New Scam

I have just been reading about a new scam (well new to me!). Someone rings up claiming to be from the Fraud Squad and say they think your credit/debit card has been cloned. They then ask if you have been in certain shops and when you say no they ask for details of ALL your cards in case they have been cloned too.

If you get suspicious they suggest you ring 999 and check they really are a policeman/woman. When you hang up to make the 999 call, they don't and using some sort of software, when you pick up the phone again you get a dialing tone but they are still on the line, you speak to someone who confirms they have a police officer of that name working in the Fraud Squad and who puts you through to the original scammer. They then ask for all your pin numbers and say they will send a courier to pick up your cards. Once they have your cards they go on a spree using ATMs to take money from your account.

Of course they are targeting the elderly who they think will be a bit less savvy than younger people (obviously don't read Gransnet!).

The advice I read was that if this happens don't give any details, ring the police ON A DIFFERENT PHONE. The police would never ask for details of your cards and certainly not your pin numbers, nor would they send a courier to collect them.

You may already be aware of this scam but thought I would post in just in case