IBM Computer, Laptops and Servers

Back Homepage Content Directory Resource Guide Blog

Don't Be Conned by the Rampant "72# Scam" of Prison Inmates -- It Could Cost You Time, $$

Fifteen-year-old Whitney Lott thought she was "helping someone out" when she agreed to forward a call for a stranger on the phone. The stranger, according to a CBS News report, turned out to be an inmate from Dallas County Jail. He told the girl that he had called her accidentally and, since he only got one phone call, asked if she could forward the call to his mother -- by dialing *72.

Laptop Battery The innocent move ended up costing Lott's parents $160, but it could have cost them hundreds, or even thousands, more.

According to the indictment, Jones would steal various IBM and Penguin computer servers from Verisign's warehouse in Virginia and sell them to Johnson. Johnson would then sell the servers to several individuals, who would sometimes place them for sale on eBay. As a result of this scheme, the indictment alleges that Jones and Johnson caused Verisign to lose more than $120, 000 worth of computer equipment. In the indictment, Jones and Johnson are charged in three counts with causing the interstate transportation of stolen property, namely IBM 330 and 335 servers, in violation of 18 U.S.C.

Thinkpad Pressing *72 or 72# activates a call forwarding feature on phones. Every call made to your number from then on will be forwarded to a pay phone or other involved third party. However, you are responsible for the charges incurred because the calls are being forwarded from your number.

laptop computers is driving strong sales for notebook computers, according to the latest quarterly sales figures from the research firm IDC, which reported a 37% computer sales for the second quarter, compared with a year earlier. In the U.S., laptop sales grew 17.7%, while sales of desktop computers and servers fell 4%. The New York Times ( 10), CNET ( 10)

Microsoft This scam has been going on around the country and involves not only inmates but also everyday con artists. According to the CBS News report, "The problem is rampant. In Florida, at least two inmates racked up more than $50,000 worth of collect calls to more than a hundred families."

30, 2006, abeam the hunk in connection with 2005, most 2.2 full many inmates were arrested means of access general public and narc prisons luteolous bucolic and civic jails.

Laptop Computers How the *72 Scam Works

In fact, the only potential match is prison inmate Peter McCabe (Michael Keaton), a psychotic but charming serial killer.

Laptop Computer As described by AT&T, the *72 scam works like this:

Being a Corrections Officer (CO) is one of the most dangerous occupations in America – security penitentiary is especially hazardous. Assaults are a constant threat and their lives are put on the line each day. Women COs are at an especially high risk of being harmed in the prison and must be trained to retain respect and control over their inmates. In this gripping documentary you'll witness unprecedented access to the prison with an intimate view of the staff and inmate's experiences.

Desktop Computer "Star-7-2 is a custom feature for call forwarding. When the customer dials *72 followed by a telephone number, it activates the call forwarding feature causing all your incoming calls to ring at another number.

Notebooks At the end of the other line -- whether calls have been forwarded to a landline, a cell phone or a payphone -- the original caller's partner-in-crime is able to accept all collect and third-party calls, while telling your own legitimate callers that they have the wrong number. You get billed for all calls made because your number is the one from which they are forwarded."

Lenovo Scammers use the following scenarios most often as they try to play to the sympathies of their victim:

  • Hard Drive An inmate calling and saying he or she needs you to call their mother for them (they called you "accidentally" and say they can't make another call).

  • Travelstar An inmate calling and saying he was arrested for a minor traffic ticket and needs to call a relative to pick up his children from the police station (again, calling you "accidentally).

  • Gateway Someone calling and pretending to be a phone-company technician who needs to check your phone line for a problem. In order to receive "remote access," they ask the victim to input a code of *72 or 72#.

  • Laptop Parts A person calling and impersonating a police officer, telling the victim that a close friend has been injured in an auto accident. In order to find out more information, the con artist says, the victim must call another officer by pressing *72 followed by another phone number.

  • Software A person calling from a payphone and saying they don't have the additional change needed to make an emergency call, then asking you to forward their call.

  • Hard Drives "Usually, these con artists are not targeting specific people; they're just hoping to find a sympathetic ear," said Arkansas Attorney General Mike Beebe, who has issued a consumer alert in his state to warn the public about this increasingly common scam.

Electronics "However, if they can trick you into forwarding your phone to another number, they can repeatedly make calls that will be charged to your phone," he said.

Canon What to Do if You Think You've Been Scammed

Desktop Pc First and foremost, if anyone calls you asking you to input a strange code into your phone, simply hang up. Be sure to let your children know to do this as well.

Desktop Computers In the call-forwarding scam, the code can be in the following formats:

Cisco However, be wary of any code that a stranger asks you to input. One of the clever aspects of this scam is that the victim does not know it has happened until it is too late and the charges appear on their phone bill.

Keyboard If you think you may have fallen victim to the call-forwarding scam, pressing *73 or 73# (depending on your service provider) will turn off the call-forwarding feature. You may also want to alert your local law enforcement agency of the scam.

Monitor Further, says Beebe, "Keep a close eye on your phone bill, and contact your phone-service provider if you think there are calls on your account that you did not place."

Desktop

Infosys

[ Comment, Edit or Article Submission ]

Share this:

Add To Yahoo MyWeb Add To Google Bookmarks Add To Furl Fav This With Technorati Add To Newsvine Add To Bloglines Add To Ask Add To Windows Live Add To Slashdot Stumble This Digg This Add To Del.icio.us Add To Reddit

More about:

Oct November 2008 Dec
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
            1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30            

IBM Computer, Laptops and Servers Blog on Technorati Related Blog of IBM Computer, Laptops and Servers on Sphere
Content Directory
Resource Guide


Newegg Computer Parts Components Digital Store

Website Links
IBM Computer, Laptops and Servers Copyright © 2008 www.ibmfans.com. All rights reserved. Site Map
Homepage | Blog | Advertise | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Contact Us | Links