Aveline
Blowing a whistle down the phone doesn't work. It's frequency is too high so the sound is cut off
Not always. I’ve had the scam O2 calls so many times I can’t count them.
Countless times they have carried on talking. Hilarious.
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I was very stupid today
(53 Posts)Today I got a phone call from a man saying he was a member of the fraud team at my bank.I have prided myself about ignoring these calls but today I slipped up and was taken in by this very plausible character.He told me that there had been numerous attempts by someone trying to draw large amounts of money out of my account.I got very worried about this and I must admit I was very stupid to be taken in by him.
He even tried to get me to take out a fake loan so I could trap the culprit.He started asking me to give my card details which I proceeded to give him, and to transfer my funds to my other bank account.He also told me the police were on to the case but not to tell anyone this.I thanked him profusely and he replied that he was only doing his job.My account is now with this other bank which is what he asked me to do.
It was after I put the phone down I suspected all this was a scam.I then contacted the genuine fraud team who verified this had been a scam call.My bank has been cleared of all money now, but there is some of it in my other bank account. They blocked and cancelled both my cards which are going to be replaced and stopped ant access to internet banking, which I am going to start again tomorrow by visiting my local branch.
I rang my other bank, my account has my funds in it, minus the money the scammer was trying to withdraw.They are sending back to me tomorrow.I asked this bank to cancel my debit card as well, and this is going to be replaced
by a new one.
I told both banks that I was very foolish to give this man information which he should of known already if he had been genuine.Both told me I was not the first to be taken in and won't be the last.They also gave a warning that unless a previous message had been sent to me about unauthorised withdrawals to ignore any phone calls supposed to be coming from them
I am just warning people about this as this character will most likely move onto another victim.He very basically frightened me into believing my account was in danger.
I as very vunarble
.
Luckygirl3
Why did they ask for your security details? The letters I get from my Bank always make it quite clear that they will NEVER EVER ask for such details.
You should report the person who asked for these details.
If you know the date and time of the call then they can check it, as all calls are recorded - 'for quality and staff training purposes' (mmm believe that if you will).
.
The call I get most often is pretending to be my phone provider, offering me a massive discount if I just give them the 4 digit pass code sent from my actual phone provider. This would enable them to order anything, in my name, on my account, to be sent anywhere, leaving me on the hook for payments!
Beware.
Ok….. so this is for any of you who have the ‘nerve’ to do this.
If you get a call from anyone that you don’t know answer it saying
‘ good morning / afternoon Metropolitan Police - how can I help you’
It will take less than 5 seconds for a scammer to hang up. Just repeat if you need to.
It is not illegal to say this as Civilians answer genuine police calls.
I was getting nuisance calls 3-5 times a day and since doing this it has dropped off to maybe once a week or less.
A warning for us all, these criminals are very good at what they do. Please don’t beat yourself up it’s a lesson learned.
Grannygrumps You reminded me of a time about three years ago when two police officers had come to see me about something I was helping them with. Whilst we were sitting talking one of the officers phone rang. He listened, then responded....
You do realise this is a police phone.
The call was instantly terminated.
The police officer smiled and remarked that, yes the police get scam calls too.
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My DD, possibly one of the most suspicious and fraud aware people, was very nearly scammed like this last year. The crook was so plausible, she had started to give him a relevant number, just two digits, and then realised what was happening. Phoning her bank at once she stopped all cards and luckily nothing was taken, but it shocked us all because she was the very last person who we felt could be taken in by such a scam. 'Shows how, in a busy moment, you can be easily fooled by these people.
This happened to me and like you I thought I was scam savvy. Luckily I got suspicious and said I would just check the phone number of my banks fraud team to see if it was a scam call,- the phone went dead🙄 I reported it to my bank who issued new cards and reassured me nothing had been lost. Don't beat yourself up, it can happen to any of us
I am mystified as to why anyone would answer a call from a withheld or unknown number. If the caller is genuine they will invariably leave a message.
I got one yesterday… the ( auto) caller said someone had authorised over £100 for a train ticket to Scotland and this was out of context with my purchases…that they were from my bank and to press 1 to speak to the fraud dept or 2 to get to the City Police!
It would be very out of character for me to buy any travel ticket, so I briefly hesitated…but…
1. NOTE …They never said WHICH bank… just “your bank” .
2. “The City Police” rang false.
3. It was an automated message
IF IN DOUBT PHONE YOUR BANK and double check.
A late very intelligent friend was caught in one scam with a similar very persuasive man, but, like you, after finally putting the phone down ( having given them access to her online accounts!) had second thoughts and phoned her bank…sure enough £ 2,000 was gone, but they refunded it and sorted it all for her… but it is sooooooo easy to get caught.
don't blame your self. unless I have calls from people I know I block them. These horrible people prey on our vulnerability, we are nice people, never dream of criminality, BUT from now on just put the phone down. Today I have 4 phone calls, that I have not recognised the number, so have blocked etc. But these nasty people keep trying. Time that this was sorted.... by the law.
I had a call a few days ago purporting to be from 02 as my contact was coming up for renewal. To be honest I only didn’t continue because (a) it wasn’t convenient to talk at the time and (b) as I was going to the Trafford Centre the next day I promised to call in the 02 shop.
When I went in the store assistant asked to see my phone log.
There was the mobile number.
A scam she said. “Please be aware NO company would ever call you from a mobile number. Not one.”
Lesson learned.
Thankyou all for your replies and kind thoughts.I am endeavouring now to get back to an online banking as quite rightly my bank has withdrawn this temporary in case this character tries it on again.
Thank you for being brave enough to tell GN about this scam. Those people are despicable.
Lots of sympathy pinkprincess. It is not your fault that you trusted what seemed to be a helpful genuine bank person. So sorry this happened to you. What vile, heartless, greedy scammers there are. May they not sleep at night because their consciences torment them!
Yesterday had a text from Santander saying a payment of £79.99 was declined at M&S STORE. Seeing M&S in capitals first red flag . Then said if this isn't you send N and there was a phone number to call. Wanting to see where this went as I don't have nor never had and accounts with Santander.
I phoned told the person I wasn't with Santander but scammers have an answer for everything and said it may be through a banking partner of theirs. Then asked for my bank told him not telling him .He put the phone down so knew it was a scam .
But did check with my own bank just to make sure no unauthorised activity on my account . Then found Santander's number and phoned them to make them aware of the scam. Read message and gave them the phone number it said to call.
I know technology has made some things easier but it has opened up more scams and no matter how careful you are some people get caught out . Luckily I don't bank with Santander so my suspicions where raised straight away.
A friend of my her computer got hacked about 6 months ago caused her no end of trouble but thankfully they didn't get any money . But all her bank details personal and business had to be changed ,passwords even internet provider and phone numbers had to be changed and had to have expert save information on her computer before wiping it and starting a fresh . I would have brought a new laptop but she didn't want to .
We have to be so careful but these scammers are getting more devious.
Sorry for anyone caught out by them and hope your bank was helpful and you didn't lose any money .
I've also had calls from a woman with a stern sounding voice - a recording - and she states that there is a warrant out for my arrest; this rambles on a bit and then the instruction is to 'Press 1 to speak to the legal team'. The message ends 'This call is for YOU'. Anyone could have answered, and although there was a warrant, seemingly the caller didn't have my name.
Oreo
All you need to remember is that your bank will never ring you.
Not strictly true - a few years ago DH had a phone call from one of his credit card companies who had flagged up two transactions on his card within minutes. One transaction was reasonably local the other was thousands of miles away in America. They asked DH if he had initiated these transactions - he said no as he was currently still in bed at 7 in the morning!! It's good to know that they are working to protect their customers.
Do you mean bank when you say credit card company? My bank says to beware of scams and they will never phone customers.
A few years ago DP found on checking his account that somebody had cloned his card and had spent a lot of money in NY, the same day he had used his card in Sevenoaks! That certainly wasn’t picked up by anyone working to protect customers.
Thanks again everyone.I am now very very careful and trust no one
Technology can be a great thing but it can also be very scary, especially with so many scammers and traps to fall for these days. It feels like you have to be permanently vigilant for them happening.
Remember when you had a bank book and that was all you needed? you went into your bank and drew out the amount of money you wanted and that was it. Your money was safe and unless you lost your bank book and someone could forge your signature, no-one could get at it.
Now they're closing the banks and pushing us to bank online but somehow I feel more vulnerable and uncertain about the safety of my accounts
I’m sorry that you had fallen for this and do hope you can put it behind you and move forward. You are not the first so please don’t beat yourself up. Hugs. 🤗🤗
If the caller is genuine they will invariably leave a message
There are occasions when genuine people will use a witheld number. I used to do online research and while I was happy for people to have my phone number at the uni I was not going to let them see my private number.
On sunday a nurse from a local pharmacy called to give me my flu and covid jabs. She rang on a witheld number to get some instructions of how to find me. Must have been calling from home.
Thankyou all again.
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