[LOCKED]WTF

"The actual truth is difficult to determine sometimes."

Sounds like dealing with some folks on SLS

Thanks, Scincy. One of the issues I'm facing is my sister's sometimes fatalistic interpretation of the evidence, prompting emotional reactions, compared to our parents' denial, minimizing, omission and outright lying about the mistakes they are making. The actual truth is difficult to determine sometimes. :(

Good luck, Scandle. In addition to the money worries, I am certain it is no fun to be faced with such evidence of your father's aging. I'm awfully sorry.

In any case, I've got your advice and suggestions to consider as sis and I move forward. Thanks again.

I just spoke with my father directly and he claims to have not paid anything at all to the scamers. He found the conversations to be "fun" - probably out of boredom - and was laughing about how it gave everyone, including him, something to talk about. He called the state's attorney's office right away and they recognized the company name (Global International) as a scam operation. He denies doing anything that compromises his accounts, but he continues to engage the scam artist in conversation. It's a slippery slope he's treading, which is worrisome in itself because we simply don't trust Dad's judgement. There have been a multitude of small lapses in the recent past, indicating a risk of him going into the deep end financially.

I'll be more like this guy, I think.

w ww.youtube.co m/watch?v=JnZsFyYE3YQ

"I like to think that I'll never succumb to this kind of abuse in my old age."

I like to think that too, but I don't know if that's the case. I sincerely hope I will never burden my children with that.

Of course, by the time Mrs. VA is 90 our kids will be in their 70s. Maybe more like a burden on our grandkids.

Thanks, everyone. My sister is the one who lives nearest to our parents and is most actively involved in their support/life management. I've passed on every good idea to her and will do all I can to help protect our parents as we battle the scamers. Unfortunately, given their extreme desire to remain completely independent in financial decisions, it will likely involve battling them as well.

You are right, VA. This is a peek at what all of us may well face in the future as our parents or close friends age. Just as my parents did years ago, I like to think that I'll never succumb to this kind of abuse in my old age. Hopefully my kids will intervene if/when the time comes.

Scandle,

Please follow what Fun suggested, ASAP! I hope that you are able to resolve this.

leads one to wonder what else one could do to get a rise out of Mr Fun...

I'm pretty laid back and slow to anger, but assholes who prey on others like this make my blood boil. I hope you can help catch them and get their disgusting asses thrown in jail for a long time.

Scandle, that totally sucks. I hope he hasn't had any money already taken from him and you can nip it in the bud.

" Is there a way to call back these numbers or not?"

I have no idea how it's done, but "spoofing" (making someone else's number appear in the call display/record) is easy to do and is common for telemarketers and scammers.

Scandle, what's even worse is when your own brother takes all your/his father's pension to use for his own purposes b/c he has access to my dad's accounts.

But I feel for you, seriously. It's so hard knowing what to do when parents get older and decision making fades. Do what you can to protect him. Is there a way to call back these numbers or not? Or time it so someone else can answer the phone call?

Good luck, Honey.

Gina

I like Fun's approach. I hope your Dad doesn't resist.

It is very sad that many of us will have to go through something like this. And probably, many of our children one day, too.

Scandle, once they have his credit/debit card number they can drain his account in a matter of hours. Do this, NOW:

Alert his bank or CC company that you have reason to believe fraudulent charges might be in process.

Call the state attorney and alert them. Ask them to tap your father's phone. I'm not kidding. This is criminal conduct, and it needs to be caught.

After doing those things, ask your dad to cancel his cards and get new ones issued. Keep his account balance and withdrawal limits at a low level. If he doesn't agree to this for his own good, a conservatorship might be advisable.

No, I don't know for sure, VA.

Oh jeezz..

Are you sure they haven't got some money already?

I'd be filing a police report by now.

Somehow they have not just the landline number, but my parents' cell phone, too. This is a huge problem, especially since my parents are resisting getting unlisted numbers. Another WTF!

I strongly urge you to find a way to record all calls and document as much as you can about each time these assholes call.

My sister is working with him to block the calls, but of course the scamers can get around it by using a different number. We suggested guardianship for my parents in the past, but they resisted strongly. It looks like it's time to revisit that conversation. Thanks for the idea.

He's getting more than ONE of those?

SOMEONE has him identified as a mark as is selling his name and phone number to other scam assholes.

Oh man... what are you going to do? This is awful. I get FURIOUS with people who do this kind of thing.

This could go in Fucking Bitchfest but given how completely unexpected it is for me, belongs here. My father, an 81-year-old who has until the last few years had fairly clear thought processes, all of a sudden is excited about calls he has been getting that promise $5 million in exchange for $1,500 from his credit card or other account. My whole family is warning him to NOT buy into this obvious scam, but there is the possibility he will do it regardless. WTF!!!!!!!!!

Hey BS - your post was number 666

put the horse to work making yellow snow.I know kinda sick huh,but what the heck,work is work.wtf is wrong with me.........BS