Being scammed

I only use a debit card. I no longer use a credit card since I retired.
I try to be very careful, and always think twice about any messages, emails, texts that I receive. I use PayPal for online purchases, and I have not had any problems with that.

I was very nearly caught up in a bank scam a few years ago. Luckily, I told the person that I had to look up something, and could not do it while he was on the line. Those few minutes gave me time to think. I ignored the phone when he called a minute or two later. I checked with the bank the next day.

Aldom how do you know how GrandMattie was scammed? None of the rest of us do. We would like to know in order to avoid being scammed ourselves.

GM stated that she was fooled into thinking she was helping prevent in house fraud by the bank. Not sure of the details, but I have heard that they say to do this by them opening a bogus account and getting the customer to transfer money from their own. I had a similar experience when I was convinced that I was talking to the fraud dept. It took a while before I realized, and I thought I would never fall for a scam! They are very clever!

Dragonfly, it was on the Good Morning Friday thread.
I think it's being sorted out now.
But it's taught me a lesson and am very grateful for all the advice from the GNs.

annodomini

I also recommend Scam Interceptors. I watched it on my DS's recommendation just after he had extricated me from exactly the same scam as as the one featured on the programme. I was horrified that I had so nearly been caught out - angry and embarrassed. How could I have been so nearly fooled? It answer is 'all too easily.
You can find the programme on i-Player: Scam Interceptors, Series2, Cutdowns: Episode 9

Thank you Aldo and alsoI watched it last night on iPlayer. I saw the episode you mentioned. The poor Canadian lady was targeted because she was so vulnerable and thank goodness for that wonderful team. I also saw the PayPal one which the young couple fell for. I will have to watch that again as I didn’t fully understand it. Understood they sent a supposed code to be used as is often done but didn’t quite get the initial part. Just thought I was glad I hadn’t signed up for PayPal or even Apple Pay. We only use credit cards and debit to get money from ATM. My daughter always pulls a face at all my pass words but now I’m glad that I have so many. The only ones I have the same pass words for are those relating to my health such as NHS app, Patient Access etc.

we all need belt and braces, you will know that we can all let our guard down

www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/news/2024/02/fraud-its-not-going-to-happen-to-me-is-it/

simple measures, don`t keep more than you need in your bank accounts. Use a credit card for purchases. Keep any savings in different accounts elsewhere. Personally I keep easy access savings in ns & i and if I need extra to pay off a cc, I send that amount into my current account, which I then use to immediately pay my monthly cc debt. It does mean keeping a close eye on cc debt btw. I never click on any e mail link etc.

Just get into the habit and get that protective bubble around you so that it becomes a habit for the days when you are stressed or ill

action fraud speaker said use gut feeling too

Take time and have a think

Be very watchful for people befriending you, especially wrt common interest, gardening, church, hobby groups etc

annodomini

I also recommend Scam Interceptors. I watched it on my DS's recommendation just after he had extricated me from exactly the same scam as as the one featured on the programme. I was horrified that I had so nearly been caught out - angry and embarrassed. How could I have been so nearly fooled? It answer is 'all too easily.
You can find the programme on i-Player: Scam Interceptors, Series2, Cutdowns: Episode 9

yes ,this is a brilliant program ,the scammers are relentless

Channel 5 also have a series about scams

www.channel5.com/show/scams-don-t-get-caught-out/season-1

Hi Dragonfly sorry I have only just seen your message. But thank you to Shysal and Loopy for answering your question.
The scammers tell the person they are calling that there are fraudsters working in their bank. They enlist their victim to 'help' catch the fraudsters. The victim is persuaded to download software, which then enables the scammers to see all personal information, bank accounts etc. If the scam progresses to the end, all monies are transferred to the scammers.

Thank you for starting this interesting thread. I was scammed several years ago but Santander put the money back in my account by teatime. It was £670, all I had. The bank wasn't interested in pursuing the criminals as it was a "small" amount.

Thanks to everyone for all the advice here.

Had a phone call yesterday. Asked for me by name and knew which bank issued my card. This was just after using the card for a small amount online for a reputable compny. Said there had been £200 debit. I was very wary but when they started asking if I had the card etc larm bells rang. I said I'd check online for any dubious transactions and put the phone down with no further discussion. Nothing on my account but can't check pending transactions. Called credit card number on back of my card and they had not called me and no dubious debits.

I certainly never use my debit card. Never reply to anything at all that's about money. However a couple of years ago I got a few weird texts telling me there was a problem with one of my cards. I ignored it - AND THEN MY CARD WAS STOPPED AND IT TURNED OUT TO HAVE BEEN A GENUINE MESSAGE!! That was a Partnership Card. I told them I was disgusted with them and I now use another credit card.

I was scammed by roofers who charged me £2,200 to repair my roof and they were only there two hours. I felt I ought to pay even though I sort of knew it was a scam. I paid to prevent being harassed. The bank contacted me to say they had halted the bank transfer And warned that it was probably a scam but I said pay it anyway. Feel stupid and poorer. 🥲

I have recently adopted the ABC which the police on TV seem to use. ASSUME nothing, BELIEVE no one, CHECK everything. Sad really but that’s the way we have to be these days.

charley68

I only use a debit card. I no longer use a credit card since I retired.
I try to be very careful, and always think twice about any messages, emails, texts that I receive. I use PayPal for online purchases, and I have not had any problems with that.

I was very nearly caught up in a bank scam a few years ago. Luckily, I told the person that I had to look up something, and could not do it while he was on the line. Those few minutes gave me time to think. I ignored the phone when he called a minute or two later. I checked with the bank the next day.

Exactly stop and think!

It’s human nature to immediately want to help the person on the end of the phone but stop and think!

Like the posters who immediately fall into the trap here with the perverts, boots and trolls, so keen to help without thinking.

I had a message from my bank saying that there was an unusual transaction on my account & to contact them. I called the number on my card, apparently my card number was used to buy golf equipment in the US.. I haven't been abroad in 15 years & have never played golf. No idea how they got my details as I do all online purchases through PayPal,but they're so clever at this. The bank sorted it out & I got a new card & pin .

We noticed two transactions on our bank account that we could not understand and both transitions had commission fee too. On closer investigation they had been made in Turkey using my OH debit card which had only recently been issued and was locked away here in the UK having never been taken out of the house! It had clearly been 'copied' at source before the new debit card was posted. to us.
We did get all the money refunded and went make a point of checking the account more regularly.

I have had numerous calls recently from my Banks so called fraud squad.
I went in to my local bank to check & they were very thorough
& said no they hadn’t anything marked on my account,very fortunate to still have a local bank.It’s so depressing how many dishonest people are around,if only they put all that energy into something to help people.

I get some scam calls...but usually when you hear their voice you know it's from a scammer....I had one of these calls a few weeks ago, on my landline...it looked like a mobile number and answered thinking it might be one of my family, but whenever I heard the asian accent I knew it was a scammer, I told him if he was a scammer to hang up....and he swore at me....so that confirmed it ..

@Sar53
Im glad you've raised this topic - I was scammed out of €2500 just a few days ago! I received a text from AN Post (Irish post office) about a 'failed delivery'. Because this is a new Eircode, drivers often get misdirected by their sat navs. My usually high 'scam radar' must have been on pause, because I stupidly followed the link in the text to confirm my full address and provide my debit card details to pay the €0.38 charge for 'redelivery'. Within 20 mins my account had had multiple hits from 2 different Greek businesses, before WISE bank declined the last and biggest one for €600 and froze my card! After a stressful 24 hrs they finally agreed to a full refund under the Mastercard/Visa indemnity scheme. My niece, who works for Which UK kindly sent me her colleague's video, which everyone should watch! I consider myself very lucky indeed 🙏
www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/how-to-get-your-money-back-after-a-scam-amyJW6f0D2TJ

Doli55

@Sar53
Im glad you've raised this topic - I was scammed out of €2500 just a few days ago! I received a text from AN Post (Irish post office) about a 'failed delivery'. Because this is a new Eircode, drivers often get misdirected by their sat navs. My usually high 'scam radar' must have been on pause, because I stupidly followed the link in the text to confirm my full address and provide my debit card details to pay the €0.38 charge for 'redelivery'. Within 20 mins my account had had multiple hits from 2 different Greek businesses, before WISE bank declined the last and biggest one for €600 and froze my card! After a stressful 24 hrs they finally agreed to a full refund under the Mastercard/Visa indemnity scheme. My niece, who works for Which UK kindly sent me her colleague's video, which everyone should watch! I consider myself very lucky indeed 🙏
www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/how-to-get-your-money-back-after-a-scam-amyJW6f0D2TJ

glad everything turned out all right for you and you got your money back....these scammers are the lowest of the low

I cancelled my credit card, years and years ago,
now tried to get a new one, and due to my age,, none available
so I use my debit card and due to these possibilites when card
can be cancelled and awaiting a new card courtesy of Royal Mail, I think we should keep a small amount of cash.

When it comes to making payments for purchases the most secure method is to use Applepay (iPhone) or Googlepay (Android). This is because Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode are required for purchases on your iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac or iPad. Your card number and identity aren't shared with merchants, and your actual card numbers aren't stored on your device or on Apple servers. It uses a number directly linked to the device and a unique transaction code. As a result, personal card numbers are protected from potential data breaches.

I received a text yesterday, purportedly from Evri saying that the address label had been damaged on my parcel and they couldn’t deliver it unless I…….
Must say I didn’t really read much more.
However, I am expecting a delivery by Evri in the next few days so I could have been fooled!
They’re getting cleverer.
If only these scammers put their ingenuity into doing good the world would be a better place.