I’m such an idiot

Glad it worked out well for you in the end and thank you very much for sharing!
You are definitely not an idiot, it could happen to anyone of us and it's more by chance than anything else if we're not caught out.
These scammers are so clever and I often think they could do just as well if they used their imaginations in a legal/moral way the world would be a better place.

If you think they are speaking from outside the UK start by asking what time is is here . That often makes them end the call .

the facts are is that EVERTYONE can be caught out.

I made a comment about a hotel on the hotel's site on Facebook. Then I had a private message from that hotel - the picture showed a lady with the background of the hotel's reception. I was offered a refund and started to go through the process but then realised that although the refund would be in my name - the bank account numbers were very different. I stopped it before the payment was actually made as it would have gone through to a person using my name but not my bank account
then just recently I had a message from a "friend" informing me of some special grant and stating I was eligible. somebody impersonating my friend
I ordered something from a firm but the payment via Paypal went through to a person and not the firm. No refund - I believe Paypal has now changed the payment methods
What you need to be aware of though is that ACTION FRAUD does absolutely nothing. I think it should be called inaction fraud. It just records the crime but makes no attempt to get your money back

I believe there is a scam where somebody rings you on your phone so it can record your names and speech so it can use that to contact a bank

Just be thankful for each day that you don't get scammed as it is as regular as rain in winter

Many people have been caught out Ellie Anne and no, you’re not stupid. It’s good that you realised something was not right and were able to get it sorted. If you ever do get a call like that don’t give any information, just put the phone down and call the back to check if there is any problem.

The bank, not the back!

Do not answer any calls from numbers you do not recognise! if it is important they will leave a message, then 100% no chance of being scammed

So far I think ive been on top of these calls. M6 landline has caller identlity so I can choose who to answer.
My mobile mostly display Possible Scam when certain numbers call.
But, a few years before I had these safety features I was called quite early one busy morning. The oriental voice tries to make small chat..tells me my laptop has been hacked. She would help me sort the issue. I was actually drinking a coffee another time so thought I'll play along. Asked me had I got it switched on.. I'm still drinking coffee nowhere near my lap top..I assured the lady I was just booting it up..ok I said it's on. What did I see on my screen.. ohhh I replied..F.U.C K offffff. The phone went dead..blocked.

I will add it's not language I use but sometimes..

My bank advised me to pay for everything I buy online using PayPal that’s what I now do no one can get your card information that way

Few months ago my husband saw an Argos ad on fb, followed the link choose what he’d been looking for checked it out, etc
I came in he said he’d found blah blah, at a reasonable prize, I went to look at it on Argos it wasn’t on there, long story short it was a scam, he got his £149 back eventually, but beware it looked just like Argos, he reported it to fb and Argos but was still on there long time … it’s only going to get worse as more and more high street shops closing, be shopping malls and online only soon 🤨

If you a werecoping ok ,because OF YOUR AGE? I think that is quite rude....well meaning maybe but they should not be saying that! Against the law.

TPS is useless! Doesn't work,never has

I’m not sure about that, Mojack26. I signed up to TPS. a while ago and things definitely improved, and I hardly had any scam calls for a while. TPS needs to be renewed every now and again, I find, and it only covers calls from the UK, I believe.

Mojack he tried to put it very tactfully but i knew what it was getting at.

We live in a world sadly that we are doubtful about any e-mail or telepho
ne call.

I am very grateful to my bank for flagging up a fraudulent activity on my account. They asked me to phone them which I did, still a little unsure that I was actually speaking to my bank. However I was great reassured and spoke to a lovely man who changed my bank card for me to make sure it couldn’t be used again. Hardest part of that is having to change everything when I get it , but small price to pay. I am with the nationwide and feel very grateful. It’s so so easy these days isn’t it?

You're not an idiot. There are so many scams out there, it's a wonder we're not all being caught out every day. You have to be so alert, I feel as though I don't trust anyone these days.

Oh yes, the abuse when they lose! I ask, loudly, if they'd talk to their grandma, mum or aunties like that? Then suggest they get a proper job and hang up.

My friend had one those texts, supposedly her son, he’s bought a mobile but due to Fraud on his card, asked if he could borrow thee money & promised to pay back in three days. I said how much? She gave them £1800 😳do phones cost that much. They even managed to intercept her phone call. I said why didn’t she ring his wife, to see if it was right enough 😩
She got all the money back through the fraud department.
I too got one of those texts about phones, but I knew it was a scam as I have no children.

grannygran

So far I think ive been on top of these calls. M6 landline has caller identlity so I can choose who to answer.
My mobile mostly display Possible Scam when certain numbers call.
But, a few years before I had these safety features I was called quite early one busy morning. The oriental voice tries to make small chat..tells me my laptop has been hacked. She would help me sort the issue. I was actually drinking a coffee another time so thought I'll play along. Asked me had I got it switched on.. I'm still drinking coffee nowhere near my lap top..I assured the lady I was just booting it up..ok I said it's on. What did I see on my screen.. ohhh I replied..F.U.C K offffff. The phone went dead..blocked.

I will add it's not language I use but sometimes..

😂😂😂

cookiemonster66

Do not answer any calls from numbers you do not recognise! if it is important they will leave a message, then 100% no chance of being scammed

%&£#£

Quite.

We never answer an unknown number. Here in Germany it is illegal to suppress caller ID if you are not a private person. Scammers get round this by somehow fixing it so that a fictitious number.shows up. As this is equally unknown to us, we still don't answer. We let it ring through then Google the number which invariably shows up as a scam, aggressive sales or a "survey" disguised as a sales scheme. Unfortunately for this to work, there are people who have answered and then entered it in one of the online registries after listening to what was said. My thanks go to them!

Then we block the number.

Allira

We watch Scam Interceptors too, Bukkie but it's astonishing how some people, perhaps rather confused, know they are being scammed but somehow still go along with it.

It's really wicked how they seem to target elderly people too, so either don't give your dob or give a false one.

I'm glad your bank was helpful and you got your money back, *Ellie Anne*

Apparently the bastards scan newspapers for death notices, so that they can target the recently bereaved, who are likely to be extra vulnerable.

As I’ve probably said before on here, IMO people should be very wary of those Wordsearch ‘competitions’, where you so conveniently phone in all your details at £7 or so a minute.

There are so called ‘suckers’ lists’, compiled and sold on to scammers. I’m convinced that our neighbour was targeted because of her addiction to such ‘competitions’. She was scammed out of over £100k.

😯
DH did one of those competitions then had a phone call telling him he was one of a few people in line for a £50,000 prize etc etc. They offered more competitions - which she said were 'free' - but, of course, they'd need bank details so they could give him his prize!!

As I was reading this, I got a call from my Bank to say they as intercepted a withdrawal from one of my accounts.
Funny thing though -
I very seldom use this particular card so it’s kept in the safe at home. It’s still there so has not been taken by anyone.
The Bank doesn’t know how this happens either, but agreed that even keeping your card safe (even literally IN a safe) doesn’t guarantee it won’t be hacked. That’s frightening.
My son-in-law’s mum has always refused to have a credit or debit card and we used to tease her. I rather think she’s had the last laugh!

Crossstitchfan

As I was reading this, I got a call from my Bank to say they as intercepted a withdrawal from one of my accounts.
Funny thing though -
I very seldom use this particular card so it’s kept in the safe at home. It’s still there so has not been taken by anyone.
The Bank doesn’t know how this happens either, but agreed that even keeping your card safe (even literally IN a safe) doesn’t guarantee it won’t be hacked. That’s frightening.
My son-in-law’s mum has always refused to have a credit or debit card and we used to tease her. I rather think she’s had the last laugh!

They had, not they as!

What a very good answer - thank you !