I think I've done something daft.....

I keep getting those "you have a tax refund" emails. I phone the inland revenue and was told they NEVER email, they always write to people

If you want to enter competitions I suggest you go via a site like MSE or Loquax. They work hard to ensure that only genuine competitions are listed. Or you could enter via Facebook and you only need to give your Facebook name.

This type of thing has become common. I often receive emails or Facebook postings saying I have the chance to win vouchers for hundreds of pounds for Asda, Aldi, Tesco etc. They are usually soon followed fairly soon (hours or days) by a statement from the companies announcing that they are scams and nothing to do with them.

I have received a begging letter from a charity similar to one I sent a donation to at Christmas. I had told them in no uncertain terms that I did not want contacting again so when this letter came I saw red ! I rang them up and they explained they were not the same charity I had donated to (similar name) but that the mailing would have been sent from another company. That company is Transactis Ltd and their tel no is 01244 657277. They can tell you who sold on your information in the first place - in my case it was Hotter Shoes. The last time I bought their shoes was a few years ago and they too will be getting a call from me !

The scammers usually take the money via your cellphone bill, it's devious, immoral and underhand, but apparently not illegal!
A friend of mine was caught out this way, and it cost her £9-50, but fortunately she stopped it before a second payment was taken.
Never, ever, ever give out any personal details, I know we're all aware of not giving out banking information, but you can enter a competition without ever realising it will cost you. If, when you unwittingly enter a 'scam' competition, you use your cellphone number, the charges will be claimed from your cellphone bill, and your provider will not prevent it.
You need to contact the 'scammers' which is never easy, and tell them to cancel any 'competiton entries' you have made, and remove all your details from their database.

I had one from I tunes saying that someone had done a $50 US order on my account and I must cancel the order and reset my password now. Fortunately it showed the last 5 numbers of a card type etc. that I do not possess. So I deleted it. I am sure they thought I would 'cancel the order' by pressing the blue writing and then resetting my pass word which would have led to all sorts of things.

It's all so easy to do whilst sat at home feeling completely relaxed and at ease. I am also very wary (and see it a lot as a few of my friends have done it ) When on Facebook and you see a post because your friend has done it. Click and say Amen to a certain photo. Whilst I'm not saying they are all a con just to get your name - sadly most are. Do we know what they will use our name or images for ?

There are so many scams around. I have twice had emails purporting to come from Virgin Media telling me my account was about to be terminated if I didn't renew it immediately. They wanted my username and password which I had no intention of giving them. I have heard no more.

If it's a direct debit from your bank account, marelli, you can just cancel it. You don't even have to tell the 'provider'.

I mean, what are they doing, advertising stuff which is nothing to do with them? Surely they should take the responsibility?

The only on-line competitions I go in for now are GN ones. Am I too trusting!

Everything seems to be linked these days. I ordered some clothes from M&S and now get M&S clothes ads. We bought some furniture from Oak Furniture Land - in the shop - and now ads for their stuff pop up all over the place. It's difficult to keep anything private on line. And worrying.

Argos just got back to me, saying that they only advertise competitions, vouchers etc via their website. They advise me to contact my network provider so that the scammers can be blocked from taking money from my account.
How stupid I was not to realise that, though.

I'll let you all know how it goes. I've messaged Argos's Facebook site to see what they say. Apparently, a reply is expected within the hour if messaged this way, so it'll likely be faster than an email reply.
DH didn't help matters by saying in a very condescending manner, "I'm surprised at you, being led-on like that" (coming from one who isn't led-on at all by telephone cold-callers, asking them to "phone back when my wife gets in...."

Hopefully you will sort it out today with the Phone company .I Never click on anything which offers you something for nothing ie prize draws , vouchers, money off , they are all scams of some sort xx

So easy to do Marelli. Don't feel too bad. I'm sure it would be helpful if you let us know the solution, there will be one, just in case it can help others. Good luck.

That's handy to know. Thanks for alerting us Marelli.

I was watching Fake Britain last night and people looking for jobs are being scammed too. They apply to what they think is a genuine position, are accepted and offered the job and then asked to forward £50 for a CRB check. All fake.

When I reread the small-print, obieone, I saw that Germany and America seem to be the registered countries. No mention of UK.
Last year there was an advert on Facebook for Aldi, where, if you clicked 'like' you'd be entered into a Prize Draw or something like that. All that followed were loads of adverts for other companies, so although probably relatively harmless, it obviously wasn't kosher. I do have a bad feeling about this Argos one, though.

Bumping. I didnt know there were scam competitions.

I don't think it's actually Argos though, Nelliemoser. Once I've been to try sort out the phone provider side of things tomorrow, I'll email Argos and forward the 'competition'.

Marrelli. I would consider that a very unfair deal. How about discussing it with trading standards? If it is not illegal and you possibly did not read it fully, but it strikes me as being very sharp practice.

How did you go about cancelling it, Annie29?

I did the same thing for Asda, managed to cancel it ,only had to pay once.