Mumbai call centre scam: ‘Nothing's wrong in duping rich Americans’ • Hacker News Board

Re: Mumbai call centre scam: ‘Nothing's wrong in duping rich Americans’

#31

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Oct 07, 2016, 5:48 PM UTC

x1798DE wrote: post #25

maxxxxx wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I got one of those calls and it sounded very credible. I called the number back and then I got a little nervous when the guy on the other end of the line seemed very uninterested and unprofessional. I don't how how far I would have gone if he had acted better.

> I called the number back and then I got a little nervous when the guy on the other end of the line seemed very uninterested and unprofessional. Didn't you think you were calling a government office? They aren't exactly known for their customer service, whereas scammers are known for having a slick feel to their operation. Interesting that that was your tip off.

[deleted]

Re: Mumbai call centre scam: ‘Nothing's wrong in duping rich Americans’

#32

Post by nashashmi » Fri, Oct 07, 2016, 5:49 PM UTC

bdcravens wrote: post #30

I like to have fun with them. On more than one occasion, I strung them out for 15 or 20 minutes, and eventually ended the call on a nice satisfying note. I've even had them call me back angry for wasting their time :-)

I talked in a heavy voice with calm sort of arrogance, and they go . My attempts at gaming them into wasting time didn't work for too long. :(

Re: Mumbai call centre scam: ‘Nothing's wrong in duping rich Americans’

#33

Post by nashashmi » Fri, Oct 07, 2016, 5:51 PM UTC

strict9 wrote: post #29

Unfortunately it's not so much the 'rich' that fall for this, but the elderly. Recently heard this story from my bartender, who had a family member lose some dough in this scam. The "rich American" part is just a weaselly justification for committing a crime, and doesn't deserve the prominence in the article it received.

> doesn't deserve the prominence in the article it received

It is more for giving insight into an asian scamming culture.

Re: Mumbai call centre scam: ‘Nothing's wrong in duping rich Americans’

#34

Post by bdcravens » Fri, Oct 07, 2016, 5:53 PM UTC

strict9 wrote: post #29

Unfortunately it's not so much the 'rich' that fall for this, but the elderly. Recently heard this story from my bartender, who had a family member lose some dough in this scam. The "rich American" part is just a weaselly justification for committing a crime, and doesn't deserve the prominence in the article it received.

As I read it, it's not that they are targeting rich Americans, but rather, they view America as a land of riches. Even our poor elderly, especially if they own a vehicle or property, would be considered rich by many standards.

Re: Mumbai call centre scam: ‘Nothing's wrong in duping rich Americans’

#35

Post by slumberlust » Fri, Oct 07, 2016, 5:55 PM UTC

plandis wrote: post #24

This seems like a case where none of the alleged criminals have probably ever interacted with Americans. It's easy to vilify a group you truly know nothing about.

Are you possibly doing the same with this group? Would you be willing to prey on Russians if it meant your family could eat this week?

Re: Mumbai call centre scam: ‘Nothing's wrong in duping rich Americans’

#36

Post by imagist » Fri, Oct 07, 2016, 5:56 PM UTC

This could be fixed by fixing the broken telephone protocol so that phone numbers can't be spoofed so easily, and then implementing adblockers.

But that won't happen because:

1. It would cost money.

2. A proper implementation would be encrypted, breaking ubiquitous surveillance.

Re: Mumbai call centre scam: ‘Nothing's wrong in duping rich Americans’

#37

Post by bdcravens » Fri, Oct 07, 2016, 5:58 PM UTC

cmdrfred wrote: post #28

bdcravens wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're on Hacker News, so I'll assume some degree of technical acumen, and have Internet access obviously. Is this the best opportunity you have? Is it more financially rewarding than low-end development work?

I'm not in India.

Oops, missed "if I am" part of your comment.

Re: Mumbai call centre scam: ‘Nothing's wrong in duping rich Americans’

#38

Post by strict9 » Fri, Oct 07, 2016, 6:00 PM UTC

bdcravens wrote: post #34

strict9 wrote: post #29

Unfortunately it's not so much the 'rich' that fall for this, but the elderly. Recently heard this story from my bartender, who had a family member lose some dough in this scam. The "rich American" part is just a weaselly justification for committing a crime, and doesn't deserve the prominence in the article it received.

As I read it, it's not that they are targeting rich Americans, but rather, they view America as a land of riches. Even our poor elderly, especially if they own a vehicle or property, would be considered rich by many standards.

From the article:

> Nasreen Bano Iqbal Balesahib, 59; and her sons Nadeem Iqbal Balasaheb, 30, and Shain Iqbal Balasaheb, 25, were arrested on Wednesday evening as they were listed as the owners of MAC Outsourcing Services Private Limited - the company that ran Universal Outsourcing Solutions, which is one of the raided companies. Incidentally, the raided M Bale House belongs to the family.

Owned a company and the building which housed the company. That argument rings even more hollow.

Re: Mumbai call centre scam: ‘Nothing's wrong in duping rich Americans’

#39

Post by ungzd » Fri, Oct 07, 2016, 6:02 PM UTC

Nothing wrong in duping rich Americans, but using adblocker is real crime, says this website.

Re: Mumbai call centre scam: ‘Nothing's wrong in duping rich Americans’

#40

Post by cmdrfred » Fri, Oct 07, 2016, 6:03 PM UTC

kylehotchkiss wrote: post #23

cmdrfred wrote: post #11

I'll get downvoted, but if I'm a father with no opportunity in rural India. This is exactly what I'd be doing. You might be a better man to allow your children starve in a pile of there own filth, but I'm not him.

If you work hard in India, it's still pretty likely you can feed your kids. It might not be good work, good food, or a good house, but being a scammer is not the only way to take care of your family. I just saw an photo this week on the People of Nepal Facebook page, and it was of a man who wanted a better life for his kids so he slaved over a little tea shop in a small city/town, and was able to send his kids to sch…

1 out of 10 workers in India are unemployed. They simply do no have the options we have in the first world. If you are offered a call center job, you take it. A single success story does not invalidate the data, India has a massive poverty problem.