Alert - spam just received

I have a credit card which I only use when abroad, as it has a much better bank-charge rate. I used to have to inform them of the dates when I would be away. The last time I logged on to do this I was informed that it was no longer necessary. I was very surprised that their security seems to be getting less, not more, tight.

Sparklefizz, I had a similar call from Amex. I hung up and called the number on my card from a different phone, turned out it was genuine.

It's not the reliable banks who are the problem, it's the scammers who pretend to be calling or emailing from a reliable bank. They are becoming more and more sophisticated.
My neighbour had her account emptied by scammers, she foolishly gave all her personal details and pin number.
For all of the savvy people, there will always be someone who gets taken in. ?

Liz46 Something similar happened to me. Someone claiming to be from Visa rang in the evening and asked me to confirm who I was. I refused. Then he told me to ring the phone number on my Visa card. I rang from a different phone, and it turned out that someone had tried to use my card to buy £8,000 worth of kitchen units from Ikea!!!!!!

I think Visa need to change their approach.

I am with First Direct,( telephone bank) and over the past thirty years have never had any problems.

It’s simple.
don’t respond to anything.

Too many scam calls around now.

Wouldn't trust anyone where money's concerned.
Should I get a call that says it is my bank I replace receiver and then giving it maybe ten or more minutes ring the bank myself to confirm.

My bank always text me if I’ve done something on-line .....it’s not anything you have to respond to.... need to know basis only. Tell you to phone if the transaction toon wasn’t you! Simples...yes!

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202002/medium-584495-screenshot-20200215-134302-samsung-internet.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202002/medium-908396-20200215-134114.jpg

Just don't.click a.link from a text to go into your banking app.

Always enter the app separately, by going via your app/home screen.

Always remember....
If you think it's too good to be true, but let's see.... DONT DO IT.

if you really want to check something, do it separately. So if it says you've won, fill in this form. Search the company on Google or whatever, and check who they are. If they're genuine, they'll have a form to fill out on their webpage.

NEVER give out bank details to anyone, unless your buying something from a website that starts HTTPS and has a padlock on the address bar (the bit at the top of the page, that says what website you're on... See the pic). All secure sites have this

Not of the original post, but most companies will close a number if no activity for 6 months cz and often after 3 months, you'll lose whatever credit you had.

I think virgin only does this after a year.

Yes, this is standard practice.
...

Want a phone for holidays, buy an UNLOCKED phone (can get basic phones for around 20-30 pounds, and sometimes even cheaper).

Buy a sim card in the country you're visiting if only using abroad, with only a couple calls home. This would be a lot cheaper, than a UK SIM, and also not all foreign networks accept UK SIM cards. So easier to just buy locally, and if Calling home etc, just text first.... Hi son/daughter, this is mum etc.

Phone batteries go completely flat after approx 2 to 4 months. This means it takes extra time to charge, cos you're starting from a dead battery. Letting s.phone.go.completely flat often, can damage the battery and eventually you won't get a days battery and might.only get a few hours in-between charges.

My.suggestion...
Get a cheap phone and get a foreign card from carohonewharehouse, or lyco (spelling). These can be used cheaply in the UK, and are cheap to use abroad too.

Then once a.month, charge the phone, and send a couple text messages, and most importantly make sure you receive a text back.

This way, you keep your credits, keep the battery topped up, and don't lose your number.

Dependingmon what.yiu want from a phone, if it's JUST CALLS N TEXTS, then nokia.do a modern version of the old 3310. As you don't need internet, then get the basic model which is just 3g (means you can make clear calls) and will work all over the world.
...
If going to a Caribbean country, you may HAVE to buy a.local card anyways, as they have their own special network... This is true for a couple other countries too.

Hope this helps.

MyBank sends texts but onto my account, we have a system here we have to go into my mobile Bank ID before we can access anything, sems pretty foolproof but I am not holding my breath, someone is bound to get into that system too.

On the other hand I had a phone call that was badly handled. The caller said he was from my credit card company and started asking me for my security details. I didn't know that he was genuine so refused.
I then forgot about it as we were going on holiday, got to the airport and tried to use the card in duty free. It had been stopped!
When we returned home, we discovered that someone had tried to use our card fraudulently but the computer had flagged it up.

I was quite impressed several years ago. We bought a new fridge freezer and dishwasher. As we were leaving the car park, I received a text checking that it was us and that everything was in order.

Polnan a friend of ours only used her mobile for going on holiday. When she went to use it, it wouldn’t work. If mobiles are unused for a few months (not sure of exact time limit) they will be automatically shut off by the provider. Just switch on and make a call every so often to keep them ‘used’

Banks DO send text messages warning you, you're close to your agreed limit.

They DONT include your amount.

Below is a recent text from my bank, alerting me to possibly going over my agreed limit, or for entering my agreed overdraft.

BANKS WILL NEVER TELL YOU TO REPLY TO A TEXT, or ASK FOR PIN NUMBER/PASSWORD IN THE TEXT

WATCH OUT FOR....
If you get a text from a bank you're not with, then obviously it's spam.

If a text says it's bank and to click a link, it's spam

If a text says to click a link and confirm details, it's spam

If a text says.... This is a security warning, we've found suspicious activity on your account, and to call a number on the text to confirm your details and activities... It's spam and a scam.

Obviously, this applies to emails, direct messages (Facebook messenger etc) also.
......

Banks will never get you to click a link, or dial a number on the text.

banks WILL give general warnings, and tell you to call your usual number, or the number on the back of your card.

IF IN DOUBT
Call your bank's usual number, and speak to an advisor.

Reporting spam texts or emails.
Spam text messages can be forwarded to SPAM (7726) , if you can't forward the text, do a screen copy (DM me you phone make, and I'll tell you how to do this) and then add that image.to a text, and send to SPAM (7726).

Once you've done this, block and delete the text... If you can't block, just delete.

...
Tech savvy

Android phones are improving and the latest phones or phones updated to android 10, now have better security for spam texts, and blocking them. .... The updates also protect against most phone calls, and again, you can report a suspicious call .... Please make sure.your phones are up-to-date and have the latest software..... Never interior a phone doing a software update as it can cause.problems.

PS
If I've confused you,.I'm sorry. Please feel free to private message any questions about.this post.

Banks WILL send you texts, but you usually have to opt in to them. However, I don't think they will ask you to respond/reply directly to them, but advise you to contact the bank in your normal, preferred, manner.

Yes if youve signed up for txts& emails they do send you them!

We have had 16 calls this week from "BT" My husband tried to block the calls but they just came from a different number. Eventually he actually rang BT and their response ? Buy a new more up to date phone!! !!

now I know why I don`t like texts. I have two mobile phones, rarely switch them on, they are for emergency!

This morning I had a scam telephone call fom India (?) about the insurance on my old Sky equipment.

I gave her short shrift, we have never had Sky! It would have been so easy to be taken in.

My bank texts me an online code if I am doing internet banking and will also text me reminders about forthcoming appointments

Blue Belle I have had texts from my bank!! But being wary I called them on their regular number to check rather than the number in the text.

(It was to tell me a card payment hadn't gone through)

I get a text if I overdraw telling me to pay money into my account by the end of the day. This avoids me paying charges. I like the fact that banks are now so much more vigilant but it can make life difficult when setting up new payments online.

Last week I had an e.mail from 'Support' re Income Tax refund. Deleted without opening as I do not pay tax - income below the threshold- but might have tempted someone expecting a refund.

Another side effect of all these scans is that banks have to take more and more precautions. Last night I paid an account to a regular recipient, and after several warnings to check I knew it was genuine, I had to re-enter my security details and then have a code sent to my mobile phone.
Not really complaining, but these fraudsters mean that the simplicity of online banking gets harder and harder.