The rise of scams using trusted forum accounts

[Jammer]

CF members should be aware that, across nearly all active forums regardless of topic or platform, there has been a rise in scams using dormant accounts with a previous posting history that appear trustworthy.


Scammers get access to these accounts through password compromises. Many people use the same passwords for forums that they do for online shopping, other forums, other social media, etc etc and over time many lists of user names and passwords have been compromised. The scammers try many accounts and passwords across many forums until they find one that works.


Once they can log in using an account that has a strong posting history, they offer to sell items on classified ad pages or by sending PMs. Or they purchase expensive items on the classifieds using fraudulent payments. People trust the goodwill of a poster they perhaps recognize or who seems to check out due to a large number of useful posts, not realizing that the account is compromised.


Protect yourself by being sure of who you're dealing with or buying and selling locally.


Protect others by using a password manager that creates long, random passwords that are different for every site, or by creating a unique password for forum sites where you post.

[glenn.225]

Good advice.

I guess its today's thing, it takes many forms. I almost got taken by a text from a supposed Canada Post delivery asking me to update a time I would be home for a missed delivery.

As it is, I am waiting for a pair of glasses I ordered and they are due any day now, so the text almost got me.


Cheers and take care everyone.

[chris mac]

I got a scam message while dealing with an engine problem. So I was already in a sour mood and a little flustered. I had to enter my FB password in to "verify my account"
I realized it was a scam within minutes, but as luck would have it, I was flustered enough that I screwed up the password anyways. So no harm done[emoji16]

[wholybee]

I was nearly scammed in a complex scam that involved 3 fake accounts. A conversation history was created between them. Then a few items posted for sale. Then a sale "completed" with a good review, then the scam started by trying to sell more items to the victims.
I got cold feet and didn't complete the sale because the use of English was "odd" and because only Zelle was accepted. After my not completing my transaction, but trying to figure out if it was legit, others came forward that they got scammed.
Be careful, and if even the slightest bit unsure, don't send the money.

[requiem]

Originally Posted by chris mac

I got a scam message while dealing with an engine problem. So I was already in a sour mood and a little flustered

Urgency is also a common element of scams.

That's one more reason the first thing to do in many cases should be to take a deep breath and start brewing a cup of tea.

[JC Reefer]

There is actually an industry of YouTubers that mess with scammers. Most of the scams work the same exact way.

https://youtu.be/nlA8MmRNV2w

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by JC Reefer

There is actually an industry of YouTubers that mess with scammers. Most of the scams work the same exact way.

https://youtu.be/nlA8MmRNV2w

Priceless.

[bdgWesternMass]

Originally Posted by JC Reefer

There is actually an industry of YouTubers that mess with scammers. Most of the scams work the same exact way.

https://youtu.be/nlA8MmRNV2w

I always wonder if those videos are placed there to loop people into believing they can scam the scammers.

[CSY Man]

Originally Posted by JC Reefer

There is actually an industry of YouTubers that mess with scammers. Most of the scams work the same exact way.

https://youtu.be/nlA8MmRNV2w

Nice, gives me the warm and fuzzy.

[Sand crab]

Sometimes if I'm bored I'll mess with them. I'll say I sent the money (when i didn't). It really messes with their heads.

[davil]

a little off-topic, but within the "fraud universe has anybody have experience with getting crew on board and having bad results?

Looking at adds of crew available in this forum, there are many first posters, no history available.

I understand the need for due diligence on screening and weeding out potential candidates, including references etc.
Also there is a sticky on the Crew section very helpful.

However, the possibility of somebody slipping thru the cracks is there.

Anybody cares to share "bad experiences", that will include inflated level of experience to just plain unsavory/delinquent behavior, including concerns about physical risk to oneself?.

On my part, been very lucky, only recently a "I like to cook and share cleaning up" ended up on unwillingness to share the minimum.

Booted the crew on first stop.

[s/v Jedi]

First time ever, I changed my password on CF. It’s one of those endless random ones now.

[Wotname]

^^ good point

[nightowle]

Originally Posted by davil

a little off-topic, but within the "fraud universe has anybody have experience with getting crew on board and having bad results?

Looking at adds of crew available in this forum, there are many first posters, no history available.

I understand the need for due diligence on screening and weeding out potential candidates, including references etc.
Also there is a sticky on the Crew section very helpful.

However, the possibility of somebody slipping thru the cracks is there.

Anybody cares to share "bad experiences", that will include inflated level of experience to just plain unsavory/delinquent behavior, including concerns about physical risk to oneself?.

On my part, been very lucky, only recently a "I like to cook and share cleaning up" ended up on unwillingness to share the minimum.

Booted the crew on first stop.

Anecdotally, I have friends that have had lousy crew situations. Nothing life-threatening, but certainly uncomfortable. Conversely, I've seen crew wanting to get away from bad skippers. I was on the Baja Haha a few years ago. Another boat with 2 in crew was regaling stories at a mid-trip port of their inexperienced and belligerent skipper. The crew, however, had plenty of experience. One of the crew was literally begging any boat to take her on for her own sense of a lack of proceeding safely. Our stopover was at a remote locale, so heading home from there was nigh on impossible and/or more unsafe.

[SailingGrant]

Don’t trust anything from Rock22 or the email account RanddyHalk@gmail.com. They approached me as a set of brothers who could get sofa cushions for my boat but asked for payment immediately. I asked for a photo and they sent me one from a boat ad I’d seen last year.