Arrrgh! So sorry to read this, Don - those folk are the worst. It's easy to get caught out, and every year they get smarter with it...
One tip: always check the email address that these emails come from. If they say they're from, eg, Adobe, and the email address is owehdbwe4r4t81@hotmail.com - or, more likely, Adobe@hotmail.com, then it's definitely a scam - there's no way they would ever send something that's not from the company's domain (and also no way they would ever contact you like this, as you note, but it's easy to get fooled in the heat of the moment). With these emails it's relatively hard to spoof an email sender, so most of the scammers don't bother, or make a clueless attempt to do it.
Another tip - if there's a link in the email, hover your mouse pointer over the link without clicking it, and you will be able to see where you're clicking to. If it looks unfamiliar (eg. if they say they're from Adobe and the link's not going to that domain name) then it's scammy-looking.
Very sorry to hear this, Don. I lost almost $2K dealing with someone I thought was from Apple Support. The WORST part is that I contacted them first! I have since learned that Apple has only one phone number to call. I had Googled Apple Support & found a very believable contact number. It wasn't Apple. I now feel wiser, more jaded, more skeptical, more cynical, and, therefore, more empowered. Since then I've also gotten bogus service emails from "Norton, Microsoft, Geek Squad, etc." and send them to junk immediately. Wishing cyber-safety to everyone out there!
Note: This is the exact M.O. that's deployed across multiple products, not just Microsoft 365. It begins with a seemingly unauthorized charge. And as you wisely note: It's important not to react immediately.
Bravo to you for admitting your vulnerability. We all know about scams, but your meticulous documentation of your various stages of investigation will no doubt be useful to many people.
First thing you do is check the address of the sender. I get daily notices about my Netflix and other accounts being cancelled and PayPal bills for Norton. All go straight to spam!
It’s an obstacle race these days! It’s getting harder and harder to find any honest businesses. I’ve quit using my Visa cards because Visa has been doing sneaky stuff to overcharge its customers. LinkedIn has also been doing sneaky stuff. I’ve been trying to cancel my Scientific American subscription which they keep automatically renewing against my will. They never answer any of my emails. Evidently we have to call between their business hours. I don’t live in America and would have to call them in the middle of my night. Is dishonesty the modus operandi these days?
Ugh! I never answer my phone (unless I know the caller) and always check my bank account first in these circumstances but mostly know it's a false hood...sorry this happened to you!
So sorry this has happened to you. I mostly am able to just ignore those emails but it is hard. I do check my credit card religiously. Both of my credit cards, one more than the other are good at targeting any purchases through Facebook. And it it looks too good to be true….it probably is.
I gasped out loud reading this!!! Eeeek!! Never click the links!! Or call!! I was writing about these scams just yesterday. They’re evil. These scammers will stop at nothing and don’t care who they harm. I’m so glad everything worked out for you, Don. What an awful experience (but a great post!)!
Great advice on not responding viscerally. I knew about looking at the return email address, but was not prepared when I got a phone call from "the FBI." (In retrospect it's embarrassing to admit I even stayed on the phone.) The woman asked if I was expecting a package from overseas, which I was. She then started asking for my name, address, etc., and when I got flustered because I was driving. I asked if I could call her back. "No," she said, "just pull over." "I don't see why I can't call you back," I said, and she reiterated that this was an important investigation, which had to do with illegal substances coming into the country (!!) and started getting angry with me. That's when I FINALLY realized this was fishy, and just hung up.
Holy cow, Don. We read about these scams all the time, but when it hits so close to home, it becomes real. Sorry this happened to you, but glad you were able to emerge unscathed - albeit with a ton of work. I just went through a home selling process and was told to watch out for 'wire transfer' scams where one can be persuaded to transfer the proceeds from a home sale to a scammer with hundreds of thousands of dollars turned into dust in the wind.
I come from a tech background and I feel companies and governments don't do enough to catch and prosecute these assholes.
Uh boy. Don, I got the PayPal scam message last week. For a phony "approved" purchase of $740. In a moment of panic, I dialed what I thought was PayPal. When the Indian- accented voice said "Hello," I hung up immediately. Then, I logged on to PayPal, saw that were no transactions, and filed a scam report. Then, I checked my bank account. No unauthorized charges, thank goodness. And no strange charges on my credit card. I dodged the bullet. But I'm still on high alert. Thanks for the reminder to step back and breathe first.
Don I have received the exact same invoices (twice) from "Microsoft." They looked pretty authentic until I examined them closely. It's crazy out there. Thanks for sharing.
I know it's not funny. I've been there myself. But when you speak about it, it becomes so comical. I think of you everytime I drive down Southfield and pass B'nai Zion. Hang in there!
Thanks, JoEllen. I do find the humor in it after the fact, and I'm glad you appreciate it. How many classes were we in where we were the first two names alphabetically?
Arrrgh! So sorry to read this, Don - those folk are the worst. It's easy to get caught out, and every year they get smarter with it...
One tip: always check the email address that these emails come from. If they say they're from, eg, Adobe, and the email address is owehdbwe4r4t81@hotmail.com - or, more likely, Adobe@hotmail.com, then it's definitely a scam - there's no way they would ever send something that's not from the company's domain (and also no way they would ever contact you like this, as you note, but it's easy to get fooled in the heat of the moment). With these emails it's relatively hard to spoof an email sender, so most of the scammers don't bother, or make a clueless attempt to do it.
Another tip - if there's a link in the email, hover your mouse pointer over the link without clicking it, and you will be able to see where you're clicking to. If it looks unfamiliar (eg. if they say they're from Adobe and the link's not going to that domain name) then it's scammy-looking.
Mike, thanks for these additional tips for the Scam Stoppers Notebook.
Very sorry to hear this, Don. I lost almost $2K dealing with someone I thought was from Apple Support. The WORST part is that I contacted them first! I have since learned that Apple has only one phone number to call. I had Googled Apple Support & found a very believable contact number. It wasn't Apple. I now feel wiser, more jaded, more skeptical, more cynical, and, therefore, more empowered. Since then I've also gotten bogus service emails from "Norton, Microsoft, Geek Squad, etc." and send them to junk immediately. Wishing cyber-safety to everyone out there!
Wendl, so sorry to learn of your unfortunate loss. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Note: This is the exact M.O. that's deployed across multiple products, not just Microsoft 365. It begins with a seemingly unauthorized charge. And as you wisely note: It's important not to react immediately.
Thanks, Amy. These schnooks really know how to pull my trigger.
Bravo to you for admitting your vulnerability. We all know about scams, but your meticulous documentation of your various stages of investigation will no doubt be useful to many people.
Thank you, Judith. As Charlie Brown once said, "If we learn from our mistakes, I must be the smartest person in the world."
Yikes!
First thing you do is check the address of the sender. I get daily notices about my Netflix and other accounts being cancelled and PayPal bills for Norton. All go straight to spam!
Sound advice! Thanks, Leslie.
It’s an obstacle race these days! It’s getting harder and harder to find any honest businesses. I’ve quit using my Visa cards because Visa has been doing sneaky stuff to overcharge its customers. LinkedIn has also been doing sneaky stuff. I’ve been trying to cancel my Scientific American subscription which they keep automatically renewing against my will. They never answer any of my emails. Evidently we have to call between their business hours. I don’t live in America and would have to call them in the middle of my night. Is dishonesty the modus operandi these days?
I bet starting a thread on social media that SA refuses to cancel my subscription would get their attention.
Ugh! I never answer my phone (unless I know the caller) and always check my bank account first in these circumstances but mostly know it's a false hood...sorry this happened to you!
Your suspicions may have saved you a bundle.
So sorry this has happened to you. I mostly am able to just ignore those emails but it is hard. I do check my credit card religiously. Both of my credit cards, one more than the other are good at targeting any purchases through Facebook. And it it looks too good to be true….it probably is.
Thanks, Kathy. Also, if it looks too bad to be true...
I gasped out loud reading this!!! Eeeek!! Never click the links!! Or call!! I was writing about these scams just yesterday. They’re evil. These scammers will stop at nothing and don’t care who they harm. I’m so glad everything worked out for you, Don. What an awful experience (but a great post!)!
Thanks, Susan!
Don, what a terrible experience! I hope you are alright?
Financially intact, thanks for asking.
Great advice on not responding viscerally. I knew about looking at the return email address, but was not prepared when I got a phone call from "the FBI." (In retrospect it's embarrassing to admit I even stayed on the phone.) The woman asked if I was expecting a package from overseas, which I was. She then started asking for my name, address, etc., and when I got flustered because I was driving. I asked if I could call her back. "No," she said, "just pull over." "I don't see why I can't call you back," I said, and she reiterated that this was an important investigation, which had to do with illegal substances coming into the country (!!) and started getting angry with me. That's when I FINALLY realized this was fishy, and just hung up.
And not a moment too soon!
Holy cow, Don. We read about these scams all the time, but when it hits so close to home, it becomes real. Sorry this happened to you, but glad you were able to emerge unscathed - albeit with a ton of work. I just went through a home selling process and was told to watch out for 'wire transfer' scams where one can be persuaded to transfer the proceeds from a home sale to a scammer with hundreds of thousands of dollars turned into dust in the wind.
I come from a tech background and I feel companies and governments don't do enough to catch and prosecute these assholes.
Take care, Don. Good to see you the other day.
Thanks, Brian. Looking forward to reading your first (of many) novels.
Uh boy. Don, I got the PayPal scam message last week. For a phony "approved" purchase of $740. In a moment of panic, I dialed what I thought was PayPal. When the Indian- accented voice said "Hello," I hung up immediately. Then, I logged on to PayPal, saw that were no transactions, and filed a scam report. Then, I checked my bank account. No unauthorized charges, thank goodness. And no strange charges on my credit card. I dodged the bullet. But I'm still on high alert. Thanks for the reminder to step back and breathe first.
Jackie, thanks for sharing your experience. Now if we can just get past the initial panic reaction...
Don I have received the exact same invoices (twice) from "Microsoft." They looked pretty authentic until I examined them closely. It's crazy out there. Thanks for sharing.
Crazy indeed. Thanks for sharing.
I know it's not funny. I've been there myself. But when you speak about it, it becomes so comical. I think of you everytime I drive down Southfield and pass B'nai Zion. Hang in there!
Thanks, JoEllen. I do find the humor in it after the fact, and I'm glad you appreciate it. How many classes were we in where we were the first two names alphabetically?