So got to Bournemouth this afternoon, a message on my phone saying an unusual transaction had occurred on my Nat West account , normally I am pretty good with these types of things but this caught me off guard, when I phoned the number they knew quite a lot about the account even quoting some recent transactions, it wasn’t until they asked for my card reader that I smelled a rat , being away from home I didn’t have my card reader so said to them I would go to a local branch where everything could be clarified, even then they didn’t panic other than to say the branch couldn’t do anything as they had to do it , long story short be careful especially with the lead up to Christmas , the so called unusual transaction was for £2,500 via Amazon , apparently it can appear as an Apple transaction also , I sure it could be anything, keep safe ,
I do hope tomorrow is a better day .

My old man got a call last week which was odd - he answered and got told that a claim he has, has had a payout and to call their claim collections unit (an 0161/manchester number) - they knew his address and date of birth and other details.

He called the 0161 number with a code given to him by the 1st caller and was then told that he had to do some things which involved buying some vouchers etc to get the money so he just put the phone down.

All sounds fairly obvious but he actually has a claim going through for what he was contacted about - When he put the phone down on the random callers and called them up they had no clue of the conpany or who had called him but said they'd look into it properly.

At least Dick Turpin had the decency to wear a mask!

So many different scams

joey13 wrote:So many different scams

...and scums!

I got a 'record of purchase' email a few weeks back for something I hadn't bought. There was a button on it for 'if you have purchased this item in error' which then took me through to the Apple ID screen. They're getting cleverer and cleverer.

If they're phoning your mobile you'll see the number, don't answer.

If they phone your home number, let the answer machine deal with it or let it ring off. If it's someone important they'll ring again.

If it's through e-mail then delete it. No bank or anything important like that does owt by e-mail.

The best one that I've had is the Department for Work and Pensions supposedly e-mailing me.

Bin Ont Turf wrote:If they're phoning your mobile you'll see the number, don't answer.

If they phone your home number, let the answer machine deal with it or let it ring off. If it's someone important they'll ring again.

If it's through e-mail then delete it. No bank or anything important like that does owt by e-mail.

The best one that I've had is the Department for Work and Pensions supposedly e-mailing me.

My cousins husband got scammed for 10 grand.
He was with Nat West, and when he dialled 1471, it came up with the same number as on the back of his card. He didn't react straight away and they called him back a couple of days later. He gave them the info and gone.
He couldn't believe afterwards, how calm and relaxed and professional they were about it.

Beware

Colburn_Claret wrote:My cousins husband got scammed for 10 grand.
He was with Nat West, and when he dialled 1471, it came up with the same number as on the back of his card. He didn't react straight away and they called him back a couple of days later. He gave them the info and gone.
He couldn't believe afterwards, how calm and relaxed and professional they were about it.

Beware

No bank does banking over the phone.

You don't need to be clever to understand that.

I agree, but when they are so professional, and catch you when you're busy, it's easy to make the mistake. The lad isn't a complete idiot, and couldn't believe he fell for it.

Colburn_Claret wrote:I agree, but when they are so professional, and catch you when you're busy, it's easy to make the mistake. The lad isn't a complete idiot, and couldn't believe he fell for it.

Surely they should increase sentences for anyone caught in the UK doing this and treat all money stolen from a bank the same, whether it be via scams or armed robbery. It would make them think twice if they got a life sentence (like you can for armed robbery).

Spijed wrote:Surely they should increase sentences for anyone caught in the UK doing this and treat all money stolen from a bank the same, whether it be via scams or armed robbery. It would make them think twice if they got a life sentence (like you can for armed robbery).

They should........... but they won't. Criminal justice system is hopelessly outdated and, to use an annoying modern phrase, not fit for purpose.

Bin Ont Turf wrote:No bank does banking over the phone.

You don't need to be clever to understand that.

My bank, Santander, occasionally phone me automatically in response to a debit card transaction I've just made online to see if it is correct. I presume this is done if they see something suspicious about it.

No bank will ask you for identifiable information over the phone, unless you have called them to their published customer support number.

I have had other organisations who hold my bank details call me and expect me to confirm information though - mobile phone contracts etc (Vodafone were terrible for this) and Sky for broadband. They are getting better and have offered for me to call the back, but I really do find it funny that they don't understand when I tell them that I will not confirm my identity with them, they called me on my mobile number! Granted, my phone may have been stolen but to ask me for my password to my account when they called me is really bad practice.

Fraud like this is just a tax on the stupid

UpTheBeehole wrote:Fraud like this is just a tax on the stupid

UpTheBeehole wrote:Fraud like this is just a tax on the stupid

Or the vulnerable.

Those who are used to doing face to face transactions and have their local branch shut down - might not be as savy as others when it comes to modern technology.

Is someone suffering from chronic pain an idiot for getting caught off guard having not had a good night's sleep.

I realize your post was probably ironic but still.

If you're not comfortable with modern technology, then why the hell would you give away your full bank details to someone who's just called you?

UpTheBeehole wrote:If you're not comfortable with modern technology, then why the hell would you give away your full bank details to someone who's just called you?

It’s not as simple as that , when you phone nat west Number and the call is intercepted, these scammers are very clever and I nearly got caught, don’t bandy the word stupid so readily, they catch people who are far from stupid.

joey13 wrote:It’s not as simple as that , when you phone nat west Number and the call is intercepted, these scammers are very clever and I nearly got caught, don’t bandy the word stupid so readily, they catch people who are far from stupid.

You phoned the number they gave you?

Or did you call the number on your card, or on the website?

Donald Tusk 'phoned Theresa May and got away with 50 billion Euros.

Rick_Muller wrote:No bank will ask you for identifiable information over the phone, unless you have called them to their published customer support number.

I have had other organisations who hold my bank details call me and expect me to confirm information though - mobile phone contracts etc (Vodafone were terrible for this) and Sky for broadband. They are getting better and have offered for me to call the back, but I really do find it funny that they don't understand when I tell them that I will not confirm my identity with them, they called me on my mobile number! Granted, my phone may have been stolen but to ask me for my password to my account when they called me is really bad practice.

Totally agree with this.
When I'm phoned and asked to identify myself I politely point out I don't need to as I know who I am. What we need to establish is who you are.
Anyone calling for something important or urgent will always leave a voicemail.
Watch 'Fonejacker' the clip where the guy expains to the account holder that a pigeon has gotten into his bank account and they need his PIN no to remove the money, clean it and put it back. Makes me chortle every time.

There was a lady on TV last week who had a call from her 'bank fraud department' who told her someone had been trying to access her account and the bank needed her to transfer funds into a secure account. She didn't believe them but they went through her security details and also identified her recent transactions. She then got her husband to ring the bank. The guy who answered said he could verify the call was legitimate and he was aware his colleague had been dealing with the fraud and they did need her to transfer the funds. At this point she was satisfied and transferred the funds. She lost £100K. This was all fraudulent and the police said the criminals are now using the camera on your laptop to see what you are doing. They then intercepted the husbands call to the bank. It's scary how far they will go. I now cover the camera on my laptop when doing any internet transactions.

Few weeks ago both myself and Mrs w got a text from an “unknown” number, but saying it was from our bank, informing us that a transaction had been made for £8.46 at Walgreens and to reply with yes or no to authorise it.

We did neither, but we did call the bank on their proper number to confirm if it was legitimate, which it turned out it was.

Turns out purchase had been made on our account in the US which they had flagged straight away and contacted us, for which we were very grateful of.

Rick_Muller wrote:No bank will ask you for identifiable information over the phone, unless you have called them to their published customer support number.

I have had other organisations who hold my bank details call me and expect me to confirm information though - mobile phone contracts etc (Vodafone were terrible for this) and Sky for broadband. They are getting better and have offered for me to call the back, but I really do find it funny that they don't understand when I tell them that I will not confirm my identity with them, they called me on my mobile number! Granted, my phone may have been stolen but to ask me for my password to my account when they called me is really bad practice.

I’ve said this before, if a company calls you then they should have to provide some sort of “password” that you have set up to ensure that they are who they say. I’ll then happily confirm my details to ensure them I am who I say I am

Bin Ont Turf wrote:No bank does banking over the phone.

You don't need to be clever to understand that.

First Direct do - they must have very stupid customers?

bfccrazy wrote:First Direct do - they must have very stupid customers?

Nat West have telephone banking

HSBC do too.

MiltonKeynesClaret93 wrote:HSBC do too.

HSBC run the "branch" operations for First Direct who are solely telephone/internet based.

Rick_Muller wrote:No bank will ask you for identifiable information over the phone, unless you have called them to their published customer support number.

This is wrong (or at least misleading).

No bank should ever discuss any banking with you until they are happy they know who you are. The way they generally do this (when they call you) is by asking you for your dob or address. Refuse to give up this info and they can’t tell you whatever they called to tell you.

The best way round this, especially if you’re suspicious, is to ask them to leave a note on their systems, then call your bank on a known number (ideally on a different phone if you’re really suspicious) and ask them to put you through to whoever just called you.