internet TDD phone scam targeting t-shirt industry
Wanted to let all the printers/t-shirt wholesalers know, if they don't already, there is a scam where you will get a call from an internet phone service, where the operator has to type and read what someone is typing to them, because the person is deaf or using a free internet phone service. they will try and order a large amount of white or black t-shirts and use a credit card, which is stolen, and they will try and get you to ship it to them. be careful and dont let them waste your time on the phone
they are not the only ones waisting your time.....
around this time of the year the "slow pokes" with no buisness tend to phone or email and ask stupid questions (like, do you have transfers in lime green with Mick the mouse on it ?). But hey, your doors are open to all and thats part of doing biz.
Re: internet TDD phone scam targeting t-shirt industry
Thanks for posting this, Steve. I've been getting these calls for about 2-3 years now and they are a BIG pain.
It's basically the same scam as the email one where scammers from Nigeria, Ghana or other African countries trying to buy a bulk load of t-shirts with a stolen credit card and bad fedex account.
Now, after the operator connects me and the scammer asks me if I sell t-shirts, I say "No". They ask "What do you sell" (I guess hoping they can scam me out of whatever goods I sell), and I say "nothing".
Re: internet TDD phone scam targeting t-shirt industry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodney
Thanks for posting this, Steve. I've been getting these calls for about 2-3 years now and they are a BIG pain.
It's basically the same scam as the email one where scammers from Nigeria, Ghana or other African countries trying to buy a bulk load of t-shirts with a stolen credit card and bad fedex account.
Now, after the operator connects me and the scammer asks me if I sell t-shirts, I say "No". They ask "What do you sell" (I guess hoping they can scam me out of whatever goods I sell), and I say "nothing".
Re: internet TDD phone scam targeting t-shirt industry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodney
Now, after the operator connects me and the scammer asks me if I sell t-shirts, I say "No". They ask "What do you sell" (I guess hoping they can scam me out of whatever goods I sell), and I say "nothing".
Hmm... I'd really hate to get a false positive that way though - or are there obvious warning signs before you need to give that answer? I can certainly see the need to play the odds and save some time and aggravation. So, how much protection does a seller have from a discrimination suite?
Re: internet TDD phone scam targeting t-shirt industry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Solmu
So, how much protection does a seller have from a discrimination suite?
good point Lewis.
Here in Canada, discrimination is a serious thing. The Onus (spell?) would be on the seller in this type of case. You would need a very good Lawyer..... so, be nice is best.
Re: internet TDD phone scam targeting t-shirt industry
That's interesting. Here in US, such discrimination cases are hard to prove, and that the burden of proof is on the plaintiff. "We have the rights to refuse business to anyone" is the saying, I believe.
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Re: internet TDD phone scam targeting t-shirt industry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vtec44
"We have the rights to refuse business to anyone" is the saying, I believe.
I knew about that, but on the other hand you get Target being sued for their website not being accessible to the blind, so it's hard to tell what the law actually is.
Re: internet TDD phone scam targeting t-shirt industry
PS: Similarly, it's utterly ridiculous that someone who does as Rodney does, motivated only by wishing to avoid wasting time with a known spammer, could in any way be liable for prosecution under the anti-discrimination laws. Surely the law is not so bound by literal interpretations that common sense cannot prevail in such circumstances? My opinion is that real lawyers in real practice would not waste the court's time on seeking to pursue a prosecution of someone in Rodney's position. I have some faith in the system not being reduced to such a laughing stock, although there have been some pretty hilarious instances of the law making itself look bloody ridiculous (not funny for the poor folk who have to endure the court cases and expense of defending themselves, though).
Re: internet TDD phone scam targeting t-shirt industry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ross B
PS: Similarly, it's utterly ridiculous that someone who does as Rodney does, motivated only by wishing to avoid wasting time with a known spammer, could in any way be liable for prosecution under the anti-discrimination laws.
It's not the known spammers I'd be worried about, it's the false positives (like I said, it's playing the odds because you're not likely to get a false positive).
Hmm... I'd really hate to get a false positive that way though - or are there obvious warning signs before you need to give that answer?
Yes, there are some obvious warning signs. TDD operator is a bit frustrated, the line of questions are the same each time (like they are read from a script).
You're right though, you do have to be careful not to lose a valid customer who just may be hard of hearing, but I don't think that has been the case based on the calls I've received.
Re: internet TDD phone scam targeting t-shirt industry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodney
Yes, there are some obvious warning signs. TDD operator is a bit frustrated,
That's really interesting. I had wondered about that before (I have no experience with teletype). It'd be a terrible position for them to be in: they'd potentially have even more reason to suspect it's a fraud than the person receiving the call, but it's their job not to say anything.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodney
You're right though, you do have to be careful not to lose a valid customer who just may be hard of hearing, but I don't think that has been the case based on the calls I've received.
Things like the script-like questions are a pretty solid warning sign fortunately, and "real" people often just behave differently in ways that are obvious when it comes up. I imagine the chances of getting a genuine enquiry on TDD are extremely slim.
It would just be horrible to get a false positive is all, but between the odds and the warning signs it doesn't sound like that would ever happen.
Re: internet TDD phone scam targeting t-shirt industry
Quote:
It would just be horrible to get a false positive is all, but between the odds and the warning signs it doesn't sound like that would ever happen.
It definitely would. And I wouldn't encourage or suggest anybody to do what I did
But with the volume of calls I was getting, right after receiving the volume of spam emails asking for bulk shirts shipping to Ghana/Nigeria, and hearing the same wording, I felt it was the right choice. I spent almost 2 hours each (on 3 separate days) trying to go through the phone call and decipher what it was about. That's a lot of time (money) out of your day to deal with a fraudster.
It's something to take very seriously though. There are people with real disabilities that need that system to communicate with family and businesses. It's a shame that the scammers are taking advantage of it.
This is a discussion about internet TDD phone scam targeting t-shirt industry that was posted in the General T-Shirt Selling Discussion section of the forums.
internet TDD phone scam targeting t-shirt industry 
