I’m such an idiot

I hardly ever get these calls now as we only have mobiles, no landline phone.
Years ago I had a call from my credit card fraud department. I told them I would ring them back and hung up. I rang the number on my card from OHs phone and it was the fraud department and someone had cloned my card and spent £800 on 3 purchases. They refunded me, cancelled my card and sent me a new one.
Always ring back the number on your card, from a different phone or phone anyone you know in-between ringing your bank as they can stay on the line. HTH

My daughter a very bright woman with a responsible job who warns others about fraud was caught by the same thing a few weeks ago. I don't think its a bout been silly or gullible its juts that they are plausible and get you at the wrong moment.

If you google your name and address you can see quite a lot of information about yourself, which anyone who wants can access.

This is one way scammers find their information. Various street directories are used as well, and census information is online too, so those who wish to deceive us can easily ascertain whether we live alone or not.

It can be worth-while to check now and then what information about us, or our property is actually freely available on the Internet.

I was in my nearest city on Friday and had a text message on my phone confirming a transaction from my bank for £790 to a person I do not know via bank transfer.
The bank told me to contact them if not correct person or amount giving the ref number and telephone number
It initially worried me and a quick thought was to phone the number but instead as I was in walking distance to the bank , I called in there . They confirmed no money has been taken from my account & it was a scam .

I think this helped me. If anyone phones in to you then it could be a scam. If in doubt hang up and ring a number you know belongs to bank or credit card.

If a site wants your phone number and you don't want to give it for any reason, if you put 01234567890 it has the right number of letters and it usually works. For a change, 09876543210 works too!

If a website I’m buying from insists on a phone number, TBH I often just make one up. They have my email, they can use that if they need to contact me.

The only time it really would have been useful for a company to phone me - ages ago and they did have my number - was when I’d ordered something for next day delivery. I waited in all day, it never arrived, and they didn’t phone to tell me. When I asked, they said, ‘Oh, it was unexpectedly out of stock.’

I sent a letter of complaint and they gave me a £30 voucher, so that was worth the stamp.

you aren't an idiot, these scams are really sophisticated - how are we supposed to know? they catch you off guard too

I'm sorry about your friend

You are not an idiot,, this can happen to anyone! Good that you contacted the CC company straightaway though and also took the time to share on GN to alert others.
FWIW, I have spent two hours this morning called HMRC and DWP and my brain is now frazzled…….I'm sure if someone called me claiming to be from the CC company or my bank I might well fall for it too.
We just have to remain vigilant and always be on guard

when I order online I never give my phone number...they have my email address...the don't need to phone

I read something the other day,if you get a call from anyone you don't know and they ask you a question...like are you mrs xxx, or any question where you would be expected to answer yes don't answer yes....because ( now I'm not very technical ..but I think it's something to do with AI..) they can clone your voice and use that YES to order goods in your name as if you're giving permission....I never answer yes if I get a call from a number I don't know..I always ask ..Whose calling...they're finding new ways of conning people all the time

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 should clarify - not to a suspected scammer, of course but if it's needed for a firm's website for any reason.

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

You are not an idiot.
I thought I was immune from these scams until one day I decided to use a new site new to me to buy/sell clothes online.
Someone tried to extract my bank details and I gave them far too much info before I realised it was a scam.
Like you, I managed to get out before much damage was done but I had to get a new bank card.

When I was paying a large amount of money recently, I went into an actual bank branch to let them do the transaction. They were ultra risk averse, insisting I phoned the payee to recognise the voice before transferring any money.
I was grateful for that but sorry that everyone is so nervous nowadays.

I had a so called police superintendent call me a few months ago. When I eventually called the police they were scathing because it would have been a lowly PC who would have rung. How was I to know?

I don’t buy anything online Petra, but have still had these calls.

Don't call yourself an idiot, these people are expert liars and criminals. I nearly fell for one a few years ago and it was only in the last seconds of a lengthy phone call did I realise something didn't feel right so hung up. The way they con people especially vulnerable people out of their life savings makes my blood boil. My husband watches a programme on BBC1 called something like Scam Intervention but I get too angry and have to leave the room.

I’ve posted this before but I will again.
The vast majority of the people you are speaking to on the phone aren’t doing it because they want to.
There is a compound the size of a small town on the Chinese /laos border. The vast majority are prisoners sold to the real scammers and people who have answered a job advert and then find they can’t leave.

Ellie Anne
You ask how they get your information.
In one word: technology.
Do you shop on line? If so, do you give the company your telephone number? If that’s a yes, you don’t have to.
The only people who have my number is my bank and Dr, and family/ friends.
I buy practically everything on line. I have 4 streaming services. Non of those have my number.
There is a lot more fraud than banks would like us to know about, why would they? It’s not a good look is it.
The problem is: it takes a lot of time and money to keep systems clean but a lot of institutions won’t pay for this.

I receive loads of these calls even though I have entered my number into the TPS register. It appears that’s only any use for calls within the uk.
I hate it when they are all sweetness and light. They ask how I am (I was ok until I got this call) and most of all I hate it when they call me Ma’am. I do put the phone down on them but it still makes me angry. How do they sleep at night?

You're not an idiot. These people are despicable, and making people feel bad about themselves just adds to their unpleasantness. I'm pleased the bank refunded you.

Oh, sympathy from here to you Ellie Anne. It leaves you feeling so grubby doesn’t it.
Glad you realised in time to do some effective damage limitation.

Thanks for sharing that EllieAnne. It’s always helpful to know these things and it seems scams are getting ever more sophisticated.

I don’t know how Ellie, but they do. I had a call on my mobile phone the other day, and given I hardly use it wondered how they got the number. I dont often get these calls thankfully but when I do I don’t enter into conversation and say goodbye before putting the phone down. Once I was abused quit3 horribly by the person on the other end so knew for sure he was a scammer.

Well done for sorting things out, but it leaves us doubting anyone and everyone who phones, but that’s life now.