7 ms·

Glitterbomb Trap Catches Phone Scammer (who gets arrested)

41 points by ohjeez 6y ago

tpmx 6y ago
So not a semi-faked video using actors, this time? https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/21/glitter-bomb-video-was-partially-faked-former-nasa-engineer-confirms.html https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/21/glitter-bomb-video-was-parti...
- KennyFromIT 6y ago
  > “I am really sorry about this. Ultimately, I am responsible for the content that goes on my channel and I should have done more here,” Rober said in the statement, adding that this was his first prank video. “I can vouch that the reactions were genuine when the package was taken from my house. Having said that, I know my credibility is sort of shot, but I encourage you to look at the types of videos I’ve been making for the past 7 years.”
- sircastor 6y ago
  Yes, that occurred the first time, unknown to Mark. The Misleading versions were all removed from that first video. This is the 3rd version of the glitter bomb and the 4th video related to the effort. Is a really interesting watch, if for no other reason than the explanation of the phone scam end-to-end.
  - ohjeez 6y ago
    Agreed. I had no idea what that scam was -- and I immediately rushed to make sure my more vulnerable (read: clueless) relatives learned about it.
- LinuxBender 6y ago
  Not sure. It is difficult to believe he is working with all those authorities, given he is getting people to activate a remote spy device that shoots out something that could potentially cause blindness. He is blurring out some people, but not others. Maybe some lawyers could review the video and calculate his legal risks, assuming this is all legit. The cops are not blurred out, so I suppose we could just call them and ask. It is at least entertaining and maybe it will stop a few people from falling victim to these scams. The scams are for sure a real thing.
fortran77 6y ago
There's something odd about the man they claim was a "super nice guy" who opened the package and then called the police. That package wasn't addressed to him. The mules would have their (fake) name on the package so they can ask the FedEx driver "Do you have a package for Crystal?" So that AirBnB host who opened a package that wasn't really such a "nice guy" after all.
- randlet 6y ago
  I'm not sure there's enough information to make a judgement either way. I'm sure I'm "guilty" of opening a package handed to me at my front door without checking who it was addressed to.
  - fortran77 6y ago
    Do you regularly have boarders living in your house?
    - justjonathan 6y ago
      I suspect that most Airbnb customers do not have a lot of packages delivered to the places they stay. The fact that he doesn’t throw the package away is noteworthy.
- matbilodeau 6y ago
  https://youtu.be/VrKW58MS12g?t=233 https://youtu.be/VrKW58MS12g?t=233 The team delivered the package in an official looking vest.
Shank 6y ago
The accompanying video from Jim Browning’s channel is also quite good: https://youtu.be/Xvjjpzyiig4 https://youtu.be/Xvjjpzyiig4 It seems to me that the underlying scams will just keep popping up without enforcement from the India side. The fact that there’s a classic money laundering operation happening in the US is interesting, but also the easiest way to draw the attention of the US authorities.
- giarc 6y ago
  That must be a tough thing to do every day. The sadness in her voice (in Mark's) video is gut wrenching. Both when she's telling the scammer how fried her brain is, and then when Jim tells her she's been scammed. Truly awful people are scamming these seniors.
weird-eye-issue 6y ago
Anyone realize from this video how easily Fedex drivers can be socially engineered to not deliver packages?
- jitl 6y ago
  Clearly the FedEx driver double checked with the system,
  - weird-eye-issue 6y ago
    What do you mean?
    - badhrink 6y ago
      I guess, the actual sender requested Fedex to cancel the delivery of the package. Fedex said it did, but eventually it ended up in the delivery van. So when the private investigator asked the delivery guy to not deliver the package, he must have checked with Fedex before not delivering. However, there was another package to the same address, and the PIs stopped the delivery of that too. So yeah, you might be right on one count atleast :)
- Topgamer7 6y ago
  Delivery drivers are pretty well incentivized to not care as long as the package is delivered. They are constantly told to deliver more packages faster. I remember reading that even if you select sign for delivery, in NY the drivers will just leave packages in the lobby. And there is rampant package theft.
  - weird-eye-issue 6y ago
    They didn't deliver the package. They did the opposite.

41 points by ohjeez 6y ago

tpmx 6y ago

So not a semi-faked video using actors, this time? https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/21/glitter-bomb-video-was-partially-faked-former-nasa-engineer-confirms.html https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/21/glitter-bomb-video-was-parti...

KennyFromIT 6y ago
> “I am really sorry about this. Ultimately, I am responsible for the content that goes on my channel and I should have done more here,” Rober said in the statement, adding that this was his first prank video. “I can vouch that the reactions were genuine when the package was taken from my house. Having said that, I know my credibility is sort of shot, but I encourage you to look at the types of videos I’ve been making for the past 7 years.”
sircastor 6y ago
Yes, that occurred the first time, unknown to Mark. The Misleading versions were all removed from that first video. This is the 3rd version of the glitter bomb and the 4th video related to the effort. Is a really interesting watch, if for no other reason than the explanation of the phone scam end-to-end.
- ohjeez 6y ago
  Agreed. I had no idea what that scam was -- and I immediately rushed to make sure my more vulnerable (read: clueless) relatives learned about it.
LinuxBender 6y ago
Not sure. It is difficult to believe he is working with all those authorities, given he is getting people to activate a remote spy device that shoots out something that could potentially cause blindness. He is blurring out some people, but not others. Maybe some lawyers could review the video and calculate his legal risks, assuming this is all legit. The cops are not blurred out, so I suppose we could just call them and ask. It is at least entertaining and maybe it will stop a few people from falling victim to these scams. The scams are for sure a real thing.

fortran77 6y ago

There's something odd about the man they claim was a "super nice guy" who opened the package and then called the police. That package wasn't addressed to him. The mules would have their (fake) name on the package so they can ask the FedEx driver "Do you have a package for Crystal?" So that AirBnB host who opened a package that wasn't really such a "nice guy" after all.

randlet 6y ago
I'm not sure there's enough information to make a judgement either way. I'm sure I'm "guilty" of opening a package handed to me at my front door without checking who it was addressed to.
- fortran77 6y ago
  Do you regularly have boarders living in your house?
  - justjonathan 6y ago
    I suspect that most Airbnb customers do not have a lot of packages delivered to the places they stay. The fact that he doesn’t throw the package away is noteworthy.
matbilodeau 6y ago
https://youtu.be/VrKW58MS12g?t=233 https://youtu.be/VrKW58MS12g?t=233 The team delivered the package in an official looking vest.

Shank 6y ago

The accompanying video from Jim Browning’s channel is also quite good: https://youtu.be/Xvjjpzyiig4 https://youtu.be/Xvjjpzyiig4 It seems to me that the underlying scams will just keep popping up without enforcement from the India side. The fact that there’s a classic money laundering operation happening in the US is interesting, but also the easiest way to draw the attention of the US authorities.

giarc 6y ago
That must be a tough thing to do every day. The sadness in her voice (in Mark's) video is gut wrenching. Both when she's telling the scammer how fried her brain is, and then when Jim tells her she's been scammed. Truly awful people are scamming these seniors.

weird-eye-issue 6y ago

Anyone realize from this video how easily Fedex drivers can be socially engineered to not deliver packages?

jitl 6y ago
Clearly the FedEx driver double checked with the system,
- weird-eye-issue 6y ago
  What do you mean?
  - badhrink 6y ago
    I guess, the actual sender requested Fedex to cancel the delivery of the package. Fedex said it did, but eventually it ended up in the delivery van. So when the private investigator asked the delivery guy to not deliver the package, he must have checked with Fedex before not delivering. However, there was another package to the same address, and the PIs stopped the delivery of that too. So yeah, you might be right on one count atleast :)
Topgamer7 6y ago
Delivery drivers are pretty well incentivized to not care as long as the package is delivered. They are constantly told to deliver more packages faster. I remember reading that even if you select sign for delivery, in NY the drivers will just leave packages in the lobby. And there is rampant package theft.
- weird-eye-issue 6y ago
  They didn't deliver the package. They did the opposite.