MSE News: Warning over new card fraud scam

duggie1982

Even simple things that no one would think as 'dodgy' E.G. A survey asking household questions and slip in other things like many children, how long have you stayed there & date of birth! All good for people trying to steal your identity?

I used to work for a company doing this exact thing but only to promote future products but if I had the info then this sort of could help the people trying to steal info....

Mark_Hewitt

The legitimate actions of banks don't always help in this matter.

From time to time my Lloyds credit card gets blocked due to 'suspicous activity', usually me booking a holiday. But what they do is have an automated system call my home telephone number and immediately ask for personal details such as date of birth etc.

I personally think this is irresponsible as if the bank is legitimately asking me for personal information it's going to sound less sucpicious when a fraudster does it too.

I always hang up and call them back. But wouldn't it just be better to leave an automated message just saying "Please call us on the number on the back of your card"?!

dazzaofdagenham

instead of just defending / targeting the old and frail on here..

Why don't the banks TARGET the people doing these scams.....

darren

jamesperrett

Mark_Hewitt wrote: »

The legitimate actions of banks don't always help in this matter.

And it isn't only the fraud prevention people - I've actually had to tell Egg my online password in the past. I wasn't happy about this but I couldn't find any way round it at the time.

Cheers

James.

speedbird1973

I'm sure most people don't fall for this.. surely someone will tell the police, who can then deliver the package to the fraudster who receives the delivery.. I'm all seems a little too simplistic to me.

jezza2412

Surely, if legitimate courier companies are used for this scam, they will have the delivery addresses used by the fraudsters, which the police should then investigate... but I bet in almost all cases the police don't bother. Until the police start taking crimes like this more seriously, then it will only increase...

MothballsWallet

Like jezza said - way I see it is this:

- the police need to take this sort of thing more seriously
- courier companies need to stop thinking about making money and checking out people who want to hire their services
- banks need to be more proactive in educating people about scams

Also, wizk, I can think of some other people who could be affected: those with a limited grasp of English. It's only been within the last 15 years that immigrants to this country have had to show a certain level of English language knowledge as part of the visa application process.

And I know this last point because my wife is a Russian who came here to be with me, and this was one of the things that the Embassy staff tested her on at her interview, amongst many others.

TFD_2

MothballsWallet wrote: »

courier companies need to stop thinking about making money and checking out people who want to hire their services

I couldn't disagree more. They offer a service. The legitimacy of a customer is not their responsibility. If they started having to check the background of all their customers, where would it stop?

ElkyElky

MSE_Martin wrote: »

Its easy to think "they must be stupid" but as anyone with elderly relatives will know some people get more trusting and less able to discern such issues.

Take a read of

http://www.thinkjessica.com/

If you want some examples

I know with some relatives of mine who ask whenever they get a letter saying "it'll save them money" they check if its true. Even when explained that its just someone trying to sell them something they say "but its from BT why would they lie."

Martin

Anyone who has had a hard working life would know there is no such thing as free money. Doesn't matter if you're 20 or 90, everyone knows you have to earn money. Of course you may be given it, under exceptional circumstances (inheritance for example).

If you get a letter through the door saying you've won £10,000 and their asking you to send money, in order to 'claim' the money you've won... anyone with a bit of common sense would know where to shove this letter.

I'm not supporting these scammers, however they aren't forcing these people to hand over their money, cards or pins. People are foolishly believing that some unknown company is giving them free money... they are allowing themselves to be scammed.

I don't think its a question of what age the victim is. It's a question of their mental state and common sense. As the saying goes.. fools and their money are soon parted. My grandmother, for example, is 80 and receives these letters - she knows they are a scam.

When greed gets the better of someone, all common sense is thrown out of the window. The victims are only digging a hole for themselves. As soon as they see they've won £10,000, desperation and greed replaces all common sense - I can't sympathise with that, unfortunately.

meggsy

jamesperrett wrote: »

And it isn't only the fraud prevention people - I've actually had to tell Egg my online password in the past. I wasn't happy about this but I couldn't find any way round it at the time.

Cheers

James.

I had a call from Egg a few months ago now but I wasn't asked for the whole password, i.e., just first, third and seventh or similar. As it was the first call of this nature from Egg I said I was busy anyway