Another scam?

[graduate_owner]

I just saw this on facebook. Most likely a scam and I thought I would warn otherss. Here's the post:-

My son works at DeWalt and he told me that most people don’t know they can get a Impact Driver McLaren Edition by filling out a short form for just £6.99! DeWalt celebrates McLaren’s F1 championship and sends out 20 impact drivers to the loyal customers. I’ve got mine already, look at the photos. It’s a powerful beast and has a huge battery

Here’s the link to fill out the form for anyone who’s interested:

So there you go-free DeWalt tool, or a datamining exercise?

K

 

[Stigmorgan]

That's a £350 tool
I'd guess scam.

 

[Amplidyne]

Too good to be true, and it's got that sort of scam sound to it. Why is "My son works at DeWalt" relevant?

 

[Bingy man]

Something like this promoted by dewalt could potentially generate thousands of sales and secure new customers so why would they not advertise it . Not to mention “ I’ve got mine - look at the photos” stay well clear

 

[niemeyjt]

My guess - "You've won! Can you just give us your bank details for paying the £6.99"

 

[JSW]

’ve got mine already, look at the photos. It’s a powerful beast and has a huge battery

Here’s the link to fill out the form for anyone who’s interested:

Oooh, let's see!!

 

[Steliz]

Also, there is still one race left in the F1 Championship and although McLaren are leading they haven't won it yet.

 

[okeydokey]

Well the tool actually exists and its not rubbish but everything else in the post is

 

[ajs]

If it was actually true they would have been snapped up by staffers before word even got out.

I remember when my father was installing and maintaining diesel generators somehow they ended up with two defective home user (perhaps 3kw) generators in hand. Not sure how as their usual fare was tens of kilowatts up to a megawatt or so.

The boss simply said the first person offer £20 can have one. There were two engineers in the office at the time and instantly the response was "I'll take one" and "I'll take the other". For used and faulty stuff.

As it turned out the one my Dad got was a sound buy, needed cleaning out and new fuel line and filter but works a charm. Luck of the draw but shows how quickly something like that will disappear in practice.

 

[Katomi woodsmith]

If this was real I would think the company would contact their A class customers first and offer the deal to them.

 

[Ozi]

Is this another one?

A couple of companies that I have standing orders with have been unable to obtain payments from me. When I check my card details they have a completely wrong card number etc. on record, I could just enter the correct details but have I got something on my computer watching for me to do just that? Or am I just being suspicious?

 

[ajs]

An actual standing order is initiated by your bank based on an instruction from you (i.e. it's a standing order you give to your bank to send a recurring payment). A direct debit is the other way round and initiated by the receipient. Neither requires card details, they are straight account-account transfers. However, many small recurring payments, especially online are handled as card transactions. That gives the company some form of control over the process without the rather hefty indemnity bond needed for direct debit processing.

Has one of your cards expired/been renewed recently? Alternatively if you have have a card go bad and replaced it the original will frequently remain valid until its original expiry date, not the same as the replacement.

It can happen and it can be legitimate. Don't follow any links in an advisory email (there really shouldn't be any links these days) but go to the site at its usual address and look at it there. Or if still nervious give them a ring on a number you have found independently of the failed payment notification.

 

[pat from Marck]

Living in France I do most of my tool ordering online for my wood turning needs as most outlets are few and far away. I recently placed an order with kitty rouen for a few spare parts for my lathe. A few days later received a message saying that my order had been delivered but the parcel was to big for the letter box so could I arrange for a collection point close to home for a further 0.99 centimes. For this I would need to enter my card details in a standard on line form. Almost fell for it but whilst double checking the order number I thought to myself no no no the little sod should have delivered it to the door plus I've already paid for delivery so why should I have to pay more even if it's just 99 centimes. It was late so decided wait till the following day and phone kitty rouen for an explanation. Turns out my order had not even left their depot as they were waiting for a part to come in before sending it out. Hoping this may save someone some heart ache.

 

[Spectric]

If people just thought that little bit harder and do act upon any information without at least some checks then these scammers would not have such an easy time, the first question to ask is simply does this actually involve me, ie are you actually a customer of bank x or did you participate in this competition that you have been told you have won !

 

[Terry - Somerset]

The trick of asking for a trivial sum as a ploy to get credit card details is common.

I have to confess falling for this a couple of years ago - strange town, cold, wet, late for meeting, new parking app to be downloaded, enter payment details, will take a "refundable" £1 to confirm registration.

Next day a first unexpected transaction (£60) - small enough and unlikely to challenge credit limits. Fortunately bank (all credit to Santander) picked this up, stopped payment, issued new card etc.

Once bitten, twice shy. Now never give out card details even if stressed without carefully checking.

 

[Bingy man]

Because we are human and by nature if we have ordered an item from x then we don’t always suspect that anything is wrong , maybe the shipping was under estimated, or the address was mis read . The scammers know that not everyone will do their due diligence and if 1 in 100 fill that form out then they can cash in and wait for the next victim. For some people who have an extremely busy lifestyle combined with a very important spare part or parcel that they are waiting for simply won’t question a request for a £1 or so followed by a brief explanation and again the scammer has caught another fish .. nowadays I use trusted suppliers and would always phone said company if any issues arise. You just have to think along the lines of everyone is trying to steal your cash or your identity etc .

 

[MikeJhn]

The latest scam I am getting is a phone call saying "This is bank security and we have noticed an unusual transaction .............. this is normally an AI voice asking me to push a numbered button to confirm, don't know how it progress's from there as by that time I have hung up, your bank security will be a person and not an AI and will say which Bank they are.