We all get so many scam calls from unscrupulous people trying to convince us that we owe the IRS our soul. Or, that we should buy the extended warranty on the car we don’t own, and that Microsoft needs to speak to us about how our computer might have an unsecured IP address.
Crooks trying to steal from us.
The other day I got a scam call from some dumb hacker saying that the culture came back positive and I have a serious kidney infection that needs immediate treatment. “Oh, yeah,” I said, “if that’s the case then you should be able to tell me my address and credit card numbers.” I’m no idiot. Don’t call me and ask me a question that you should already know the answer to.
They were so enthusiastic about trying to convince me that I needed antibiotics, but I knew it was a scam. I just couldn’t figure out the angle. These guys are so sophisticated that it is difficult to suss out their game.
After an hour of deflecting their attacks, they relinquished and said a prescription was available at my pharmacy of choice, and then they hung up on me. I’m not a victim; not falling for it!
Kidney infection! What a weird scam. Don’t be the sucker, no matter how sincere and desperate they sound.
Also, how do you answer their question, Do you have more than one drink a week? without giving away any personal information? It’s problematic, at best. You and I might have different definitions of the requisite amount of liquor necessary to make it through life.
If you answer honestly, you know bad things will happen, plus a lecture. But, if you lie, it might be a criminal or uninsurable offense.
What I usually say is something along the lines of, “Just imagine how much alcohol it would take to kill a man. Now, double that. You’re getting reasonably close to how much I drink every night before posting anti Canadian rants on Facebook. It’s cute that you’re still worried about my cholesterol and triglycerides.”
My sweat is flammable. You should be concerned, but be cool about it.
—DG
Inside Doug's Head 