Strange letter from HSBC

zaksmum

Just had a letter from HSBC which seems a bit odd.

It's headed "Your Statement" then has our names and address, sort code and account number. It says there's a leaflet enclosed for our information, any questions contact our branch.

The leaflet's headed "Boiler Room Scams" and basically warns against them, (they promise massive returns from sure thing investments)with a number to call if you are contacted by a "Boiler Room Operative".

I can understand that HSBC might want to warn it's customers, but it does seem odd sending out what could be called junk mail with our account number and sort code on it, headed "Your statement" when it's not a statement.

Has any other HSBC customer had one of these letters?

spenderdave

Yes I had one a month or so back. It can hardly be classed as junk mail, clearly the banks are very worried about the antics of these boiler room merchants. I didn't though find the information that helpful, and in any case I am usually pretty blunt with anybody who cold calls offering financial advice.

equitydealer

I got a letter yesterday, I was surprised as my account is with First Direct (I know that FD is part of HSBC, but did not expect a 'statement' on HSBC headed paper)

atush

Maybe their customer list was hacked like Sony's and they are doing a CYA?

casper_g

atush wrote: »

Maybe their customer list was hacked like Sony's and they are doing a CYA?

It would be very concerning if that were the case, however on the basis of the evidence seen in this thread I'd say your suggestion was overly speculative to the point of scaremongering.

molly_mandy_2

equitydealer wrote: »

I got a letter yesterday, I was surprised as my account is with First Direct (I know that FD is part of HSBC, but did not expect a 'statement' on HSBC headed paper)

Me too. I was very surprised my FD details were on HSBC paper :question:

zaksmum

That's the part that bothered me, being headed "Your Statement" when it wasn't. You'd expect your account number and sort code to be on a statement, but not on an unsolicited letter warning you not to fall for a scam in which victims, according to the laflet, lose an average of 20K each.

It's not the kind of letter you'd imagine HSBC would send out.

Casper, what's a CYA?

pcyam

I can understand why it would seem odd, I had one too. But if it didint say statement I may have just thrown it away and not bothered to read it. Maybe thats why, who knows.

nearlyretired2004

I THINK (although I cant be sure) that these letters ONLY went to First Direct customers.

Most of the above seem to be First Direct, I got one and am First Direct, my mother, who is HSBC did not...........

Meepster

nearlyretired2004 wrote: »

I THINK (although I cant be sure) that these letters ONLY went to First Direct customers.

Most of the above seem to be First Direct, I got one and am First Direct, my mother, who is HSBC did not...........

I got one last month and I'm a HSBC customer. So obviously not...

MarkFromCornwall

The HSBC "statement" letter has First Direct's address in small print at the bottom left.

Mark