Just had a call from an 040 number and an automated message saying that someone has tried to use my card for a £600 transaction. To stop the transaction press 1. Pressed one and a female operative asked me to confirm that I wanted to stop the transaction. As she had not asked who she was talking to or any card details I asked for the last four digits of the card. She hung up.

Also, two more ....

1) Calls purporting from BT asking for account details. My 83 year old Mum was nearly caught a few weeks ago, it was only NatWest's security systems that prevented £4,900 from being debited from her account. Natwest sent an automated call to her home phone but couldn't speak to her, as she was still on the phone to the b*****ds, so it declined.

2) Emails saying your TV License is due to expire today, as your D/D is due to expire/has expired .... this one is fairly amateurish, to be fair ...

Darnhill Claret wrote:Just had a call from an 040 number and an automated message saying that someone has tried to use my card for a £600 transaction. To stop the transaction press 1.

Very typical and so scary. Millions of pounds is being scammed from people every day.

Answer no one unless you know the number. If someone slips through this first net, bag 'em off quickly. Look after your vulnerable family members and friends (unfortunately, some folk do believe they've won the Nigerian Lottery when someone on the phone tells them so).

Some of these scams are very sophisticated and clever. Be alert!

I've had this 3/4 times in the last couple of weeks.
First time it happened I thought it was a scam because: recorded message (English female voice) rather than a person; whilst they said Mastercard (I guess majority will have one), they said "your bank" rather than naming a bank; they never used my name. I did check online my card activity though just in case.
Since then I've had the same - all from different (not hidden) UK numbers (last one was a Swindon I noticed from the area code); they all said exactly £600 too.
I never pressed the "1" but suspect there's some sort of rip-off phone charge + they try and get your actual card details.

We don't bother answering any more either our home phone or our mobiles if we don't recognise the number or name. If it is genuine or urgent, there is an opportunity to leave a message. No message - then obviously not important.
We still get one or two ringing but overall its gone relatively quiet. Can recommend it.
(The best so far was what we thought might be a message, but it was a female voice saying ,,,'so you won't be going out with him again', before they ended the call.

I had someone following me around asking for my details and money cos I chucked a Mars bar wrapper on the floor. Don't worry I didn't fall for it and reported him to the police.

The police have asked me to come down to the station and make an official statement as evidence so looks like they are taking it seriously

Devils_Advocate wrote:I had someone following me around asking for my details and money cos I chucked a Mars bar wrapper on the floor. Don't worry I didn't fall for it and reported him to the police.

The police have asked me to come down to the station and make an official statement as evidence so looks like they are taking it seriously

Very public spirited of you to go to the station to confess to littering.
Maybe putting the wrapper in a bin in the first case would've saved the need to confess ?

DA has caught one again.

I wish some of you lot would press one and give account details I'm saving up for a Twix.

If I don't recognise the number or STD code, I won't answer. If it's important, they'll leave a voice message.

Also, when you do let it ring out, go straight to Google and type in / copy & paste the number.
Often, you'll see it reported and comments made about what happened when they answered.

I then block that number on my phone.

Thanks for all the information utc, good to know as I inform older folks what to watch out for.. who knows may save them losing life savings.

I know it is perverse, but I often press one and then try to reason with the operator about the morality of living by lying and cheating people, and how destructive this is to their humanity. I think there is a vicar in me trying to get out. Usually they just hang up, one swore at me, but two or three have admitted that they hate doing it but have been forced into it through financial problems.

I do and recommend the same as Factual Frank as I never answer the call and simply type in the number on Google and see what others are saying about this number

I've had a few supposedly from BT saying my internet security has been compromised but the last one said I had won second prize in the Canadian lottery. I like to try and wind them up but most are recorded messages and l 'm not pressing 1.

We were advised by Vodafone not to answer an unknown number. If you pick up they will call again. Ignore it and eventually they leave you alone.

cbx750 wrote:I've had a few supposedly from BT saying my internet security has been compromised but the last one said I had won second prize in the Canadian lottery. I like to try and wind them up but most are recorded messages and l 'm not pressing 1.

What happens if you press 1 ? Anybody know?

conyoviejo wrote:What happens if you press 1 ? Anybody know?

I don't know, that's why I don't press it.

Where did all this gross dishonesty originate - Globalisation or just The EU?

cbx750 wrote:I don't know, that's why I don't press it.

Well press it next time and let us know..

So I haven't won the Ugandan lottery then?

There are a few apps you can install on your smartphone that can detect nuisance numbers and will auto block them. I use Hiya, but there are others. Won't help ringing home numbers but does help mobiles (PPI, Accident, Data Breach law case, etc...).

As for the scams I completely detest the people that perform this kind of fraud, would love to see the relevant authorities (India mainly, but some west African countries as well) clamp down, but as of yet they still do nothing despite having the evidence of fraud activity.

Also, there are a few very dangerous email scams doing the rounds that installs ransomware and encrypts your data (photos etc....) on your PC/Laptop. They are called Emotet and Ryuk ransomware and they get installed by clicking web links in emails you think are genuine. These ransomware virus' are crippling some companies and it's only a matter of time until they hit personal machines.

I got call from an 0800 number on Tuesday this week - my phone was on silent so I didn't see the missed call until later. The same number called again on Wed - I missed it again. Thursday lunch time, I got another call, same number, this time I was there to answer. The male voice said he was from my insurance company and my renewal was due - which it is. I replied OK.... and, then he said "I need to take you through security." My response was "you've called me. Can I take you through my security. Alternatively, I'll leave it until I get home and can check your number against my renewal notice...." The guy was fine. He provided the information I needed to know I was speaking to my insurance company. Renewal sorted, but you can't be too careful.

Paul Waine wrote:The male voice said he was from my insurance company and my renewal was due - which it is. I replied OK.... and, then he said "I need to take you through security." My response was "you've called me. Can I take you through my security. Alternatively, I'll leave it until I get home and can check your number against my renewal notice...." The guy was fine. He provided the information I needed to know I was speaking to my insurance company. Renewal sorted, but you can't be too careful.

You get that a lot, even if it's genuine like in your case.

Calling you up and then asking you to prove who you are is nothing short of them being extremely dumb. I've replied with the same as you - "You called me?" - so after refusing to give any details they asked me to call the company when I'm free.

RalphCoatesComb wrote:Very typical and so scary. Millions of pounds is being scammed from people every day.

Answer no one unless you know the number. If someone slips through this first net, bag 'em off quickly. Look after your vulnerable family members and friends (unfortunately, some folk do believe they've won the Nigerian Lottery when someone on the phone tells them so).

Some of these scams are very sophisticated and clever. Be alert!

True, you have to be so careful & try to get everything going out DD, I know cyber crime is on the increase as well & it’s good advice to just answer recognised numbers, if it’s important they’ll leave a voicemail or text if it’s a mobile. You have to be vigilant as the scammers are forever devising more ingenious ways to dupe you, you can effectively minimise the likelihood with some simple practical measures.

Tricky Trevor wrote:We were advised by Vodafone not to answer an unknown number. If you pick up they will call again. Ignore it and eventually they leave you alone.

That's correct, I have random calls from a few numbers, since I stopped answering them they've dried up.

cockneyclaret wrote:Since I stopped answering them they've dried up.

I check the numbers on-line. There is a mine of useful info out there on numbers used by scammers. Problem is I have dozens of numbers logged in my mobile as "Knob" and "Scam"

Tricky Trevor wrote:We were advised by Vodafone not to answer an unknown number. If you pick up they will call again. Ignore it and eventually they leave you alone.

The more modern smartphones on the market now offer the option to block suspicious numbers so with the same number ringing it shouldn't be a repeat issue if you've got 1, I know the more elderly which are prime targets for this use doros ect, I'm not sure if it's a feature built into them phones. Maybe another poster might know.

Jakubclaret wrote:The more modern smartphones on the market now offer the option to block suspicious numbers so with the same number ringing it shouldn't be a repeat issue if you've got 1, I know the more elderly which are prime targets for this use doros ect, I'm not sure if it's a feature built into them phones. Maybe another poster might know.

Unfortunately not available in RoI. I had called them to ask for call block.
The other problem being they’ll just use a new number.