I want to report a scam

[Anonymous]

I have been rung many times by two gentleman suggesting they are  E bay employees (Michael Spencer and David Baker). The number they call from is 0251111100 which says on my phone that it is a Canberra number but they say they are from Double Bay NSW. They tell me that they have had an order for $500 worth of E-bay cards from Kenya with that person using my identity. These people have my pension card number, my Medicare number, my name and address, my date of birth. In order to cancel this so-called order for $500 they want me to download the App Anydesk and give them access to my phone. When I said no, they said that they will accept the order and I will be charged $500. Needless to say I have not placed such an order and I have reported the scam to Telstra and will email MY Gov to report that someone has my pension/medicare details. I have been rung many times and it is a nuisance.

[countessalmirena]

If these two "gentlemen" claim that those details are compromised, have they actually given you the details? Or have you supplied those details (aka "verified" them).

If those details are in the scammers' hands, you've got a serious issue of identity fraud that  you need to sort out as a matter of urgency.

If it's only that the men claimed that those details were stolen (but they haven't told you the actual details and you haven't given them your actual details), then you can breathe deeply with relief.

You should never never never never never engage with these scammers. They ARE scammers; they are not eBay employees; their names are not Michael Spencer and David Baker; they are not from Double Bay NSW or from Canberra (probably not in Australia at all); the phone numbers are spoofed; there is no order for $500; you should never download AnyDesk; you won't be charged $500.

You say they've rung many times; that means you haven't hung up on them. No... They're ringing back because you are engaging with them. Give these scammers a sliver of a chance, and they'll keep you on the phone, wearing you down, being insistent, threatening you, telling you what to do, and in the process getting a lot of information from you that you're not even aware you are giving away.

DON'T ENGAGE.

Don't swear at them or lead them on or threaten them or answer their questions or allow them to take up your time or make yourself in any way seem like a soft target for a future scam. Your basic response could simply be "You're scammers. Don't call me back" and instantly ending the call. No goodbye, no friendly chat, no anxious questions - just hang up, disconnect, pffffffffft.

If they ring back, hang up instantly.

You can block the number, but these scammer call centres are able to generate new numbers very quickly. That's why the best technique is to cut them off right at the start. Yes, block the number... but don't engage AT ALL.

If you're interested, you can go to YouTube and watch cyber security expert "kitboga" play along with scammers using the "Refund Scam" - but don't do what he does. He's an expert and knows exactly what he's doing. Not only does he humiliate scammers and waste their time, he also turns their attempts to access his computer back upon them. He accesses THEIR computers, and deletes their victim information and saves scam victims in real time. One example of the so-called Refund Scam is here, and another one is with cyber security expert pierogi (Scammer Payback) here. I reiterate - don't engage with scammers; these guys (kitboga and pierogi) are computer/cyber experts and are able to protect their devices while playing along, but the average person should absolutely not engage.