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Is this a scam?

(65 Posts)
MissAdventure Wed 25-Sep-19 21:27:58

I just got a text telling me that EE have been unable to process my payment. (I paid my bill yesterday, and not without a lot of faffing around, as usual, using their automated system)

It told me to click on the link provided and fill in my details (name, address, bank card details)

Stupidly, I did click on the link but stopped dead when I saw what they wanted to know.

It must be a scam, yes? blush

I'm ashamed to say I don't know!

Evie64 Sat 28-Sep-19 14:01:54

Yes, definitely a scam. I still get those old chestnuts - "My father has died in Nigeria and I need your bank account details so that I can transfer my inheritance out of the country and I'll pay you £****". Always makes me smile. How can they think people are that stupid.

annep1 Thu 26-Sep-19 23:28:52

I didn't know that Dahlia. Goodness it's scary.

SandraPotter Thu 26-Sep-19 20:45:00

I got that too. Not been with EE for two years!

GreenGran78 Thu 26-Sep-19 20:05:43

I had an email today saying that my Paypal account had been limited because of 'suspicious activity.' They wanted me to click a link and enter my details to re-connect my account. No doubt, if I had done so, they would have tried to get enough information to access my account themselves.
I forwarded the email to Paypal's fraud department, then deleted it. These companies do not deal with their customers in that way.

dahlia Thu 26-Sep-19 19:19:38

annepl, good advise, but some crooks keep the line open so that when you re-dial they are still on the line, using a different voice to lull you into a sense of security. We all have to be so alert these days!

elleks Thu 26-Sep-19 19:08:11

I had a similar one from 'Virgin'. I also had one telling me my tv licence payment was overdue. I knew that one was a scam, as my Husband is 76, and until next year it's free!

newnanny Thu 26-Sep-19 18:05:35

Scams are becoming ever more convincing. They could fool even the smartest of people. There is also a scam email going around from Inland Revenue telling people they are due for a tax refund and to put details in to get automatic refund. Beware it is a SCAM. Safest way is to pay by DD. Never click on link as it can be a computer virus.

GabriellaG54 Thu 26-Sep-19 17:54:36

MissAdventure

Here's a solution.
If it's a MOBILE bill, you can ring EE mobile customer services dept and request their sort code and account number and add them as a payee on your banking app/website enabljng you to pay directly when you get the bill (I assume as an email with pdf attachment)
If it's BROADBAND and phone, you can pay monthy with your card over the phone OR set up a DD which covers your phone usage and a bit more.
Hope that helps.

GinJeannie Thu 26-Sep-19 17:40:44

While abroad last week I received a text from TSB asking me to call a certain number to discuss a payment they were concerned about. My TSB card wasn't with me but left safely at home in UK! Scam failed thank heavens

GabriellaG54 Thu 26-Sep-19 17:38:05

No MissAdventure
You wouldn't click on any link. You'd go to your bank app or website and check it has been taken out of your account and at what time on which day.
If it shows as a debit, do not do anything, the fault is theirs (EE)
If all your other payments go out in a timely manner without fuss, the problem lies with EE.
I was with them last year for broadband and landline and DDs went out with no fuss whatsoever.
If your payment fluctuate month to month, just ask for an e-bill and pay it straight from your banking app or online account without EE sending any link. Tell them it doesn't suit you to have a link.

Magpie1959 Thu 26-Sep-19 15:23:45

I have had several of these from Virgin media - yes its a scam.

NonnaJazz Thu 26-Sep-19 14:55:08

Yes, pretty sure it is a scam. The same thing happened to me with EE last month. I ignored it but on a different laptop, I logged in to my EE account and checked my status. My bill had been paid and was up to date.....so just deleted the message. My husband gets similar ones too.

minxie Thu 26-Sep-19 14:51:23

Look at the email address, it’s usually really weird if it’s a scam

MamaCaz Thu 26-Sep-19 14:09:31

MissAdventure

Despite what others have suggested, I don't see how paying by DD would have made you any less vulnerable to that scam.
Suppose that you did have DD set up, and payment had been due out on or around the day you received the email, wouldn't your reaction to check by clicking on that link still have been exactly the same?

MamaCaz Thu 26-Sep-19 14:02:46

And I had a call last week from "your bank". Apparently, a questionable transaction for £600 had been made on my account, and if i hadn't authorized it, I was to press ... (I ended the call at that point, so don't know what number was meant to be my downfall).

The bank' was nameless, as was the recipient - in this case, me. I knew instantly that it was a scam, but catch a slightly more trusting person on the wrong day, for instance when they just happen to have made a transaction not too dissimilar to the one suggested, and I can see how people get taken in!

Barmeyoldbat Thu 26-Sep-19 13:42:51

SCAM

MissAdventure Thu 26-Sep-19 13:42:50

I haven't paid by direct debit up till now because I'm never sure i'll have enough to pay, and under no circumstances do I want to pay bank charges, so I might have to bite the bullet.

Camelotclub Thu 26-Sep-19 13:26:31

I had an email from someone called Mohamed purporting to be about our TV licence! They're getting quite personal all of a sudden.

Camelotclub Thu 26-Sep-19 13:25:41

EE mobile150Free during our opening hours* (25p per call on pay as you go)
EE landline07953 966 250
Please refer to the pricing guide for calling costs

MamaCaz Thu 26-Sep-19 13:16:18

Today 01:03GabriellaG54
Why not set up a DD and the appropriate amount will be taken every month and you will be notified of the amount via email a few days before payment is taken, giving you time to check it.
That will save you worrying about scams.

Unfortunately not, Gabriella - I have always paid bills like this via DD, but regularly used to get exactly the sort of email that the OP has described, claiming that there had been a problem with my payment.
I never fell for them, but if by chance a scam email happens to arrive at around the time of month when the DD should just have gone out, it's easy to see how people do, despite all the warnings.

Saggi Thu 26-Sep-19 13:15:11

Why not just pay by direct debit?!?

Paul270656 Thu 26-Sep-19 13:07:47

Just a heads up to everyone as there are people making calls purporting to be from your isp provider bt, sky, virgin, ee, Vodafone are the main culprits saying you have illegally accessed the Internet and can be easily resolved by giving your card details and the calls are from UK numbers police have been inundated with complaints here in Lancashire but warned they are targeting everywhere.
Where they get your number from simple everyone we deal with have our contact details in some form or another these are sold on but companies won't tell you that.

Riggie Thu 26-Sep-19 13:04:39

I was totally appalled to get a text from my bank about a card payment that had not gone through, giving a number to call. This is a bank who print on their statements all sorts of stuff about not clicking on links etc.

I rang them on the number I normally use and it WAS genuine!! They got a bit if an ear bashing from me about that

NannyEm Thu 26-Sep-19 12:47:24

I'm in Australia and it seems that every day there is a new sophisticated scam that we are being warned about. It has got to the stage where I block unfamiliar telephone numbers and delete emails that look a bit suspicious or I don't recognise the name. It has made me extremely paranoid. The other day I had a call that threatened to cut off my land line if I didn't press 1 to talk to a consultant. I thanked the person very much and said that saved me the trouble of doing it and hung up.

NannyG123 Thu 26-Sep-19 12:30:26

Also, if someone ring you,and your not sure if it's a scam, we was informed by someone from the police who came to talk to us at the wi about scams. Don't use the phone they called you on to ring, anyone ie bank, as they keep on the line for a while afterwards. Even tho you wouldn't know it. Eithet leave it for about 5 mins, or use a different phone. Hope this advice might help someone.