JBTX wrote: ↑Sat Oct 26, 2024 8:54 pm
You would think for the well being of patients, especially elderly ones, medical providers could figure out a way to securely call from a recognizable / known number. The main reason people, especially elderly feel compelled to pick up phone calls is in case it is a call from a medical provider.
What age is elderly?
Misses the point.
I am lucky, my dentist and doctor incoming calls come from the same number I call. Someone might spoof one, so I still remind myself that all billing happens via mail, web portal, or in person.
PeninsulaPerson wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2024 4:47 am
...
I wait until they start leaving a message and then pick up and say, "Here I am and I never pick up on unknown numbers until I know who's calling."
...
Another strategy is to have software on your phone such that IF a call arrives from a blocked number, the call is answered with an automated messages something like,
"We do not accept calls from blocked numbers. Please hang up, unblock your number and call back, and then we will answer or you will be able to leave a message."
That also works, for non-scammers who want to "get through".
RM
This signature is a placebo. You are in the control group.
PeninsulaPerson wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2024 4:47 am
No message = Dodged a scammer probably every time.
My experience is 98% of the no message callers are from a telemarketer of some kind.
The scourge is that these calls are computer made in advance of an agent being available, and is only connects to an agent when it detects an answered call. If you answer and no agent is available, the computer drops the call.
wwhan wrote: ↑Sat Oct 26, 2024 2:06 pm
I would go online or call the number on the back of the card
+1 calling the number on the back of the card.
I'd add the caveat that searching for a company's number online means also making certain the search results didn't pull up a phishing site.
"The Quality of the Answer Depends on the Quality of Your Question."
There is generally no reason to take calls from unknown numbers. Set your phone to automatically direct them to voicemail.
stan1 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 26, 2024 2:05 pm
Why did you answer a call from an unknown number? Let them leave a voice mail which they will if they need something from you.
We are wandering a bit afield, but it really isn't that simple sometimes. I was health care POA/general person managing stuff for an elderly relative.
I got calls from Drs office, some of which used numbers that were not in my contact list (and I had no way of knowing the number in advance). I got calls from Dr cellphones a couple of times. I got calls from CNAs helping the relative (their cellphones) when the person had a issue. And calls from other places as well. Lots of calls.
I could miss the Dr office calls. They did leave a message (saying ... "call us back"). And then spend -- literally -- a day or two playing phone tag. I could miss the CNA calls (they would leave a message) and sometimes ... not always ... it was okay to call back later. It helped setting up all the usual portals that medical providers have now, but sometimes I needed to talk to people.
It was a stress-relieving moment in my life when I could start ignoring calls from numbers not in my contact list (albeit for a sad reason) but sometimes there are very good reasons to take calls.
wwhan wrote: ↑Sat Oct 26, 2024 2:06 pm
I would go online or call the number on the back of the card
+1 calling the number on the back of the card.
I'd add the caveat that searching for a company's number online means also making certain the search results didn't pull up a phishing site.
I have read that one benefit of using a verified mobile app is that the company's contact information is reliable.
JBTX wrote: ↑Sat Oct 26, 2024 8:54 pm
You would think for the well being of patients, especially elderly ones, medical providers could figure out a way to securely call from a recognizable / known number. The main reason people, especially elderly feel compelled to pick up phone calls is in case it is a call from a medical provider.
What age is elderly?
When one is eligible for a senior discount (like me).
(Not counting those young whippersnappers who get a senior discount without having earned it!)
"Happiness Is Not My Companion" - Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren. |
(Avatar is the statue of Gen. Warren atop Little Round Top @ Gettysburg National Military Park.)
You can answer your phone, just remember, companies don't call you for weird reasons asking for any information.
It's just not done. WHY? How does the caller know who they've reached. Because of that a call provides them no security, no advantage.
The easiest way to deal with the pond scum? here's the script:
Thanks so much for the call, can you tell me exactly which company you're calling from {pause to write it down} thanks so much, I have to use the bathroom, but I'll call the security center right back, BYE Now. {hangup}
It's that easy, any real situation, you can call them back, directly to a security person, no wondering what to do, no anxiety.
TN_Boy wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2024 10:35 am
I could miss the Dr office calls. They did leave a message (saying ... "call us back"). And then spend -- literally -- a day or two playing phone tag. I could miss the CNA calls (they would leave a message) and sometimes ... not always ... it was okay to call back later.
Longing here for the old days when, free of any ties to doctors / health insurance / medical transport / home care and other services, I could just ignore any unfamiliar number and let it go to voice mail. The variety of persons and area codes, all calling for legitimate purposes, is jaw-dropping. Once someone falls ill, it seems it's very easy for scammers to take advantage. When you are waiting for THAT phone call from THAT key scrubs-wearing magician, ah, that's another story. Privacy and security go out the window.
I am 70, I have friends that are 80, 85, 87 and a next door neighbor that is 99. They tend to be very careful about scams.
I also have friends that are much younger which are still very susceptible to scams.
No one was ever "elderly" - they were "a 90-year-old person," for example.
And this one-word descriptor is rightfully considered by many to be offensive and too vague to be descriptive anyway. (I recently saw an article implying that "elderly" started at 50!)
Better to use a few more words - like "older people who need medical care" altho' there are plenty of younger people in that same boat.
Younger people are all too vulnerable to scams. Teen sextortion is one that every parent should be aware of! And Venmo scams. Every reminder to be scam-wary is a good reminder.
And doctors/hospitals should do a lot better at using known numbers tho' I find the patient portals to be good for communicating with them. Direct and secure enough. Plus then there's a record of the contact and having the doctor's response in writing can be helpful.
Good grief. So do they need to change “Elder Law” to “Those who are older who need medical care law”? But maybe “older” is offensive too. And stereotyping people who need medical care is perhaps “Ableism”.
Can we just maturely discuss topics and dispense with the PC?
No one was ever "elderly" - they were "a 90-year-old person," for example.
And this one-word descriptor is rightfully considered by many to be offensive and too vague to be descriptive anyway. (I recently saw an article implying that "elderly" started at 50!)
Better to use a few more words - like "older people who need medical care" altho' there are plenty of younger people in that same boat.
Younger people are all too vulnerable to scams. Teen sextortion is one that every parent should be aware of! And Venmo scams. Every reminder to be scam-wary is a good reminder.
And doctors/hospitals should do a lot better at using known numbers tho' I find the patient portals to be good for communicating with them. Direct and secure enough. Plus then there's a record of the contact and having the doctor's response in writing can be helpful.
Good grief. So do they need to change “Elder Law” to “Those who are older who need medical care law”? But maybe “older” is offensive too. And stereotyping people who need medical care is perhaps “Ableism”.
Can we just maturely discuss topics and dispense with the PC?
Oh, I couldn't agree with you more!!
"Happiness Is Not My Companion" - Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren. |
(Avatar is the statue of Gen. Warren atop Little Round Top @ Gettysburg National Military Park.)
Good grief. So do they need to change “Elder Law” to “Those who are older who need medical care law”? But maybe “older” is offensive too. And stereotyping people who need medical care is perhaps “Ableism”.
Can we just maturely discuss topics and dispense with the PC?
JBTX wrote: ↑Sat Oct 26, 2024 8:54 pm
You would think for the well being of patients, especially elderly ones, medical providers could figure out a way to securely call from a recognizable / known number. The main reason people, especially elderly feel compelled to pick up phone calls is in case it is a call from a medical provider.
Most of the doctors I deal with already have this capability. The caller ID shows their main office number, which I have in my contacts list, not their direct number. It's a privacy measure for them too, so patients don't have their direct number and patients therefore get screened through the front office staff when calling.
If one is expecting a call from a new doctor, one can look up their listed office phone number and add that to the contacts list. Occasionally, I'll receive calls from a separate scheduling number instead of the office number, but that is usually with large physician networks.
trueblue63 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2024 1:22 pm
You can answer your phone, just remember, companies don't call you for weird reasons asking for any information.
It's just not done. WHY? How does the caller know who they've reached. Because of that a call provides them no security, no advantage.
The easiest way to deal with the pond scum? here's the script:
Thanks so much for the call, can you tell me exactly which company you're calling from {pause to write it down} thanks so much, I have to use the bathroom, but I'll call the security center right back, BYE Now. {hangup}
It's that easy, any real situation, you can call them back, directly to a security person, no wondering what to do, no anxiety.
Why make up the bit about having to use the bathroom? Just be direct: get their name, company, and what they're calling about, then say, "I don't give out any information to people who call me." And then thank them and hang up. Then, if you think the call might have been legitimate, find the company's phone number in your own records and call them back.
snic wrote: ↑Mon Oct 28, 2024 9:46 pm
Why make up the bit about having to use the bathroom? Just be direct: get their name, company, and what they're calling about, then say, "I don't give out any information to people who call me." And then thank them and hang up. Then, if you think the call might have been legitimate, find the company's phone number in your own records and call them back.
[ quote fixed by admin LadyGeek]
The bathroom, because no one on the other end is going to challenge you on that, it terminates the exchange after getting what you want, which is the goal. It's for people that have difficulty dealing with these calls. People who get drawn into the convos, don't want to be rude. I'm sure you know what I mean. (How I deal with people is different than say how my mother in law deals with people)
Long story short, my uncle got scammed online and sent multiple checks worth about $60k to try and recover his Facebook account. I know it sounds crazy but it’s true. The other person has already cashed the checks at this point. Would an attorney be able to help recover anything or are there any other options to attempt to recover anything? I feel like his bank, BOA won’t be much help since it’s been over 60 days (they were cashed in late July and late august)
Very unlikely. In this case, the only ones that could have done anything was Facebook. Anyone else would be lying.
He fell for a recovery scammer. They go after victims of scams, promising they can find money and track the original scammers and bring them to justice. All they do is make promises and ask for fees and extra funds for their work, which of course is all lies.
Even tho he sent the money to a scammer who obviously lied to him, he chose to do this of his own free will. The banks are not responsible for him doing this, because they are assume that as long as their clients are adults they are capable of deciding how to spend their own money and are responsible to do their own due diligence. The financial institutions are under no obligation or fault here.
The best he can do is make a police report, chalk this up to a hard life lesson, and educate others about how the scam went down.
Facebook friend sent out message to all their friends that elderly relative had passed and needed to liquidate stuff, nice stuff, couple cars, kitchenaid appliances, power equipment, with pics.
A back and forth private message revealed the poster, disguised as facebook friend, wanted down payment to hold an item, that they would refund should we not want item.
I texted friend who said they were hacked.
Could have lost said down payment.
"When I was a kid my parents moved a lot, but I always found them." R. Dangerfield
Feldman wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 6:18 am
I don't understand. Where is the quoted text coming from?
Go back a few posts, and watch for the first one with the “uncle tricked by a Facebook scam” title to read the current issue from the start.
Thanks. I think I just got caught during admin movements. When I replied, the post I quoted was the only one in its own thread with essentially no context.
wwhan wrote: ↑Sat Oct 26, 2024 2:38 pm
Yes, if they don't leave a message, it was not important.
Good luck calling the doctor's office back and actually be able to speak with him/her.
That’s one of the other benefits of a concierge doctor; I have their cell phone and an understanding that I won’t use it capriciously. Of course, that privilege comes at a price.
I had the same experience earlier this year with both text and phone. I finally gave up my 20+ year old cell number that I used as backup because I was getting 20+ calls and more texts each day. Ii tried it all, but finally cancelled the voice number.