I call an SSA scammer posing as "Hal Apenio". They don't catch on to the fake name, so I let them walk through their script and demonstrate what the scam is. I intentionally let on to the closer that I know it's a scam, and he has a suggestion on what to do with the gift card he would have had me buy.

For those who don't know, the scam involves making you think criminal activity has been linked to your SSN and that your assets are about to be frozen. You will be asked to "protect your funds" by purchasing gift cards. The scammer will have you give them the card numbers for "safekeeping". Of course, they will drain the cards. Your money is gone at that point.

Timeline:

0:21 I give him my fake name, Hal Apenio
1:00 My SSN has been "stolen" and is being used for "criminal activity"
1:33 He asks for my SSN for "verification". I give him a fake one
2:40 He starts with the scare tactics by mentioning local police
4:26 He mentions the FBI and local court house. More scare tactics
4:37 An abandoned car was found with blood and drug residue (common story they use)
5:21 He accuses me of wiring money abroad
5:31 "Social Security Administration of the State of Texas"
6:43 He cites a law. Another scare tactic
7:06 He gives me an alternative to going to jail
8:20 Closer takes over the call. This is a more experienced scammer who will be the one to actually take my mohey
9:12 He gets suspicious. I then flip a couple of numbers in the fake SSN I give him. His story doesn't change
10:14 They want me to "secure my accounts"
11:06 I have to "convert [my] funds" into a "government certified bond". A gift card, in other words.
11:52 I call him out in a non-obvious way, which makes him stumble
12:25 He wants me to buy "cards". I knew it"
13:12 I call him out again. This time he does catch on
13:38 His suggestion for what I should do with the cards

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