#phonescam

[burnerapp]

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[tripleciiq90temu]

[ledenews]

Belmont County Grand Jury Indicts Indiana Man for Nationwide Computer & Phone Scams

Abdul Mohammed of Indianapolis, Indiana, was recently served with an indictment returned by the Belmont County grand jury, according to a press release distributed by Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan. Flanagan stated that the indictment stems from allegations that Mohammed was a participant in a nationwide computer and phone scam that targeted certain individuals, including a resident of Belmont County. Flanagan said that the Belmont County case actually started with the arrest and prosecution of an individual from China, Siqi Yu, who unlawfully entered the country through Mexico and requested asylum. Months later, Yu joined a group that was targeting individuals through a computer and phone scam. One such person targeted was from Belmont County, according to Flanagan. Yu’s role was to travel throughout the country and collect money from unsuspecting victims of the scam. Flanagan said that Mohammed’s role, according to the recently returned indictment, is similar to Yu’s role. Both, according to Flanagan, were utilized by other members of the scam to travel long distances to personally collect the money from the victims and return the money to the members of the criminal organization.   While Flanagan could not get into the details of Mohammed’s involvement given that the case is ongoing, he did say that it was actually members of the Penn County Sheriff’s Office in South Dakota that notified the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office about Mohammed’s possible involvement with the victim from Belmont County.  Flanagan said, “The evidence will show that we knew one of our residents turned over cash to multiple individuals on at least 4-5 occasions. Other than Yu, who was arrested while trying to collect money from our victim, the identities of the other individuals were not known. That was until we received the call from South Dakota.” Flanagan added that the Penn County authorities provided cellular telephone data that connects Mohammed to Belmont County and specifically to the same victim as in the Yu case. Flanagan noted that the Yu case ended in 2025, and he received a sentence of eight to twelve years in prison. At the time, Yu and his attorney claimed that he was just a small part of the scam and that he should not receive a prison sentence. “Obviously, we disagreed with that argument and Judge Vavra imposed the appropriate sentence for Yu, under the circumstances. We were also able to get a greater sentence by elevating the charge because of the crime being a ‘pattern of corrupt activity’ which is also known as a RICO indictment. We did the same thing in Mohammed’s case as well,” said the prosecutor. Flanagan said that court proceedings will begin when Mohammed is returned from South Dakota where he is currently being held pending extradition to Belmont County.    Read the full article

[my-asianewstoday-blog]

Civil servant loses RM150,000 in phone scam http://dlvr.it/TQF7Lq

[startupmac]

Truecaller's new 'Family Protection' lets you remotely shield up to five relatives from phone scams.

Truecaller has launched 'Family Protection,' allowing one user (the Admin) to manage and set scam-blocking settings for up to five family members. This feature offers a shared safety net, and on Android, the Admin can even receive alerts and remotely end an active scam call to protect vulnerable relatives.

[sonedev]

The Call That Shook Me: Why I'll Never Answer Unknown Numbers Again

The Story

It started like any ordinary day. I was waiting for an important call, so when my phone lit up with an unfamiliar number, I broke my own rule: never answer unknown callers.

I picked up. "Is this [name]?" the voice asked. Without thinking, I replied, "Yes, speaking."

And then—silence. The caller hung up.

At first, I brushed it off. But the more I thought about it, the more unsettled I became. Why would someone go through the trouble of calling, asking my name, and then disappearing? That's when the fear crept in: had I just handed over my voice for something nefarious?

What's Really Going On

This isn't paranoia—it's a known scam tactic. Fraudsters use calls like these for two main reasons:

Voice recording scams: They try to capture you saying "yes" so they can splice it into fake authorizations for charges or accounts.

Number verification: Sometimes, it's just about confirming your number is active. Once they know you'll answer, your number can be sold to other scammers.

The abrupt hang-up isn't random—it's part of the playbook. It leaves you unsettled, primed for future manipulation.

Why You're Not Alone

I'm not the only one who's fallen for this. Millions of people receive similar calls every year. In fact, consumer reports show billions lost annually to phone scams. The script is often the same:

"Can you hear me?"

"Is this [name]?"

"Do you own [product/service]?"

Each is designed to elicit a quick "yes."

Lessons Learned

Here's what I wish I had done—and what I'll do from now on:

Stick to the rule: Don't answer unknown numbers unless absolutely necessary.

Avoid saying "yes": If you must answer, respond with "Who's calling?" or remain silent.

Use a secondary number: Services like Google Voice are perfect for situations where you need to give out contact info.

Block and report: After suspicious calls, block the number and report it to your carrier.

Stay calm: A single "yes" isn't enough for scammers to wreak havoc, but vigilance matters.

Final Thought

That one word—"yes"—reminded me how easy it is to let our guard down. Scammers thrive on moments of distraction, curiosity, or urgency. By sharing my story, I hope others will think twice before answering that unknown call.

Protect your identity. Protect your peace of mind. And remember: sometimes the safest answer is no answer at all.

Bonus

Guru99 has an article featuring apps that can scramble or disguise your voice during phone calls, often marketed as "voice changer" apps. They let you alter pitch, tone, or add effects in real time, so the person on the other end hears a modified version of your voice

MagicMic (iMyFone)

Real-time voice changer with multiple effects (robot, cartoon, deep voice).

Works during live calls and recordings.

Call Voice Changer – IntCall

Lets you change your voice while making calls.

Offers pitch shifting, background sounds, and disguises.

Funcalls

Simple app for prank calls with voice effects.

Includes animal sounds, funny distortions, and background noises.

Adobe Audition (professional software)

More advanced, often used for editing and disguising audio.

Can be paired with VoIP or call-recording setups for privacy.

FliFlik Voice Changer

Offers real-time scrambling and noise removal.

Designed for both fun and privacy protection.

Source: https://www.guru99.com/best-voice-changer-apps-android-ios.html

If your goal is serious identity protection, scrambling your voice is more of a novelty than a foolproof defense. But if you want an extra layer of disguise—or just peace of mind—these apps can help.

Voice scrambling doesn't guarantee protection against scams—scammers may still record and manipulate audio. The most effective safeguard is not answering unknown numbers or using a secondary number (like Google Voice).

[frreshfocus]

Zweifelhafte Renditeversprechen einer Thurgauer Solarfirma

Die Thurgauer H. E. Privé AG verkauft per Telefon Betei­ligungen an Solarparks in Nordmazedonien. Dafür stellt sie bis zu 18 Prozent Jahresrendite in Aussicht. Da ist Vorsicht geboten.

Martin Reuss (Name geändert) aus Winkel ZH ist besorgt. «Mein 89-jähriger Vater wird wiederholt telefonisch von der Firma H. E. Privé bedrängt, in ihre Solarprojekte zu investieren», schreibt er K-Geld. «Versprochen werden 7 bis 18 Prozent Rendite pro Jahr und eine vollständige Rückzahlung des investierten Kapitals nach sieben Jahren.»

Solche Versprechen klingen verlockend – und gleichzeitig höchst unrealistisch. Fachleute warnen seit Jahren vor Firmen, die mit überdurchschnittlichen Renditen werben, aber kaum nachvollziehbare Geschäftsmodelle vorweisen können. Besonders ältere Menschen werden gezielt telefonisch oder per Post kontaktiert, weil sie oft über Ersparnisse verfügen und leichter zu überzeugen sind.

Die Firma H. E. Privé verweist auf angebliche Solarprojekte im Ausland, liefert jedoch auf Nachfrage weder konkrete Standorte noch geprüfte Unterlagen zu den Investitionen. Auch im Handelsregister finden sich nur spärliche Informationen, und die Finanzmarktaufsicht Finma hat ähnliche Angebote bereits mehrfach als riskant oder unseriös eingestuft.

Experten raten Betroffenen dringend, keine Zahlungen zu leisten und keine Verträge zu unterschreiben, bevor eine unabhängige Beratung – etwa bei einer Konsumentenschutzstelle, bei der Finma oder einem spezialisierten Anwalt – eingeholt wurde. Denn oft handelt es sich bei solchen Angeboten nicht um echte Investitionen, sondern um riskante Spekulationsmodelle oder sogar um Betrug.

Für Angehörige wie Martin Reuss bleibt die Herausforderung, ihre Eltern vor möglichen finanziellen Schäden zu schützen – und gleichzeitig gegen die aggressive Masche unseriöser Anbieter vorzugehen.

[baitdragon]

Mumbai: Puppy Responds to Scam Call Posing as Police Officer

In an unusual and heartwarming turn of events in Mumbai, a puppy became the unintentional star of a scam call drama. The incident unfolded when an individual, posing as a police officer, attempted to scam a local resident by demanding payment for a non-existent legal issue. To the surprise of the scammer, it was the family’s puppy that answered the call.

The scammer, impersonating a police officer, attempted to threaten the household with legal consequences unless an immediate sum of money was paid. However, instead of a human voice, it was the puppy’s playful bark that greeted the scammer on the other end. In a baffling twist, the scammer, unaware of the situation, proceeded with the call, unintentionally engaging with the barking dog for several minutes before realizing the mistake.

While this unexpected interaction ended harmlessly, it highlights the growing concerns about phone scams that have been plaguing Mumbai in recent months. Authorities have warned citizens to remain vigilant and avoid responding to unsolicited calls from unknown numbers. The puppy's surprising role in the situation served as a reminder that sometimes, even the most unexpected moments can thwart an otherwise serious crime.

As the city grapples with an increasing number of such scams, residents are urged to report any suspicious calls to local law enforcement immediately. Meanwhile, the puppy’s role in this bizarre scam story has sparked a mix of amusement and caution, with many locals taking to social media to share the unusual tale.