Scam warning...

[Cozzer]

Before 9am, phone call to our landline. Ringer's number shown - a mobile number. Alarm bells sounded
Lady, very strong Indian accent, claiming she was ringing from BT, 'warning' that our internet line was being used/shared by someone "without my permission".
Did you receive our email on your phone?
"No".
Within 60 seconds, another question. Did you receive this one?
"No".
I actually had. Not on a phone, but on our laptop.
This threw her. I take it that it didn't fit her flow chart.
So far, our landline number and legit email address was known and correct. What else might they know? Could I test them by asking our BT account number...or the amount of the last bill? They might also know them, of course...
This is tricky. A third email was sent, and yes, that arrived within seconds, but I denied it had. The sender's address was [email protected] by the way. All very plausible and professional.
In the body of the mail - which also appeared very legit - it offered a four-digit PIN number, although the conversation didn't last that much longer, so I can only suspect that had I been taken in, it would somehow have allowed them access to the laptop?
I'll take a screenshot and bang it on here later, including the phone number shown "for assistance".
Suffice to say, the number's not legit, and neither is the sender's email....

Have to say it's the best-looking scam attempt I've come across so far. Looks very legit.

Be warned.

 

[baldkev]

I had hsbc fraud team phone me up about someone using my account. I kept it going for about 5 minutes before pointing out im not even with hsbc

 

[Jacob]

I've been getting a series of demands to renew TV licence which look like the real thing but a click on the sender shows different Japanese names and email addresses. Also people trying to change my Facebook password. Seems to be a lot of it just recently.

 

[Inspector]

I had hsbc fraud team phone me up about someone using my account. I kept it going for about 5 minutes before pointing out im not even with hsbc

Years ago my roommate and I were drinking and a girl called wanting to sell restaurant coupon books for a couple hundred bucks. We took turns talking and kept her and her supervisor on the phone for an hour and a half. No sale.

Pete

 

[Andy's Shed]

I had an automated phone call this evening from 'bank security', telling me that 2 large monthly payments had been set up and they were suspected as being fraudulent. The message told me to press either 1 or 2 on my phone for different options (I forget what they were). Of course I disconnected the call, but I can imagine that it would be very easy for some people to get scammed by these criminals.

 

[Inspector]

You'd think Microsoft could set their operating systems such that when fraudulent activity was reported to them they could shut them down, destroying all the data they have. They can easily follow the trail back to the originators just as easily as they fill our computers with cookies and other tracking software and watch what we do.

Pete

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I had an attempted fraud that was supposedly Microsoft. Surely their system should have picked that one up.

 

[Phill05]

When I get a call that I don't know I just start talking nonsense don't give them time to talk back to you and they soon give up.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

You are Stanley Unwin and I claim my £5.

https://www.google.com/search?q=sta...#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:5ee86468,vid:0UJZF5iRhNg

 

[misterfish]

We regularlry get 'Bank security' phone calls on our landline - they are always computer generated voices. Also we regularly get phone calls with a real person from 'BT', 'Computer or Windows support'. They always have a very strong 'Indian subcontinent' accent. I usually give them advice about certain physical actions they should take and most times they hang up immediately. Mind you I annoyed one so much he tried phoning me back 3 times and you could hear the frustration in his voice.

However - do be careful. A couple of years ago I had two Vodaphone iPhones delivered by DPD which I hadn't ordered. About two minutes after the delivery the door bell rang and someone in a DPD uniform (but with no vehicle) rang the bell to say that the package had been delivered to me by mistake and asked me to return it to him. Well, as it was delivered and addressed to me I was not going to hand it over, but I asked for his ID as he wasn't wearing it like the normal DPD drivers. He saaid he'd left it in the van and would go and get it. A few minutes later he was back with clearly a made up pass that didn't look right. I told him I needed a photograph of him before I returned the package which he agreed to and then I told him there was no way i would actually give him the package. At this point he gave up and left. We called the police and within a couple of hours a local cop visited and took all the details and the photo. He came back the next day having visited DPD and arranged for the parcel to be collected abd returned by DPD. Also he showed me the picture I'd taken on the West Sussex police 'people of interest' list that they used for their daily scumbag list.

Anyway this was all sorted OK with Vodaphone.

On the other hand I actually had a phone call from a real bank security department about a new account they were unhappy about. First they identified themselves as a bank I had never used, but told me that this account had been opened but they were not convinced that it was kosher. I expressed my scepicism and they weren't surprised and said the account was on hold and they would mail me details to the address they had for me. They would not give me any details and didn't ask me for any details either. Next day I had a letter from one of the big banks giving me some details and contact numbers. So I rang the advertised customer service phone number and eventually got put through to the security department that were waiting for me to contact them. It turned out that somebody had opened an account in my name but they picked up on the fact that the mobile number given wasn't what they expected. Years earlier I had opened a fixed term savings account that had long finished, but they kept my basic details so that if I opened another account theey could see if there was anything awry. They were very helpful and sorted it all out and also gave me a free year of full access to Experian. !

So - the moral is to be sceptical at all times!

 

[Sean33]

I had an automated phone call this evening from 'bank security', telling me that 2 large monthly payments had been set up and they were suspected as being fraudulent. The message told me to press either 1 or 2 on my phone for different options (I forget what they were). Of course I disconnected the call, but I can imagine that it would be very easy for some people to get scammed by these criminals.

I had exactly the same, pressed 1 and within seconds a voice came on the line saying they were from Visa. Starting to ask some questions so I asked him what card he was referring to, he said my Nationwide account, don’t have one of those so after a few expletives I put down the phone.
Thought I would do the right thing and call the police, put me through to fraud line, after 2 hours I gave up trying to speak to somebody

 

[Spectric]

Lady, very strong Indian accent, claiming she was ringing from BT, 'warning' that our internet line was being used/shared by someone "without my permission".

That is a common one, as you say they are reading from some chart and what really throws them is if you ask for more technical info, push this and then add in something like you are a telecoms engineer, they just hang up.

Everything is a scam, either borderline or an outright con and just think that your money is yours and anyone offering giftcards to takeout some policy or life insurance without any medical is just a borderline scam aimed at fleecing you.

 

[gwaithcoed]

Although I am not Welsh,I live in Wales and also give my phone number in Welsh and if it a suspect scam I ask "Can you speak in Welsh"
"Wyt ti'n gallu siarad yn Gymrraeg " and after answering a few times they hang up on me.

 

[Homeless Squirrel]

You'd think Microsoft could set their operating systems such that when fraudulent activity was reported to them they could shut them down, destroying all the data they have. They can easily follow the trail back to the originators just as easily as they fill our computers with cookies and other tracking software and watch what we do.

Pete

They do MS fund a big department/office/system? to burn web/email addresses-IP's constantly flagged as phishing as if your ip is constantly flagged they will burn it and that ip can never be used again.
I constantly report phishing and block in my email box and if on MS you will notice red flags on them and different colours across item as had a pile coded yellow won't be long before shut down by them.
Takes a lot to trace emails/ip's as they clone and bounce them so they have to workout whose who and whats what. IP's are the main one they deal with as many can send from an IP.
There are also many that hack people's routers easy if on WPA key WEPA gives millions more key combo's inc upper/lower case and numbers WPA dosent so can crack before you have made a cup of tea!.
We have had people here that have had rear end fisted by plod over likes of kiddy porn turned house and equipment over and wasn't them as couldn't find coding on there laptop/device that is left even if deleted. One was an Elderly couple that barely knew how to turn TV/laptop on yet Net provider like SKY gives a basic WPA coded router to you.
BT is far better in that respect even if still a bum ache company.

 

[Spectric]

You'd think Microsoft could set their operating systems such that when fraudulent activity was reported to them they could shut them down, destroying all the data they have.

They have enough trouble getting search engines to operate even slightly close to what it is you want, this is not a complicated process and if you are searching for items in the UK why do you get stuff shown from all corners of the planet.

 

[Inspector]

Homeless Squirrel I only named Microsoft because they are the biggest, the others could do this too. I'm not suggesting they delete the IP and email addresses. They just go around. I want them to go back to the rat bags actual computer operating system and wipe those. Then the rat bag would have to get another operating system to get going again. Blocking a few streets in a "city" won't stop crooks but breaking down their windows and doors would. The phone industry and governments could easily find the crooked call centres and jail them all. One of our consumer tv shows traced some back to Mumbai, India and got cameras inside a phone scam company. Even when shown the evidence the local cops and politicians didn't care. The crooks get away with it because those that could do something don't care or are profiting from it and that goes for phones and computers.

Pete

 

[Spectric]

It all becomes an industry that supports both the scammers and then all the police and others that are hunting for them, you need to get enough but leave sufficient to keep your job.

 

[Myfordman]

Phone line scams and unwanted calls have stopped completely since I picked up a second hand TrueCall unit for about £20 on ebay and installed it.
Great customer service from TrueCall despite them knowing it was pre owned, enabled updates to latest software that is VOIP compatible.
unknown callers get asked to leave their name silently and then the box rings the house to say there is a call from xxx. we press 1 to accept or hang up to reject. Works a treat as spammer/cold callers rarely have the nerve to leave a name. Drs, hospitals etc are used to speaking to such systems and play ball and naturally get through. Regular callers can be added to a white list and ring through immediatley. The built in caller log shows numbers that call without leaving a message and when googled invariably show up as spammers.
Highly recommended for a peaceful life.

 

[Homeless Squirrel]

Op systems keys can be faked. Had a disc to put any windows op system on pc you left it to its devices and would install a keycode you authenticated with ms on line.
Most likely why now have ten etc where it's compulsory updates.there is one that checks your device if gen then installs garbage! plus MS is constantly sending your info to them and others.Check on Resmonitor.
IP addresses burnt are the death knell for scammers esp if do the other which is Devices codes as mother board has a code along with other parts.

 

[Homeless Squirrel]

Homeless Squirrel I only named Microsoft because they are the biggest, the others could do this too. I'm not suggesting they delete the IP and email addresses. They just go around. I want them to go back to the rat bags actual computer operating system and wipe those. Then the rat bag would have to get another operating system to get going again. Blocking a few streets in a "city" won't stop crooks but breaking down their windows and doors would. The phone industry and governments could easily find the crooked call centres and jail them all. One of our consumer tv shows traced some back to Mumbai, India and got cameras inside a phone scam company. Even when shown the evidence the local cops and politicians didn't care. The crooks get away with it because those that could do something don't care or are profiting from it and that goes for phones and computers.

Pete

Go check the guy on youtube that sorts scammers right out! wipes there drives and all sorts had many jailed also.