone numbers, and income range.
10,000 names for $200.00, I have no idea what it would cost now...but I know the data mining is far better now then back then.
Hynation
01-06-2007, 23:26
Alas, what aggressive creatures we humans be...
Troglobites
01-06-2007, 23:33
Deplorable.
Araraukar
02-06-2007, 01:13
The caller then says that doctors cannot start treatment until paperwork is completed

Anyone stupid enough to believe that even in the States deserves whatever they're gettings. :rolleyes:

That said, I hope the scammers are hanged, beheaded and quartered, in that order. :mad:
Mirkana
02-06-2007, 23:10
That said, I hope the scammers are hanged, beheaded and quartered, in that order. :mad:
That would be too nice. I say hand them over to the Marines.
Cypresaria
02-06-2007, 23:23
Bury them up to their ankles in sewerage is the best option


El-Presidente Boris


Head first of course :D
Darknovae
02-06-2007, 23:50
That would be too nice. I say hand them over to the Marines.
I misread that as "I say hand them over to Minaris." :(
Minaris
03-06-2007, 01:06
I misread that as "I say hand them over to Minaris." :(

I'd be worse on them. ;)
Gauthier
03-06-2007, 01:21
That's humans for you. This shit was bound to happen.

As for why it seems like only good people are taken advantage of, well, bad people don't report being conned out of money. Rip off a guy in a drug deal and he's not going to the police to admit he was attempting to buy several kilos of cocaine in order to get you in trouble.

He'd just kill whoever ripped him off.

Human beings have a deep capacity for being scavenging scum.
Big Jim P
03-06-2007, 01:29
Why respond to the scammers when eventually the DoD will compromise your personal info anyway? I got a letter last year from the Veterans Admin saying that several million names (mine included) night have been compromised, and warning me about potential ID theft. Meh. anyone wanting to steal my ID is more than welcome to all my unpaid bills.
Gataway
03-06-2007, 01:29
I think it is quite easy actually I believe there is a website to find service members to see where they are stationed or something like that..and once you've got a name you can work from there.