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Scams and fraud

I was fooled….new scam

(48 Posts)
LadyStardust Fri 16-Aug-24 12:54:31

WhatsApp messages are end-to-end encrypted, meaning the messages are encrypted before they are sent. Only the recipient can read the messages, making it difficult for scammers to access the content. SMS messages are not encrypted, which means they can be intercepted if you don't take additional security measures.

mrswoo Fri 16-Aug-24 12:52:36

I have Google Pixel phone. If I suspect a phone call is a scam I can press a key and it then tells the caller that I will be recording any conversation I have with them. They ring off straight away!

Dillonsgranma Fri 16-Aug-24 12:51:40

WhatsApp is really not safe at all. Why use it?? Perfectly ordinary messages and e mails plus phone calls is enough surely?

Cateq Fri 16-Aug-24 12:50:12

I’ve been made aware that lawyers aren’t allowed to accept cases that arise from cold calling, so the next time you get a call about a motor accident claims management company Ask how they got your details, as most insurance companies would tell you in advance if they use accident management companies.

Babamaman Fri 16-Aug-24 12:08:09

I have found out that no legitimate company will call you selling something or asking personal questions. Especially if they start the conversation with’hiya ma’am how are you today’?
Sure sign to hang up immediately! Even health insurance companies!
Be careful

Hgan Fri 16-Aug-24 11:44:23

I use whosringing.co.uk to see if the number is known as a scam.

Sarnia Fri 16-Aug-24 11:41:53

I suppose she was cross because as the OP now knows it is a hassle to get it sorted. However, getting irate with the person not responsible for the mess doesn't help. I hope an apology is forthcoming.

Babs03 Fri 16-Aug-24 11:38:38

Why was your colleague so cross?
Looks like her phone got hacked initially and so you ended up getting scammed.
Would have thought an apology was in order.
Sounds like an unpleasant person.

welbeck Fri 16-Aug-24 11:37:32

? telesales is not illegal ?

Buttonjugs Fri 16-Aug-24 11:33:40

David49

The telesales agents are the same as you or I, it’s a job they are doing to pay the rent or feed the kids, they get over 90% rejections which must be very dispiriting. I know it’s a nuisance to you but dont be rude just say “no thanks” and put the phone down.

There must be a better way to earn money. This is illegal as well as immoral.

David49 Fri 16-Aug-24 07:09:18

The telesales agents are the same as you or I, it’s a job they are doing to pay the rent or feed the kids, they get over 90% rejections which must be very dispiriting. I know it’s a nuisance to you but dont be rude just say “no thanks” and put the phone down.

Grannygrumps1 Thu 15-Aug-24 22:49:21

I should imagine that all the people in her contacts had what’s apps scam message and they had all been calling her asking what was going on. I definitely wasn’t accusing her of being the scammer. The abusive call I had afterwards was probably triggered by her hackers.
Just please be careful when you get any odd messages on WhatsApp. Don’t respond. This is only on WhatsApp currently.

ExDancer Thu 15-Aug-24 21:22:20

Perhaps she was upset because she thought OP was accusing her of being the scammer? People sometimes get the wrong end of the stick and it makes them aggressive?

maddyone Thu 15-Aug-24 21:18:42

Thank you for letting us know.

LOUISA1523 Thu 15-Aug-24 21:08:07

Why was the person so nasty?

welbeck Thu 15-Aug-24 20:49:06

why was the woman cross with you, OP.

flappergirl Thu 15-Aug-24 20:40:58

I'm not on WhatsApp. The only thing I use is email. If I want to phone someone, I do it the old fashioned way by dialling their number. I don't do internet banking either.

Grammaretto Thu 15-Aug-24 20:07:45

I had a text today saying "I've changed my phone number mum"
I deleted it.
DD says it's a classic scam.

Grannygrumps1 Thu 15-Aug-24 19:32:27

Booted from group messages……
Please be careful of odd messages from people you know.
They may easily be scams.

Crocus5 Thu 15-Aug-24 19:30:56

I had a call yesterday supposedly from British Gas asking if I wanted a Smart Meter. I had a feeling something was not right. After declining the offer, I googled the number and found it was a scam.

Allsorts Thu 15-Aug-24 19:30:17

Not very supportive if that member of your voluntary scheme getting cross with you, is she cut out for the role?

David49 Thu 15-Aug-24 19:23:10

I had a call today purporting to be from Direct Line insurance, I don’t have any insurance with them.
I said if you want to contact me do it by email, which you already have.

Grannygrumps1 Thu 15-Aug-24 18:17:18

I consider myself really tech savvy. So please be aware of this latest new scam.
I had just spent an hour explaining to my partner not to open up an obvious’bank’ scam.
I surprisingly got a WhatsApp message from a member of my voluntary team that I work with. She asked how I was as the last time she had seen me, I had gone home sick.
I replied that I was fine now thank you. Another message followed immediately asking me to join a new ‘workgroup’ she had set up. I intended to ignore it but accidentally pressed on the link.
It immediately blocked and deleted my WhatsApp account.
I then made a proper call to her to ask what was going on.
She was cross that I called her saying her phone had been hacked and it was a scam. I hung up.
My phone rang back straight away which I presumed was her. The person at the other end screamed and swore at me calling me every rude name under the sun. Obviously I hung up.
On researching the number it was all part of a WhatsApp scam. I kept getting a message to re set my WhatsApp saying they had sent me a code to a phone I didn’t have. They also asked me for more details which I didn’t give. I was fortunate that I don’t have my email address attached to my WhatsApp account and everything else is encrypted.
Others of my team had also received this dodgy message.
I was without my account for over 12 hours and have had to jump through hoops to get my account back. Don’t be fooled by the same thing that seemed really innocent and ok.