I've had another call claiming to be from my banks fraud department, telling me I need to cancel a fraudulent transaction by giving them the 'cancellation code', sent to me by text. I hung up at that point.
Last time the bank changed my card number but this time they've just said as long as I haven't given them any extra information it's not necessary. I'll keep an eye on my transactions just in case of course, but I do that anyway.
Anyway, it's just a warning really, both times they've been really convincing, and they had lots of information. Name, card number, expiry date, email, phone number. He said all the right things, repeated the correct security warnings, and I was on the phone for quite a while before he asked for the number.
I think it's worth sharing because it's a really common scam, and they are scarily good at what they do.
A timely warning.
I had a phone call regarding fraudulent use of my card that actually was from my bank but I didn't trust them! They said to phone the number on the back of my credit card and do it that way instead, which I did, and it turned out there had been someone trying to use my card which the bank had blocked.
So many scam calls at the moment.
If you have any doubt about a call claiming to be from your bank hang up, make sure the line is clear (or use another phone) and dial 159. A voice message will ask you to state the name of your bank and you will then be connected to their fraud department.
There is also an online parking charge scam doing the rounds. Just in case you don't know, delete and report as spam. Genuine PCN charges come in the post
I sometimes get a text to ask if I've authorised a payment and if I have then do nothing, or to contact bank if I haven't.
As they don't phone anyone who does gets dismissed as a scam call.
Also watch for a small odd amount going off the credit card to a charity you’ve never heard of. It’ll be an odd number in £ but a round figure in $, for example. It’s the fraudsters checking the card works before buying £3K worth of computer kit etc. Happened to us several years ago & to a friend recently. Our card company has also changed our cards in the past because they’d spotted suspicious activity.
However, I think the security of getting a code via text to verify a transaction is reassuring for buying flights to NZ, but seems a bit cautious for site fees. OH got sent a code & wasn’t buying anything: ignored it, no purchase could be made.
If I get a call, I tell them I'll be hanging up and phoning the bank myself. My phone usually sends spam texts to a bin. Basically if it is coming off a mobile then it is usually a scam. I also get the calls in atrocious accents telling me I am going to be arrested for non payment of tax so I just say I am at the gardai at the moment and will talk to the sergeant. Then there are the non payment of tolls(I haven't driven since February) and the banks I don't bank with telling me to get in touch...
It pays to be cynical.
My favourite used to be the "your windows needs cleaned" I used to have fun with them. I'd pretend to be hopeless with tech and not being able to find the start button and then reveal That I'm on Linux, make them wait while I make a coffee after they asked me to open windows and then tell them I'm freezing cold after opening all my windows or tell them the nice lady window cleaner was only round yesterday. They usually told me to eff off after a while. Getting rid of the landline put a stop to that. I think they target landlines as it is usually older people that still have them. They forget that is old gits were programming before they were born.
I have found that the scammers don't like it when you tell them you don't speak English ( in French)! My French is quite good,I also speak a bit of German. Usually provokes a hang up!
Our mobiles put a lot into spam. Plus we block any that are scammers, usually a couple of rings then cuts off.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
Quote: Originally posted by 664DaveS on 22/10/2024
I have found that the scammers don't like it when you tell them you don't speak English ( in French)! My French is quite good,I also speak a bit of German. Usually provokes a hang up!
Our mobiles put a lot into spam. Plus we block any that are scammers, usually a couple of rings then cuts off.
I do that with Lithuanian aš I'm fluent. There are only about 3.2 million speakers worldwide so it really does confuse them.
Calls to my mobile are hard to ignore because it's my business number. The first time it happened they were able to spoof the banks number, this time it was a private number.
The bank have phoned for fraud issues in the past, they have asked for personal details for security. Protocols might have changed over the years, but when it's something you don't deal with a lot it's easy to not be up to date. These people get you talking and say all the right things, then throw in 'just give me the 6 digit code from the banks number to authorise the cancellation'. Nope. But I know someone who did, and I consider myself more lucky than smart for not doing!
I wish I did speak a second language, that's a great idea!
The 'you have a parcel' texts and emails will ramp up as we head to Christmas as well, sometimes they're obvious, but some are good imitations.
I had a strange email to my In box (not recognised as Spam) this week, from a btinternet email address ie not an obviously dodgy domain. I’d never heard of Harry whatever, he wrote that he’d wanted to phone me for a chat to catch up but had laryngitis & had lost his voice & would I please reply to his email.
Tempting to reply robustly but I forwarded it to <report at phishing.gov.uk> as a suspicious email, got their confirmation, moved it to spam & then blocked the sender.
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Topic: Scam Call
via mobile 21/10/2024 at 10:25pm
