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Randomthought

(1,098 posts)
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 02:30 PM 21 hrs ago

Attention California DUers and all

We are legacy owners of Marriott timeshare in Newport Beach, CA. Someone called a couple of days ago and said Real Estate taxes were past due. Husband was napping when his phone rang. When I noticed what was happening he was heading he was getting his CC out of his wallet. He had left his cell phone on an end table so I disconnected call. Later called Orange County and nothing was past due. Once again went over hard and fast rule to never give CC number over the phone. Tax assessment notice came in mail a few days later. Timing is interesting. Also reminded husband government agencies don't call they send letters.

27 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Attention California DUers and all (Original Post) Randomthought 21 hrs ago OP
Thanks!.................. Lovie777 20 hrs ago #1
You an also check online using your parcel number. xuplate 20 hrs ago #2
Over the past six month . . . AverageOldGuy 20 hrs ago #3
Geez, time to get a new phone number!!! AZ8theist 19 hrs ago #9
I work for Medicaid. I cannot just change my phone number MerryBlooms 18 hrs ago #18
Omgosh, I get that unpaid toll threat sporadically form IL MerryBlooms 19 hrs ago #10
I think technology can come up with a solution - after all they've created a bit of this mess. erronis 18 hrs ago #12
Good point, hadn't come up with that one. Business lines paying more, MerryBlooms 18 hrs ago #14
Not quite so many Randomthought 18 hrs ago #16
I live in Virginia, too. I don't get as many of such emails our texts a you do, but at least once a month. One favorite Martin68 15 min ago #26
We changed our residence after 35 years, and the calls KEEP COMIN'.... some_of_us_are_sane 14 min ago #27
Hubby needs to take you out to dinner! Joinfortmill 20 hrs ago #4
Tax collectors of any kind don't make unsolicited phone calls. They send letters, Registered Letters if you're Exp 19 hrs ago #5
Hope there is a special place in hell for scammers. Sun-Moon 19 hrs ago #6
Good advice. Thanks! calimary 19 hrs ago #7
Ouch! Seems like if you move, things are generated that trigger off other actions that result in you getting spam SWBTATTReg 19 hrs ago #8
I've noticed that the PO Change-of-Address packets include a lot of private company material erronis 18 hrs ago #13
I moved and never put in a change of address (COA). I rented a po box live love laugh 1 hr ago #25
I heard yesterday a new AI scam is using your voice. BigmanPigman 19 hrs ago #11
Don't say "Yes" madamesilverspurs 18 hrs ago #15
I've screened my calls for years... BigmanPigman 18 hrs ago #17
Which is why I only answer calls from my contact list. niyad 16 hrs ago #20
Same, I have photos in the phone for people TBF 1 hr ago #23
America has become the perfect target. Buddyzbuddy 17 hrs ago #19
How'd they even know you had a time share? Ouch! Scary times. C Moon 9 hrs ago #21
So many Americans in different levels of vulnerability wolfie001 4 hrs ago #22
I saw a recent article - and I'm forgetting which publication TBF 1 hr ago #24

xuplate

(275 posts)
2. You an also check online using your parcel number.
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 03:15 PM
20 hrs ago

Also, it’s takes 5 years for the counties to auction off your property—so no immediate danger, only exposure to penalties and interest which are hefty.

AverageOldGuy

(4,430 posts)
3. Over the past six month . . .
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 03:18 PM
20 hrs ago

I live in Virginia. We moved from VA to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and were wiped out by Hurricane Katrina. Moved to Tennessee then to VA. My cell phone is a southern MS area code, I never changed to TN or VA.

Over the past six months I have received via text or email:

From Mississippi:
-- Unpaid toll notice, my driver's license will be suspended and I will be arrested. Got 3 of these
-- Past due property tax on property we sold after leaving.

From Tennessee:
-- Unpaid toll notice, my driver's license will be suspended and I will be arrested. Got 2 of these.
-- Unpaid toll notice for my mother, her driver's license will be suspended and she will be arrested. Got 1 of these. She died in 2007, I cancelled her DL, voter registration, etc. within a week of her death.
-- Unpaid toll notice for my father, his driver's license will be suspended and he will be arrested. Got 1 of these. He died in 2005, I cancelled his DL, voter registration, etc. within a week of his death.

From Virginia:
-- Unpaid toll notice, my driver's license will be suspended and I will be arrested. Got 4 of these.
-- Unpaid property taxes. Good friend of mine is the county tax administrator, these things are driving him and his staff nuts from answering questions.
-- Four offers to refinance the house I sold two years ago.

And this does not count the daily emails "Your photos, files, and all you saved in your Cloud account will be deleted at midnight tonight unless you pay your past due fee."

MerryBlooms

(12,666 posts)
18. I work for Medicaid. I cannot just change my phone number
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 05:24 PM
18 hrs ago

I'm required to clock in and out, location tracked. Yanno. Plus, those of us who pay bills through our phone, that's done through phone number verification and account number. Pharmacy, phone number verification, then rx.

These scamming houses will track down any number. I've had 3 numbers since moving from IL. I had 2 "Obama" phones, until I got semi on my feet. Work required me to get a new phone, or basically be out of work. Yeah, working for Medicaid.... My taxes pay for me to work lol. And yes, I'm paying taxes.

Plus cost of new phone to work, state didn't reimburse for that Android lol.

So, here we are. Caring full time for my 80s d2 sis, 13hrs a week out of house for a "consumer", yeah, that's what they call our clients now, consumers. I have to work a little bit to cover my moving expenses that I'm still paying off after 8 years to take care of my sister.

I can't afford a new phone number every time these scamming pos hit my phone. I don't enjoy that sorta privilege. Pain in the neck, that us victims shouldn't have to deal with.




MerryBlooms

(12,666 posts)
10. Omgosh, I get that unpaid toll threat sporadically form IL
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 03:52 PM
19 hrs ago

Haven't lived in IL in about 8yrs now, and my IPAS was auto pay. lol yep, going to suspend my Oregon license, etc... One was I need to send payment immediately, or face immediate court action!

I've blocked and all that, but they keep coming. It's been about 2 months since the last threat. Lately it's been SS scam stuff, but through paper mail. Pink inserts! lol

Man, this bs is running hot and deep on anyone considered a senior. There's got to be a way Congress can get these scams off our backs. Plus, the fraudulent advantage bs. Supplemental rip-off and having to constantly reevaluate.

We're caregivers and now expected to be insurance experts, lawyers, etc...

Give us a break! Pass some damn legislation that helps us take care of elderly who are taking care of older elderly! Ugh. So, frustrating

erronis

(25,208 posts)
12. I think technology can come up with a solution - after all they've created a bit of this mess.
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 04:53 PM
18 hrs ago

But then, the phone companies and many other groups are making money off all this traffic.

MerryBlooms

(12,666 posts)
14. Good point, hadn't come up with that one. Business lines paying more,
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 04:58 PM
18 hrs ago

Phone company doesn't care if it's a scam line.

Randomthought

(1,098 posts)
16. Not quite so many
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 05:08 PM
18 hrs ago

But we have a CA area code and we live in MN so we get a bunch also husband still has LinkedIn profile from before his retirement another source for scammers

Martin68

(28,415 posts)
26. I live in Virginia, too. I don't get as many of such emails our texts a you do, but at least once a month. One favorite
Sun Jul 12, 2026, 11:18 AM
15 min ago

is "package undeliverable, click on link." Others were unpaid tolls, and various "banks" reporting fraud or overdue funds.

some_of_us_are_sane

(3,955 posts)
27. We changed our residence after 35 years, and the calls KEEP COMIN'....
Sun Jul 12, 2026, 11:18 AM
14 min ago
I've keep track of them. TWENTY FOUR so far.

I immediately report them on SpyDialer online. I file a report on that number there so others can see if it was reported before. Then I IMMEDIATELY block that number on my cell phone.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU GET A CALL FROM AN INKNOWN NUMBER:

1.- Never speak. Say NOTHING for 3 seconds.
2.- When they say "Hello?" or ask for you by name, you answer: "Who's calling please?"
3. If they give you a name of any kind, you ask: "And what is this regarding?" That's all!
4.- Say "Thank you very much. I'LL CALL YOU BACK ON THE OFFICIAL LINE I HAVE FOR THAT."

That's it. The calls have been less and less since I started following this.

Exp

(1,093 posts)
5. Tax collectors of any kind don't make unsolicited phone calls. They send letters, Registered Letters if you're
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 03:34 PM
19 hrs ago

serioulsy in debt to them.

SWBTATTReg

(26,576 posts)
8. Ouch! Seems like if you move, things are generated that trigger off other actions that result in you getting spam
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 03:44 PM
19 hrs ago

mail etc. I'm trying to figure out how are they intercepting our private emails (I'm assuming so) to grab change of address notices, etc. Perhaps there is some sort of 'new neighbors' websites or the like that trigger this sort of crap.

Hopefully, you're doing okay now.

When we moved here about 10+ years ago, we didn't have near the crap you are all putting up w/. Wow.

erronis

(25,208 posts)
13. I've noticed that the PO Change-of-Address packets include a lot of private company material
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 04:55 PM
18 hrs ago

I wonder if there isn't some reciprocal agreement with the DeJoy-tainted PO and scammers. Money is money, after all.

live love laugh

(16,593 posts)
25. I moved and never put in a change of address (COA). I rented a po box
Sun Jul 12, 2026, 10:21 AM
1 hr ago

and individually notified any that needed to know of my new address. COA records are sold to companies who of course sell your data.



BigmanPigman

(55,853 posts)
11. I heard yesterday a new AI scam is using your voice.
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 04:13 PM
19 hrs ago

Last edited Sat Jul 11, 2026, 05:00 PM - Edit history (1)

My mother and I were almost screwed over with this BS.

The newest tool for scammers is to call a potential victim's number and when you speak into the phone it is recorded and then used to say (for example) "Hi, it's me. I'M in prison and need help to get out........".

madamesilverspurs

(16,584 posts)
15. Don't say "Yes"
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 04:58 PM
18 hrs ago

They also like to ask something like "We're calling Jane Doe. Are you Jane Doe?" You answer Yes and the line goes dead. They use your "yes" for all kinds of scams against you.
Having heard that, when I got a call that asked if I was Jane Doe I answered "sometimes". And the line went dead.

.

BigmanPigman

(55,853 posts)
17. I've screened my calls for years...
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 05:08 PM
18 hrs ago

They almost got me via a phony gmail message that my internet security needed a past due payment to McAfee.

I get as many as 4 scam calls a day. I've been screening my calls since 1988. My family and friends hated me for doing that. It was too inconvenient for them. He who laughs, last laughs first.

niyad

(135,847 posts)
20. Which is why I only answer calls from my contact list.
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 07:15 PM
16 hrs ago

Nor do I respond to text mesages from unknown parties.

TBF

(37,817 posts)
23. Same, I have photos in the phone for people
Sun Jul 12, 2026, 09:51 AM
1 hr ago

I know (even if it's my dog's photo for the Vet, etc).

If I see a photo on my phone I might grab the call. I let everything else go.

Buddyzbuddy

(3,133 posts)
19. America has become the perfect target.
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 06:01 PM
17 hrs ago

Our Federal law enforcement has been told to stand down. Our foreign intelligence agencies have been redirected. The focus has been redirected from historically criminally inclined Countries all at the behest of Directors such as Patel, Bondi, Gabbard, etc. And then when the Rapist/Felon doesn't get the results he wants, he just replaces them. They are focused on finding election fraud that has been proven to be nonexistent. When criminals that have been tried and convicted, the Rapist/Felon Pardons them for what is suspected as monetary reasons.

Then we have Musk and his DOGE criminal enterprise accessing and copying our most confidential information for what purposes?

Bill Pulte is another accessing information from financial loan applications to find "criminal activity".

Everything can be directly traced back to the President of the United States whom has been given immunity by our criminally inclined Supreme Court.

My phone is on semi-permanent do not disturb except to people I know. I don't answer the door anymore because anybody that knows me, knows to call first including neighbors. I have a sign warning solicitors away and I have a history of threatening particularly aggressive sales people off my property.
Here's the kicker, I was a Realtor for many years so I had to make cold calls and knock on doors. But I knew most people were not interested in what I had to say but I didn't blame them and I was very apologetic for disturbing their tranquility.

When trying to sell me something or get information from me, I understand and tolerate them not taking no for an answer, once. Just, once. After that.....

My wife on the otherhand is a lamb to the wolves. Most recently via phone to somebody that gave her enough personal information about her credit that she believed they were a credit fraud dept. investigating suspicious activity. All while I was 30 minutes into driving us to a 1 week out of town getaway. From the conversation that my mostly deaf ears could hear I cautioned her profusely not to confirm or deny any information nor say the word "yes" to anything. Once this 40 minute conversation in which she confirmed and denied information, was done, oh, and the word yes was uttered a few times she agreed to them calling her back once they stated they would pursue this investigation further.

At this point, I now had whiplash from the vigorous shaking of my head back and forth. After the call I spoke with her calmly and asked her to make some quick calls to verify the veracity of the previous caller which confirmed it was all a con. She spent the next 3 days of our getaway ignoring their "follow-up" calls.

She based her confidence in the original call on the fact her phone showed a major credit card phone I.D. on the initial contact.

BTW, this happened last month.

wolfie001

(8,311 posts)
22. So many Americans in different levels of vulnerability
Sun Jul 12, 2026, 07:17 AM
4 hrs ago

All sitting ducks from scammers. Always tell them to give you their phone number for a call back and hang up. Then look up the OFFICIAL contact info. Such a simple verify but many folks are defenseless to outside influences. Look at how many poors voted for the fat orange imbecile. Look at how "rich" he made all of them.

TBF

(37,817 posts)
24. I saw a recent article - and I'm forgetting which publication
Sun Jul 12, 2026, 09:54 AM
1 hr ago

It may have been through a post here or elsewhere. It was someone who got a text and had to click on something. It had seemed legit to them, but it ended up being an identity theft.

It may have been a bank asking to authorize something - I don't remember. The point was you can always go to the actual website (and should) to see if there's an alert and then call the bank back to handle it. Never respond to someone calling or texting with something like that. That is pretty sophisticated, and I'm glad I read it because I'm not sure I would be as careful with texts, but now I will be.

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