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You've Won The Lottery

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 311291

 

 When I get a phone call that is a telemarketer or other solicitor, I am as polite as possible. But after a  'No Thanks, Not interested'... enough is enough.  I hang up. The good thing is that they will never get through to me again. How?

I make a new contact in my phone, label it SPAM, and block the number. Never again do I take that call.

But many people won't take calls from unfamiliar numbers.

I want to know who is calling and don't want to lose legitimate callers.    To most of us, it is just an annoyance, but speaking with a client, I found out she received one of these calls that turned out to be a scam!

Told she had won the lottery or some other sweepstakes. The person/scammer was persuasive and convinced her to send a $10,000 check to redeem the million-dollar prize. And she did! Thank goodness, she told her good friend, a financial adviser.  There was a hold on this check, and in time to stop it. 

 

 

These scams go unreported because of embarrassment and shame. It is hard to admit you've been taken. 

How can we help others who may be trusting, naive, and unsuspecting? 

For many, It is just an inconvenience; for others, it is a way to lose big time.

I would love to hear your suggestions on educating the public.

 

Posted by

Margaret Rome
HomeRome Realty
Broker/Owner/Realtor®

Baltimore, Maryland


Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

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Show All Comments Sort:
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Hi Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400 I am doing the same things that you are doing with all these Spam calls. They are even sending out text message to my phone with I automatically delete without opening. If it's a serious potential buyer or seller, they will leave a message to call them back. Spammers will never leave a message since they have to actually speak with you. 

Apr 08, 2023 10:13 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist

I agree Jerry Newman - if people are serious and want help they do leave a message.  Adding to that,  when I am head down working on a project I do not need my momentum to be interrupted.  It is a little like time blocking, I am busy now.  It works for me. 

 

Apr 08, 2023 11:27 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

Jerry Newman, I still answer if I don't recognize the number...easy enough to hang up. 

Apr 08, 2023 02:41 PM
June Piper-Brandon
Coldwell Banker Realty - Baltimore, MD
Creating Generational Wealth Through Homeownership

It is so sad to hear about others being victims of these terrible scams.  There are so many different ones out there and it's hard to know which is legitimate.  And, even harder to know who is legitimate and who isn't.  

Apr 08, 2023 11:16 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

Hi, June Piper-Brandon Good to see you. For many, it is even harder to know who is legitimate.

Apr 08, 2023 02:43 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

There are so many of them out there and they try different ways. I do know someone that fell victim twice.

Apr 08, 2023 11:18 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

Hi Ed Silva, Twice someone fell for a scammer...sorry to hear that.

Apr 08, 2023 02:44 PM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

These days I am blocking an average of 5 SPAM calls a day (Monday - Friday) Miss Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400 - the insanity will only get worse. 

Thankfully your client learned a good lesson and was saved by a financial advisor that stopped payment on the check.  That does not always work. Thank God it worked for her! 

The only way to warn people is with this warning:

If it sounds too good to be true - it likely is not true. 

We do not need to pay for something we have legitimately "won". 

 

 

Apr 08, 2023 11:31 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I literally can't imagine it can be stopped.  People get more vulnerable as they age.  And she would be mad, but my mom (not to the point of losing any money) was recently fooled by a scammer who said she was ME.  They called my mom and said I was in an accident and getting arrested.  That an attorney would be calling to get bond money. Fortunately my mom called her brother who met her at the court house.  Meanwhile I called my mom's house and talked to dad and got enough info to call my uncle.   

Apr 08, 2023 11:44 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

Hi Tammy Lankford, It was one of those same calls that inspired me to write this post.  The young caller asked, "Did I wake you, Grandma?" He went on to tell me he was in an accident and needed money. I said who are you and when he said, "Your grandson," I said no, you are not and hung up. 

Apr 08, 2023 02:54 PM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

FEATURED IN CRAP-TACULAR

 

Mr. Crappy Says

Flush the SPAM Calls

They are a Load of

💩💩

💩

 

 

Apr 08, 2023 01:46 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist 

Thanks for the feature!

Apr 08, 2023 02:55 PM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist

You're most welcome Miss Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400 

Mr. Crappy thought it was most fitting. 

May you enjoy a blessed and happy Easter! 

Apr 09, 2023 08:02 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Margaret I learned a long time ago that when someone is offering me money, they are really trying to take my money.

Apr 08, 2023 02:25 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist This is so true."

If it sounds too good to be true - it likely is not true." and "We do not need to pay for something we have legitimately "won." 

Apr 08, 2023 03:00 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Good comment, George Souto "...when someone is offering me money, they are trying to take my money.''

Apr 08, 2023 03:03 PM
Jeff Masich-Scottsdale AZ Associate Broker,MBA,GRI
HomeSmart Real Estate - Scottsdale, AZ
Arizona Homes and Land Group/ Buy or Sell

As a REALTOR, unless I really know it is a spammer I take all calls...especially in Arizona with those with out of state area codes inquiring about a move to the SUN of the Grand Canyon State.

Apr 08, 2023 03:15 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

Jeff Masich-Scottsdale AZ Associate Broker,MBA,GRI 

Like you, I take all calls and block the spammers. This approach works for both you and me.

Apr 09, 2023 07:42 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

You have more patience than I do, Margaret.  I have mortal disdain for robo-callers.  The minute I pick up the phone and hear that little "whoop" sound that indicates I've been auto dialed, I simply hang-up.  My cellphone is really good at alerting spam calls.  I don't answer those.  It's my landline that is more difficult to discern incoming spam.  I also note many spammers change numbers regularly, so if you block them on one number, you may soon get them dialing from another number.

Apr 09, 2023 04:10 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

Hi Myrl Jeffcoat, Yes, those spammers do change numbers, and I block them again. I prefer answering and hanging up rather than losing an important caller.

Apr 09, 2023 07:45 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

CONGRATULATIONS Margaret, on having this blog FEATURED in the Old Farts Club group!  

Apr 09, 2023 04:10 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

Thanks for the feature Myrl Jeffcoat 

Apr 09, 2023 07:45 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I don't have an answer for how to help people to NOT fall for these scams, except to just alert people to be careful. But some of the scammers are so good/convincing, they do get people to believe them. If those scammers got a regular job at sales, they'd probably do great.

Apr 09, 2023 05:14 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

Oh,  Kat Palmiotti, if only they would put their time and energy into a real job, we could all benefit.

Apr 09, 2023 07:48 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Margaret - no suggestions.  We each find ways that work for us.  It's an issue that it is part of life for many.  And that is unfortunate.  

Apr 09, 2023 06:41 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Michael Jacobs,

These spam calls are part of this RE life, and finding ways to work around them is necessary. You have choices: answer, don't answer, hang up, block the number, stay calm, or go ahead and get upset.

Apr 09, 2023 07:53 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

It is sad that so many fail to recognize the scams and suffer losses.

All of us need to be alert.

 

Happy Easter Balloon 18in x 25in - Egg | Party City

Apr 09, 2023 08:04 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

So true, Roy Kelley  Wishing you and Dolores a Happy Easter.

Apr 09, 2023 08:56 AM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400  yesterday I received three calls from different numbers but they all led to the same number call me I found $26k for you for 2020 & 2021 ... so my trusted accountant missed this?:))) NOT, Endre

Apr 09, 2023 10:04 PM