The blaggers handbook

tweeter

Hi peeps,
I thought this might be of interest from todays paper.


The blagger's handbook

Friday August 11, 2006
The Guardian

From the News of the World's phone bills to HSBC's logons, the security of private information has been under scrutiny this week. But in a report recently published by the Information Commissioner's Office there was another frightening revelation: the existence of a "blagger's handbook" full of tips on how to part people from their money. We reprint an extract so you know what you're up against ...

OBTAINING SOMEONE'S BANK DETAILS DIRECTLY

Article continues

TO: THE SUBJECT

AS: BT ACCOUNTS

Subject: Hello.

Agent: Good afternoon. British Telecom accounts section. May I speak to Mr [Subject]?

Subject: Speaking.

Agent: Regarding the last bill relating to telephone number 081-123 4567, there is a possibility that your meter may have been faulty and overrunning. We've had complaints from quite a few people on the same side of the road as yours about abnormally high bills. Have you noticed that your last quarter bill was abnormally higher than usual for a quarter?

Subject: Yes, it was a bit high.

Agent: Our engineers have notified us, from various meter tests, that you were probably overcharged 537 units over and above that which you used. This comes to a credit refund of 4.02p/unitx537 units [tap it out on a calculator next to the phone for the subject to hear]. This equals a total refund of £21.59.

We can credit your account on the next telephone bill next quarter or pay the money directly into your account today by direct transfer. Which would you prefer?

[Most people go for the bank option as this ensures that they get the money quicker. If the subject opts for the credit to the next BT bill, correct yourself and say, "Oh, I'm terribly sorry but I've just realised that for amounts less than £30 our department policy is to credit your bank account or building society directly."]

Can I take your details please and I'll get the transfer made this afternoon?

[Wait for the subject to respond before asking the next question as the subject may give you all the info without needing to be asked.]

Your bank is ... ? And the branch address? And the account number is?

Do you have any other banks or building societies we could use to transfer the money to as [the first given bank] tends to take a bit longer to pay into than some of the others?

[Then take details of any other banks and building societies in the same fashion.]

You should get the credit through tomorrow or the day after. Thanks. Bye.

If you're asked for your name just say, "Mrs Adams, but anyone will be able to help you when you call our section as we are all computerised on the same database screens".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1842174,00.html

keith234

seems a plausible trap

thefirs

You give this information to anyone to whom you issue a cheque - plenty of employees are likely to be in the handling chain - and if a fraud takes place (e.g. by someone giving the details in order to set up an unauthorised direct debit) then you would not lose anything.

Or am I missing something?