General Discussion

GoodRaisin

(11,238 posts)

35. Things I never do in this age of thievery.

Sat Jul 11, 2026, 04:55 PM

Saturday

1. Answer the phone for anyone not in my contact list. 99% + of unknown callers are scammers. No need to open that door and invite them in to steal from me.

2. Click on links in emails or text messages.

3. Answer the door when unexpected callers ring my doorbell.

4. Put my credit card on my phone or any device. It stays in my RFID blocking wallet.

5. Put my IRA password on my phone or any device. It is safely hidden in my home.

I do check my bank and credit card account for unknown charges frequently. I also check my credit report frequently to make sure no new accounts have been set up in my name. If someone does manage to steal my information and start stealing from me, I will be on top of it fast. So far I have avoided identity theft, not that the thieves haven’t tried.

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erronis

46 replies

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Highlight:

How a Stranger Used One Text Message to Steal My Entire Digital Life -- Time [View all] erronis Saturday OP

Wow, that is scary hauckeye Saturday #1

I find people are more vulnerable when they are scammed on mobile devices. LeftInTX Saturday #2

well, that was horrifying UpInArms Saturday #3

"Windows 7"??? PatSeg Saturday #10

windows 7-11. LOL reACTIONary Saturday #16

I still have a Windows 7 computer also FoxNewsSucks Saturday #22

Whoa, I didn't know you could still get updates PatSeg Saturday #41

This scam isn't dependent on the operating system. Windows, Mac, iOS, Linux, whatever. erronis Saturday #29

This is the key: Never take an inbound call from a financial company. Ms. Toad Saturday #4

So if you are traveling and spend a decent amount of $ at a city far from where you are 99% of the time AZJonnie Saturday #6

My Credit Union asks me to call them directly whenever I get a fraud alert. paleotn Saturday #11

Good advice Randomthought Saturday #14

Right. And don't click on any links in the text message (or emails!) erronis Saturday #31

Yes, I would (and have repeatedly refused). Ms. Toad Saturday #17

I'm not quite sure I follow the logic on this piece AZJonnie Saturday #25

And how do you know they did not call the 5, be 10, ?? other phones that were in the area Ms. Toad Saturday #42

How did they fake the credit card terminal coming back and saying "declined"? AZJonnie Yesterday #44

The store may be in on it. Ms. Toad Yesterday #45

No, because only if you respond to a text in the scenario I described with a 'no' I didn't make the charge AZJonnie Yesterday #46

Did you read the article? BWdem4life Saturday #20

They've got the con down pat. Progressive dog Saturday #5

Oh wow, that poor Pilot guy! Cha Saturday #7

"To catch a thief" - Hitchcock. We don't live in that world any more. There are thousands of thieves erronis Saturday #32

I have an Apple ID Bev54 Saturday #8

My daughter and I were talking about our smartphones PatSeg Saturday #9

I never reply to text of that ilk. BeneteauBum Saturday #12

Good Info, thanks for posting BunnyMcGee Saturday #13

Kick dalton99a Saturday #15

This is why I love my old flip-phone JoseBalow Saturday #18

Thanks for the head's up xuplate Saturday #19

This exploit was from 4 years ago. Sector 001 Saturday #21

As if in a nuclear event access to Apple products is essential. marble falls Saturday #30

I, too, have been getting suspicous calls and texts. Dem_in_Nebr. Saturday #23

I had an episode not this serious but enough for me three years ago. I dealt with it and even hlthe2b Saturday #24

I recommend running a VPN on your phone for all WiFi connections - even on a protected network. erronis Saturday #33

Yes... I have preached that for the past 18 months... Not all listen, however... hlthe2b Saturday #38

Great info in this thread, thanks erronis and replies.. Permanut Saturday #26

Just had a discussion with my kids about this NeoTrajan Saturday #27

Excellent ideas. Thank you. erronis Saturday #34

That's basically what I told my husband Tree Lady Saturday #40

Trust no one whose throat you cannot get your hands around. marble falls Saturday #28

Things I never do in this age of thievery. GoodRaisin Saturday #35

I wish I knew what was meant by this part of the article AZJonnie Saturday #36

That mystified me also, but you worded it well. It does seem something is missing. erronis Saturday #37

I think what they're referring to (and like you, I struggled getting through the article) Abolishinist Saturday #43

This is exactly what happened to us in Oct 2025. LtTx Saturday #39