Current Scams...

[RiffRaff]

44 minutes ago, RollingJ said:

Another of their current favourites.

When will they try something really believable - and stop using voice-activated recordings - which give them away as fake?

The worry is the folk who do think them believable.

Who knows?

1 in 10,000?

1 in 100?

Must be enough for the scammers to keep going, whatever the number.

They need visiting with a few baseball bats!

 

[RollingJ]

6 minutes ago, RiffRaff said:

The worry is the folk who do think them believable.

Who knows?

1 in 10,000?

1 in 100?

Must be enough for the scammers to keep going, whatever the number.

They need visiting with a few baseball bats!

 

I agree it is a worry re the number who do believe them, despite the numerous warning on many consumer sites, bank sites, news sites...

 

Dunno what the ratio is, but it is obviously high enough for our Indian sub-continent friends to find it worthwhile, although as the recording and VoIP costs are so low, they need less believers than when they had to make physical calls.

 

Travel -with or without baseball bats - to Mumbai is it a little difficult presently. 😀

[Linda77]

Just a quick question. I got a phone call from NHS but I refused confirmation of my details as it could be anyone really for example an identity thief...  I am curious if it possible to spoof an NHS number?

[Thirsty Relic]

6 minutes ago, Linda77 said:

Just a quick question. I got a phone call from NHS but I refused confirmation of my details as it could be anyone really for example an identity thief...  I am curious if it possible to spoof an NHS number?

Yes - it's possible to spoof any number, even from abroad. 

 

I know people who have had scam calls that look local to them - all the scammers do is get their computers to randomly dial a number and spoof a number with only the last 2 or 3 digits different.  The call looks local, but isn't.

[catmiss]

Text this afternoon supposedly from Lloyds bank confirming successful addition of payee to my account. The text directed me to a website ‘Lloyds secure’ if I hadn’t added the payee -I didn’t use the link. My, not Lloyds, bank account looked ok but I rang my bank’s fraud line anyway and they confirmed it was a scam with the link requesting my account details so they could investigate a fraudulent payee

[RollingJ]

9 hours ago, Linda77 said:

Just a quick question. I got a phone call from NHS but I refused confirmation of my details as it could be anyone really for example an identity thief...  I am curious if it possible to spoof an NHS number?

@Linda77As  Thirsty Relic says, it could be scam, unfortunately the lowlifes are using the current situation to their advantage, but did they say what it was about?

[RiffRaff]

12 hours ago, Linda77 said:

Just a quick question. I got a phone call from NHS but I refused confirmation of my details as it could be anyone really for example an identity thief...  I am curious if it possible to spoof an NHS number?

The safest way to deal with an incoming call which might just be genuine - for instance, if they're asking you to confirm a reference number - is to consider that they already know what the information is, and who you are, otherwise they wouldn't be ringing.

In that case, agree with them that you'll give (say) 2/3 letters or numbers and make them confirm the others.

Any errors, then put the phone down.

If it's a genuine call, it serves two purposes - it proves to you that they say who they are, and proves to them that they haven't mis-dialed the wrong person.

Same if your address is requested - give them partial information, but insist they give you the rest.

 

If they refuse, or are unable to complete, cut 'em off.

 

 

Edited February 8, 2021 by RiffRaff

[Resident]

Since it's happened twice now I'll post it up.

 

Be on your guard with overseas parcels that you're expecting. 

 

My last two parcels I've had coming from mainland Europe have come with a scam text message from the same UK mobile number (O2 in origin, starting 07927 & ending 264)

 

The latest was yesterday, tracking shows customs cleared overnight & then around mid-day the scam message has arrived. Claims to be an international parcel handling centre and a customs charge needs to be paid for the item to continue. 

 

This was identical to the first time too. Luckily my phone identified the number as a possible scam so I disregarded it (well I opened the link on a sandboxed browser)

The message reads:

 

Hi There - Your parcel has been held at our shipping centre. Please follow instructions here [web address redacted]

 

The website is in french (but offers an English version). The domain is french registered. 

 

Have our nearest neighbours decided we're now a target?

[RollingJ]

@ResidentI'm assuming you received your parcels OK? In which case, someone's IT system has been hacked - as the site is French, I'm guessing the leak is over the Channel, rather than this side.

[Resident]

1 hour ago, RollingJ said:

@ResidentI'm assuming you received your parcels OK? In which case, someone's IT system has been hacked - as the site is French, I'm guessing the leak is over the Channel, rather than this side.

I've got the first one and the second one is in the UK with Parcel Force, being delivered to my local post office today as I wasn't sure I was gonna be in & our post office is an independant that will take parcels in at no charge, though I always chuck a quid into the tin for the charity they support. 

 

It might be partly my fault. I added my mobile number to the customs declaration so that in the event of charges they can call me directly. Speeds up the process immensely not having to wait for the card through the door.