I’m so grateful that my cell service provider has a spam blocker. I used to get one or two a week, usually addressing me as “Edna.” Now, I get an average of 10 a day, most of which are caught by the spam blocker and gets sent to the spam folder.
The text messages range from brain pills to CBD to failed delivery of a check. Sometimes it says that a friend has sent me something or I won something from Best Buy. It’s amazing how ruthless these scammers are. Some of the texts are actually worded in a way where many people might just click the link.
I opened my spam text folder before sitting to write this and was amazed to have gotten 41 spam texts over the past 3 days.
Thankfully, I really don’t know that they are here unless I open that folder. Now if I could just stop the spam phone calls while I am sleeping!
It seems like the spam texts and calls come and go in waves. In the last 5 days, I have been slammed with all kinds of spam on my phone. Scammers are working overtime lately.
Tonight, within a span of 2 two hours, I have received about 8 text messages from various Gmail accounts. It is obvious that it is a scam or something that will harm your phone. It literally comes from a Gmail address and all the text contains is a link for you to click that is just a bunch of characters…. here is a picture I found that is similar to the texts I got tonight:
Spam Text messages
Do they really think that you are going to click on that? I admit that this is the newest form of spam texts I have been getting. I believe I have blogged before about the random text messages I was getting before from numbers I had never seen before. These were easy to spot as they always were addressed to “Edna.” “Congratulations, Edna! You have won a new car! Click the link below to claim your prize!” “Edna, It is important that we speak to you regarding a legal matter. Please call _______ or click the link below before law enforcement is involved!” Those all came from phone numbers. The fact that these are coming from random Gmail accounts is just weird. As soon as I would flag the text and mark it as spam, another would show up in my messages. It was almost like blocking them led to more texts. Maybe I am wrong. The Edna texts would be 5-8 a day for a while.
The Robo calls are just as bad – and weird. Most won’t leave a message. I was getting calls from a number that started 666 and when I blocked that number a new one would follow, again with a 666 prefix. So if I blocked 666-1234, they next call would be from 666-1235, or 666-4321 or whatever. They never left a message. I was laying on the floor playing with Ella one day and the phone rang and she answered it. Someone asked for “Lynn” as Ella babbled. I just hung up on them. Again, is it just a random name that people are asking for or are they really trying to get a hold of Lynn. It has to be a scam, as I have had my phone number for over 20 years!
Most of the time, Verizon flags these calls as they ring…
Every one of those calls came up as “potential spam” and all seem to come from my area code.
The latest barrage of calls I have been getting has been the most annoying. They are actually leaving messages. 5 different voices all asking me to call back the same number – yet all the messages are a bit different. They are transcribed from the voice mails:
Caller 1: “I’m a real estate investor and I was given your number by your friend John (nice and generic name). He told me you were trying to sell your house. It is just what I am looking for. Please call me back when you get a second at 888-SPAM 4ME.”
Caller 2: “Hey! I know it’s been awhile since we talked, and I’m sorry. I have great news for you! I have someone interested in buying your house. They are willing to pay cash. Call me so we can work out the details – 888-SPAM 4ME.”
Caller 3: “Hey, buddy. I was able to get our buyer to agree to the price. We were able to get the extra $6000. I’m glad we’re going to be able to sell your house. Call me back – 888-SPAM 4ME.”
Caller 4: (The weirdest one of them all) “Uh, Hi there! I know that this is out of the blue, but I believe you’ve got a house that you’re interested in selling. Again, I’m sorry for the crazy call and I might even have the wrong number, but if you’re interested in selling that house please give me a call back at this telephone number 888-SPAM 4ME. Thanks so much.”
Caller 5: ” Hey there this is Jack. I’m giving you a call. I’m a local real estate investor looking to by some more houses in your area. If you’re at all interested in a no obligation cash offer or you know anyone interested in a cash offer on property they own, you can reach me at 888-SPAM 4ME.”
I feel like I am blocking numbers as fast as they are calling, but these calls continue. I’m on the Do Not Call list, but these scammers are relentless. It’s annoying!
I try to stay away from politics. It is one of those things I don’t like to talk about – even more so today with the atmosphere in the world. So, here is just a few quick things that fall into the “political” realm I wanted to write about.
Text Messages
It’s bad enough that I get spam text messages about renewing my car insurance, claiming the big prize I supposedly won, and other obvious phishing scams. Most of these texts are addressed to “Edna” or “Sarah!” In the last 4 months, I have been getting 3-4 text messages a day asking me if I have registered to vote, who I am voting for, and various political stuff. As fast as I can mark them “spam” there are more that come in! I have blocked at least 200 numbers!
Shaq Votes
48 year old Shaquille O’Neal revealed that he just voted for the first time. Does anybody else find this sad? I couldn’t wait to turn 18 and vote. It’s a privilege and I am glad to do it. I just found it strange that he’s never voted before. To each his own, I guess.
Debate
Here’s a thought to all present and future candidates for whichever office you happen to be running for: Tell me what you are going to do for ME!
I didn’t see much of the debates. But what I did see was each candidate bashing or name calling the other. It was literally like watching two 4 years old children argue over a toy. It is disgusting! It’s embarrassing!
There is so much mud slinging in the political world. We get it – Republicans hate Democrats and vice versa. Do me a favor – tell me why I should vote for you and not why “the other guy” is an asshole! Give me a plan for what you are going to do to help make the world better for me and my family! It’s not rocket science.
The Fly
If you want further proof that the debates are a joke, take the recent Vice Presidential debate. No one is talking about any of the issues that were discussed. The ONLY thing I have heard people talk about (in and out of the media) is the stupid fly that landed on the Vice President’s head! Really?! THAT is what you took out of the debate??!!
Craziness in Michigan
This week here in Michigan 13 people were charged for plotting to kidnap our Governor! This is the stuff you see in movies! The FBI stopped the plot and these guys were arrested. I was floored when I saw this! Michigan Governor Whitmer said, “I knew this job would be hard,” in reaction to news of the arrests. “But I’ll be honest, I never could have imagined anything like this.”
These guys were serious, too. They planned on storming the state capitol and starting a civil war according to news reports. They even staked out her vacation home! If that doesn’t tell you the state of political affairs in the country, I don’t know what will.
November
I can’t wait for the election to be over. But let’s be honest, no matter what the outcome is – someone is going to have a problem with it. There will be a whole lot of backlash from whatever happens. More disagreements, more hatred, and more division. Sigh.
And that, my friend, is as political as this blog will get.
Various Ramblings of a Nostalgic Italian 