Phishing call?

[Ladyhawk]

I don't hang out here anymore and have no plans to, but I have a question.

I just got a call from an extremely rude woman wanting my money for the California senatorial campaign. She said if I gave her my credit card number, my donation would be tripled by matching. (I should have asked who was doing the matching.)

Something about the call and the amount of pressure she put on me set off warning bells. I asked for a website that would show me this was true. She couldn't give me one. She said the "security code" would keep me safe because she wasn't going to ask for one. She kept pressuring me and pressuring me. I kept telling her, "How do I know who you are and how do I know this is legitimate?" She didn't give me an answer I felt was adequate. I tried Googling some of the things she was telling them and couldn't verify her claims.

Finally, she said, "Well, I've spent far too much time with you. There are other people who WILL contribute."

I said, "Fuck you" and that was the end of the conversation.

So, is there some kind of matching fund-raising going on that only applies via telephone? There was something "not right" about the whole call.

(I doubt I'll give any money to the Democrats, but I'll be voting against the Republicans.)

[dipsydoodle]

1. I think you're correct

" There was something "not right" about the whole call. "

[liberalmuse]

2. I guess a good rule is...

don't give anyone your credit card # over the phone. You can bet the scammers are out in times like this.

I miss seeing you here at DU.

[DirkGently]

14. Yep. Tell them you don't donate over the phone.

If it's a cause I like, I tell them I'll check the website. Straight shooters are always fine with that.

[valerief]

3. When in doubt, just hang up. You don't need that shit. You should never give

out your credit card number unless YOU initiate the call.

[Siwsan]

4. I've gotten a number of calls like that. Once they start with the pressure, I hang up

Especially when I tell them that I never use my credit card over the phone and they start to argue with me. That sets off all kinds of red flags.

[Ladyhawk]

6. Yeah, that's my rule, too -- Dont give out your credit card number to anyone who calls YOU.

I'd sort of forgotten my rule until she put the pressure on.

Funny thing is, just minutes prior to this, someone on Steam posed as a friend of mine and tried to get me to give him my earbuds from Team Fortress 2. They're worth a lot in trading and can even be sold for a decent wad of cash ($30 - $50). Maybe I should thank him for prepping me for the probable phishing call.

[matt819]

5. Let me get this straight

You don't hang out here anymore.

You have no plans to hang out here.

You won't give money to Democrats (fair enough).

But you will be voting against the Republicans.

But when you want help, where do you turn?

Maybe you're a good Democrat. Maybe not. But if you don't feel at home here, go away.

[hedda_foil]

7. Ladyhawk has been a DUer since forever.

If she's taking a DU break, that's her prerogative. She's earned the right to drop in whenever she likes.

[Ladyhawk]

11. Thank you.

If most people were like you, I'd still be at DU, but it seems like every single thread has to have a "Matt" in it.

[BanzaiBonnie]

12. I will apologise for the very rude,

bullying behavior of matt. There was no reason for that sort of behavior.

I do remember you being here for a very long time. And yes, the poor behavior that is allowed is not condusive to building community.

Remember, this is anti-bullying month.

[Ladyhawk]

15. The admins wouldn't even remove his post

Same old DU.

Bye.

[rurallib]

8. If someone else initiates the call and asks for my credit card number

the phone suddenly finds itself back in the cradle.
ETA I used to get such calls from a so-called policeman's association.
Calling me and wanting me to give them my credit card number to a stranger on the phone? How fucking stupid am I?

[Lisa D]

9. A good general rule is never give your credit card number to someone calling you.

Sounds like a phishing expedition to me.

[Ladyhawk]

10. Liberalmuse, Matt's post is EXACTLY why I don't hang out here anymore.

And Matt, I just wanted to know if there was an honest-to-goodness fund raiser going on or a phishing attempt. I almost gave her the money at one point and then I realized how stupid that was.

People like you remind me how stupid it is to hang out at DU. I have 12,000 posts on you, so I know exactly what it's like to be a member here. So don't worry. You won't see me again.

[LiberalAndProud]

13. That makes me sad.

We miss you, Ladyhawk.

[Ladyhawk]

16. When things change here, I'll be back, which means never.

Since leaving DU, I have been an admin on a forum and an admin on a game server. I do it right and don't let people like Matt bully other members. DU's admins are not doing it right, otherwise people like me would still be here.

I'm sure you miss a lot of people who have moved on. And I bet a lot of people have moved on for the same reasons I did.

I miss people like you, but can't understand for the life of me why you stay in such an abusive environment. It's like having a boyfriend that hits you.

[LiberalAndProud]

17. It doesn't feel quite like that to me.

It feels more like fighting with my brothers growing up. Your experience has been somewhat different than mine in that respect, I think. Send me a pm where I can find you.