Delivery break in scam?

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ghettomaster

387 posts

Ultimate Geek

#302237 9-Nov-2022 11:25

Hi,

Just received an automated call claiming to be fedex, saying a delivery has been attempted twice. The message said press1 for English, then proceeded to say what I assume was the same thing in Chinese. I didn’t press any numbers and the call hung up.

I did a google and apparently this can be a break in scam where they’re looking for confirmation of what days you will and won’t be home.

Does this seem worth worrying about? Is it worth reporting to the police? Or is it likely to just be rubbish.

frankv

5680 posts

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#2993912 9-Nov-2022 11:27

I guess the fact you answered told them that you were at home at that time.

ghettomaster

387 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2993913 9-Nov-2022 11:31

Nah it was a call to my mobile.

martyyn

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#2993932 9-Nov-2022 11:51

Just had the same call to my mobile. I assume they expect you to press a number and then tell them when you will next be at home.

tripper1000

1617 posts

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#2993934 9-Nov-2022 11:53

Obviously a scam if you're not expecting a parcel.

Seems too sophisticated for N.Z. burglar's. Could be the old "give us your VISA details so we can charge re-delivery fees" scam. The phone system means the scam operator isn't wasting time talking to savvy people.

ghettomaster

387 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2993935 9-Nov-2022 12:00

tripper1000:
Obviously a scam if you're not expecting a parcel.

Seems too sophisticated for N.Z. burglar's. Could be the old "give us your VISA details so we can charge re-delivery fees" scam. The phone system means the scam operator isn't wasting time talking to savvy people.

Kinda what I was thinking. Also if it was someone local, you’d think they’d use a local courier company.

Linux

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#2993938 9-Nov-2022 12:06

I would of pressed 1 and when they ask your name say ' Pierogi '

MarkM536

309 posts

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#2993967 9-Nov-2022 13:14

Automated calling for the black-market of scammers.

Seeing if your phone number is still active (it doesn't get blocked) and then seeing if anyone picks up.

Once your phone number is amongst a data set, it's being sold between scamming or illicit other organisations.

Bonus points if it came from a data breach and your name/other details are associated with your mobile number.

A whole new field in scamming when they can get your trust by repeating your information.

I'm getting spam emails and text messages courteously of the data breach from a system Bunnings was using. They now have all my basic information and could convincingly pose as a legitimate business.

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Oblivian

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#2993969 9-Nov-2022 13:16

A colleague got it just before lunch too

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#2993970 9-Nov-2022 13:18

Scam and probably will ask for credit card details to "pay" for a further attempt.

richms

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#2993976 9-Nov-2022 14:15

I have had one last week that I answered because I thought it might have been a valid call. Just the Asian language babble. Back on contacts only and ignoring things again.

Richard rich.ms

alasta

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#2993979 9-Nov-2022 14:21

MarkM536:

Bonus points if it came from a data breach and your name/other details are associated with your mobile number.

A whole new field in scamming when they can get your trust by repeating your information.

I'm getting spam emails and text messages courteously of the data breach from a system Bunnings was using. They now have all my basic information and could convincingly pose as a legitimate business.

A while ago I was getting nuisance calls, with the caller quoting my full name. I set my phone to accept calls from contacts only and the volume of calls gradually tailed off over time, so I assume they are tending to target numbers that are known to be active.

neb

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#2993986 9-Nov-2022 14:37

ghettomaster: Hi,

Just received an automated call claiming to be fedex, saying a delivery has been attempted twice. The message said press1 for English, then proceeded to say what I assume was the same thing in Chinese.

Or the Chinese version was "Press 1 to accept a reverse-charges call from Fangzhengzhen billed at $5 a minute". That used to be a scam run in the US with bilingual phonecalls in English and Spanish, the Spanish version was the accept-charges message, the English version was the hear-the-message-in-English message.

tudorale

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#2993989 9-Nov-2022 14:52

I get these fairly often on my mobile. The ruse can vary a bit but they're all fundamentally similar. There are several possible aims:

1. They want you to call them so they can convince you there's a customs tax/fee/small charge that you need to pay for them to release your package.

2. They want to validate the number (e.g. it's real number tied to an actual human) for the purposes of including it on a list they sell to other scammers.

3. They're just fishing for data on you so that a follow-up scam can make a more convincing attempt to rob you later.

4. All of the above.

I suspect my number has featured on a few of these dark-web lists, I've had it for a long time and I do get an amusing variety of scam attempts. Everything from packages missing, to work from home job offers and catfish attempts.

There is no danger to you as long as you don't fall for this crap. Sadly it's generally the elderly or vulnerable that tend to become victims, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to use it as a conversation starter and warn your loved ones against this sort of thing.

eracode

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#2994026 9-Nov-2022 17:10

ghettomaster: Hi,

Just received an automated call claiming to be fedex, saying a delivery has been attempted twice. The message said press1 for English, then proceeded to say what I assume was the same thing in Chinese. I didn’t press any numbers and the call hung up.

I did a google and apparently this can be a break in scam where they’re looking for confirmation of what days you will and won’t be home.

Does this seem worth worrying about? Is it worth reporting to the police? Or is it likely to just be rubbish.

Are you expecting a delivery from FedEx?

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