[Finance] ******** The Scam Thread *********

[happypig]

But I don't think they are targeted, I reckon scammers buy contact phone lists and then call them all, probably working on a 0.1% - 1 in a 1000 success rate.
Just seems its the older generation who are perhaps less tech savvy, who get scammed more regularly.
Low-lifes is way too polite for these people ...

They don't need to buy phone lists. They use a computer to dial dozens of numbers at a time (spoofing the CLI) and when one of them answers it connects them. That's why you sometimes get a phone call that hangs up when you answer, it's because the scammer(s) are already on a call.
I agree about the older generation though, my mother-in-law would believe anyone who knocked her door and showed an ID card (fortunately when one of them talked his way in, her son turned up two minutes later and threw the bloke out (literally threw him onto the pavement).

 

[AmexRuislip]

Before you start @WATFORD zero **** off

 

[phoenix]

Advice to anyone who ever receives an unsolicited phone call from anywhere - ask for their name, company and contact details and then tell them you have to hang up until you've spoken to your spouse, son, daughter, significant other, friend with benefits, psychiatrist, probation officer etc etc and HANG UP.

Then you can have a moment, a cup of tea/coffee, a chocolate digestive is particularly good, a little sit down and think about what they said, and maybe contact your spouse, son, daughter, significant other, friend with benefits, psychiatrist, probation officer etc, (preferably on a different phone/e-mail/text) to the one you were contacted on.

Most scams rely on keeping you on the phone to get information.

Unless you are very confident and know exactly how to handle scammers, in which case, keep them on the phone as long as possible for your own amusement and then report back here for ours

I Find telling them i'm not interested thanks. Please remove me from your list normally works.


If they then sound very British I then tell them how i'm old and in my wheelchair and all my relatives recently died in a fire and my dogs got worms and can't afford the veterinary bills. It doesn't work that well but they normally send me their bank details. But i don't take to much money out

 

[Weststander]

Cnts are at it again, by email.

 

[Bozza]

A clever try I've just read about elsewhere. Just sharing it to help others...

Background is that I got an email (not text) which it became clear wasn’t from Evri (but purported to be), saying we’d missed a delivery (which our Ring doorbell confirmed) from a named delivery man (which is the actual chap’s name who usually does our Evri deliveries) and that we needed to pay a small amount (£1.40) for a redelivery. The email was VERY authentic looking, no spelling or comprehension errors and because it had the actual name of our delivery man, which I knew was correct, I was 90% taken in, but to be totally safe, I did use a card that isn’t our day to day card, so would easily spot if it was used ‘nefariously’.​

​

Sure enough, 3 days later, an attempt was made to charge almost £3.5k from the said card, which the Bank quickly blocked as it was out of the ordinary for that card usage. The bank then sent me 2 texts, the first one telling me that it looked like suspicious activity had been attempted and the second with 3 transactions asking me to either confirm ALL were legitimate or if ANY were not, then to respond with a “N”.​

​

This is where the scam gets clever….I was busy yesterday so hadn’t read either of the texts from the card company but I did get a phone call a few minutes after the legit texts had arrived from a bloke who seemed very knowledgeable about the issue and that he had blocked the suspicious transaction already (he said the ‘dodgy’ transaction was based in Glasgow and they could see that I never went up there) so it could be disregarded and to text my reply based on the other 2 (legitimate) transactions. When I asked why I couldn’t be sent a new text either with just those 2 transactions or to include a previous one if they needed to have 3 transactions, he got quite pushy (but not so much I became suspicious) and said they couldn’t do that because their system didn’t allow it but if I was not happy to call the number on the back of my card and they would confirm the details and what I needed to do. I know enough about these situations to cut the call and ring the number on my card from my landline (the original call was on my mobile, interestingly), so that there was no possibility the line had been left open and my assumption of making a new call was incorrect and I would have ended up speaking to another scammer instead.​

​

Anyway, I got through to the legit card company and when I spoke to their fraud dept, the lady told me that the scammers knew their processes and that, if I’d have texted back to the card company with a ‘Y’, they would have taken my confirmation that all the transactions were legit and would have paid the scam £3.5k and I would have been in a world of pain to try and reclaim the scam payment from the card company.​

 

[happypig]

A clever try I've just read about elsewhere. Just sharing it to help others...
so that there was no possibility the line had been left open and my assumption of making a new call was incorrect and I would have ended up speaking to another scammer instead.

​

In this situation, to make sure you're calling the correct company, ring a relative/friend first. That way you'll ensure you're not calling on the scammer' spoofed dial tone (far less likely with a mobile but good practice)

 

[A mex eyecan]

all these tricks/cons etc. Perhaps it will eventually get so bad that we all go back to visiting local banking, buying in person and using cash. Yes, just dreaming I know but things were very much simple and short of someone nicking your wallet things were much more safe and secure.

 

[Binney on acid]

When I get a call that I deem to be suspicious, I only say the word "hello". They normally hang up by the time you've said "hello" about a dozen times. I wonder what the world record is ?

 

[Mr Bridger]

I’ve had a call on Tuesday this week from some guy who says he works for the post office in my town telling me they have advertising space on the screens above where they queue and would I like my company to advertise on it. I’ve been selected as one of the best companies around here and there’s only limited space left to advertise.
Bearing in mind I’ve had these before, usually it’s a magazine for the local fire service or the like, so I can see them a mile off, so this time I’m playing along.
I let him ramble on until he got to the point of he doesn’t deal with the booking side of it, his “colleague“ does that and he’s the area salesman. “Seamus“will give you a call on Friday (today). Before he hung up I asked him his name, he replied Michael. Michael what? Then he just managed to dig out a surname in time.

Seamus the “area salesman“ rang this morning, ( from the same mobile number !) and proceeded to give me load of flannel that he couldn’t come out to meet me today as he was all over the place taking bookings, so can I meet him on Tuesday. “ by the way, we’ve only got a few slots left” Before he hung up i asked him his surname and he replied ”Hagal”. “Seamus Hagal “

I’m guessing on Tuesday, he’s going to say he can’t make it, but to secure the last slot, can I pay over the phone.

So that’s where we are with this shenanigans, I’m quite enjoying playing along and will update on Tuesday.
Btw, I took a screen shot on both days of Mike & Seamus joint mobile number, so if anyone wants to give them dogs abuse, fill ya boots!

Probably a fake front mobile number thou, but not sure how you can find out. Anyone?

 

[Official Old Man]

It's been a long time since the advertising screens at checkouts con started, maybe just as flat screens came about.
I'm still very worried about the TV email. I recieved mine a few months after swopping banks and was so so close to responding. Luckily, just before clicking through I checked the forwarding address. It was-
https://taviyani.s3.ap-south***t-1.amazonaws.com/Taxi/7**9/index1.html (slightly edited to save you)

Your TV Licence Service could not be automatically renewed*
When: 6/22/2023 2:17:34 PM (BST) Time in England, UK
Customer : 731705354335

Direct Debit - TV Li***ing ™ ​

TV LICENSING REMINDER!
Please visit our website untill Friday, 23 June 2023 (BST) to view your TV Licence online and update your details.

 

[Rogero]

I have cancelled my landline as it was mainly a target of scam calls and we rarely used it for outgoing calls anyway .

 

[Weststander]

When I get a call that I deem to be suspicious, I only say the word "hello". They normally hang up by the time you've said "hello" about a dozen times. I wonder what the world record is ?

I’ve use a variation on that:

“Hello ……………. is it me you’re looking for?”

 

[studio150]

A clever try I've just read about elsewhere. Just sharing it to help others...

Background is that I got an email (not text) which it became clear wasn’t from Evri (but purported to be), saying we’d missed a delivery (which our Ring doorbell confirmed) from a named delivery man (which is the actual chap’s name who usually does our Evri deliveries) and that we needed to pay a small amount (£1.40) for a redelivery. The email was VERY authentic looking, no spelling or comprehension errors and because it had the actual name of our delivery man, which I knew was correct, I was 90% taken in, but to be totally safe, I did use a card that isn’t our day to day card, so would easily spot if it was used ‘nefariously’.​

​

Sure enough, 3 days later, an attempt was made to charge almost £3.5k from the said card, which the Bank quickly blocked as it was out of the ordinary for that card usage. The bank then sent me 2 texts, the first one telling me that it looked like suspicious activity had been attempted and the second with 3 transactions asking me to either confirm ALL were legitimate or if ANY were not, then to respond with a “N”.​

​

This is where the scam gets clever….I was busy yesterday so hadn’t read either of the texts from the card company but I did get a phone call a few minutes after the legit texts had arrived from a bloke who seemed very knowledgeable about the issue and that he had blocked the suspicious transaction already (he said the ‘dodgy’ transaction was based in Glasgow and they could see that I never went up there) so it could be disregarded and to text my reply based on the other 2 (legitimate) transactions. When I asked why I couldn’t be sent a new text either with just those 2 transactions or to include a previous one if they needed to have 3 transactions, he got quite pushy (but not so much I became suspicious) and said they couldn’t do that because their system didn’t allow it but if I was not happy to call the number on the back of my card and they would confirm the details and what I needed to do. I know enough about these situations to cut the call and ring the number on my card from my landline (the original call was on my mobile, interestingly), so that there was no possibility the line had been left open and my assumption of making a new call was incorrect and I would have ended up speaking to another scammer instead.​

​

Anyway, I got through to the legit card company and when I spoke to their fraud dept, the lady told me that the scammers knew their processes and that, if I’d have texted back to the card company with a ‘Y’, they would have taken my confirmation that all the transactions were legit and would have paid the scam £3.5k and I would have been in a world of pain to try and reclaim the scam payment from the card company.​

Thanks for the detail, but I'm wasn't aware that Couriers charge for redelivery. My understanding is that they will make several attempts then sent the item back to the sender.

When I get any email saying I've missed a delivery and a small charge is required I just delete the email, and block the address from where it has been sent from.

Maybe I'm just to cautious and out of touch with the approach that Couriers now take.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

There was a story on the radio today that scammers are increasingly using AI to generate spam texts and emails - so they look and read much better than the old versions, with no obvious spelling or grammar mistakes, and appear almost identical to the genuine articles and much more difficult to identify.

Understand - Tech and AI - Tech and AI: 10. Can we control AI? - BBC Sounds

Is the AI genie out of the bottle or can we control it?

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[A mex eyecan]

There was a story on the radio today that scammers are increasingly using AI to generate spam texts and emails - so they look and read much better than the old versions, with no obvious spelling or grammar mistakes, and appear almost identical to the genuine articles and much more difficult to identify.

Understand - Tech and AI - Tech and AI: 10. Can we control AI? - BBC Sounds

Is the AI genie out of the bottle or can we control it?

www.bbc.co.uk

ah, another step into the nightmare world in which no one will be able to ascertain what’s the truth, what’s fiction, what’s lies along with who is or isn’t delivering it ….

can’t wait, not

 

[Mr Bridger]

I’ve had a call on Tuesday this week from some guy who says he works for the post office in my town telling me they have advertising space on the screens above where they queue and would I like my company to advertise on it. I’ve been selected as one of the best companies around here and there’s only limited space left to advertise.
Bearing in mind I’ve had these before, usually it’s a magazine for the local fire service or the like, so I can see them a mile off, so this time I’m playing along.
I let him ramble on until he got to the point of he doesn’t deal with the booking side of it, his “colleague“ does that and he’s the area salesman. “Seamus“will give you a call on Friday (today). Before he hung up I asked him his name, he replied Michael. Michael what? Then he just managed to dig out a surname in time.

Seamus the “area salesman“ rang this morning, ( from the same mobile number !) and proceeded to give me load of flannel that he couldn’t come out to meet me today as he was all over the place taking bookings, so can I meet him on Tuesday. “ by the way, we’ve only got a few slots left” Before he hung up i asked him his surname and he replied ”Hagal”. “Seamus Hagal “

I’m guessing on Tuesday, he’s going to say he can’t make it, but to secure the last slot, can I pay over the phone.

So that’s where we are with this shenanigans, I’m quite enjoying playing along and will update on Tuesday.
Btw, I took a screen shot on both days of Mike & Seamus joint mobile number, so if anyone wants to give them dogs abuse, fill ya boots!

Probably a fake front mobile number thou, but not sure how you can find out. Anyone?


View attachment 163511View attachment 163512

Seamus couldn’t wait until tomorrow bless him as he thinks I’m sucked in, so he’s just rang this morning and guess what, the room we were going to meet in at the Post Office is unavailable. Damn!
Apparently having works done due to new internet/fibre optics.

However, he can do Wednesday thou at a time that suits me as he’s messed me about.

To be continued…..

 

[Pinkie Brown]

I received this gem last week. The bizarre idea of any recruitment agency wanting to recruit me, it MUST be a scam. A google revealed Morgan Hunt are aware of this scam and would never contact anyone via Whatsapp.

 

[AmexRuislip]

I received this gem last week. The bizarre idea of any recruitment agency wanting to recruit me, it MUST be a scam. A google revealed Morgan Hunt are aware of this scam and would never contact anyone via Whatsapp.
View attachment 163638

Funnily enough, I had one of these WA messages, last week from Mann Estate agents (London).
Number originated from Nottingham.

 

[phoenix]

Deleted

 

[maffew]

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