Is this a scam?

fluffnutter

Lozzzy wrote: »

Fluffnutter, I understand what you mean. He's not mad on competitions but he does enter them from time to time and vaguely remembers something but can't be sure.

Fair enough. And actually I'd overlooked the fact that sometimes your details are used to enter you into some draw without you really being aware of it at the time. I just get cross that scammers deliberately target people whose memory might not be so good (i.e. likely to be elderly) so if my posts seem vehement that's whom I'm cross with, not you, or, God forbid, your grandad!

fluffnutter

Have you received anything yet? You say you're going to 'go over the letter with a fine toothcomb'. If you've got something from this company, who are they? We can give them a google.

ankspon

Have you ever seen a comp with 3rd prize of £210,000,SCAM

birkee

Names and addresses (and telephone numbers) are available from multiple sources, so everyone is a potential target.

I expect even a 1% success rate would see the fraudsters in the money.

I know some years ago, that companies that make phone calls to sell things, just used to employ people on commission only, tear the local phone directory into chunks, and just get them phoning each listing in sequence..... No sales, the sales people don't get paid. Free labour.
These days I expect the details are a mouse click away, with auto dial-up actioned with the same click.

fluffnutter

It's definitely a scam. I'm just interested to know who the 'company' is.

hollydays

The cheque isn't going to arrive.What concerns me is that this "company" have already got an inkling that the people on the other end of the phone are interested,and elderly,and forgetful.How much more stuff are they going to send through the post now to him,that he may never tell you about.There was a very interesting thread on here about an elderly gentleman that was paying out thosands to scammers,and the OP-the child of the elderly person,couldnt get the elderly person to stop.

fluffnutter

hollydays wrote: »

The cheque isn't going to arrive.

Probably not. But something's likely to happen. Else how would this scam actually work? You phone someone up, tell them they've won something, then never contact them again? They'll be back in touch somehow.

Lozzzy

fluffnutter wrote: »

Fair enough. And actually I'd overlooked the fact that sometimes your details are used to enter you into some draw without you really being aware of it at the time. I just get cross that scammers deliberately target people whose memory might not be so good (i.e. likely to be elderly) so if my posts seem vehement that's whom I'm cross with, not you, or, God forbid, your grandad!

I know what you mean, they really annoy me too so I can understand your anger.

Yeah, they will definitely contact us again otherwise there would be no scam. Unfortunately my grandad was almost scammed before so he is very aware now and makes sure he runs things like that by us first now.
So far he hasn't received anything in the post but might do in the next few days so will let you know the company name.

Thanks again for the advice everyone

hollydays

JUst remember though,the stuff he gets sent may not arrive immediately,and may be unrelated,with different subjects

.http://www.thinkjessica.com/

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=656037&highlight=elderly+scam
heres one thread to give you an idea,very sad.
and another for example

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2162755

dealer_wins

100% scam. Have no further contact as these !!!!!!!s can get nasty.