PPI fraud using MSE name

baby_boomer

I just got contatcted on the phone by a company claiming to represent the Ministry of Justice and MSE, offering me a £5K cheque to be delivered to my home at lunchtime today in return for a £140 Spar UCash voucher and personal ID details.

The number they wanted me to call back to confirm that I had the voucher was 020 8123 1937.

I've reported to actionfraud.org and the local police but neither were very interested unless a fraud had actually taken place. There was no desire to investigate or catch these people in advance.

dunstonh

It is an obvious fraud and its a shame that the police are not interested until someone loses out.

Have you tried trading standards?

mrruby

I've also been contacted by a company claiming to to represent the government and MSE, they offered me a cheque of £4,682 to be delivered when I wanted. First they told me I must get a UKASH voucher of £190.
They told me I could keep the voucher until they've delivered the cheque and it has cleared in my bank and that I could ring them back on 02081231937. I rang them back and they asked for the voucher number, I told them they would use the voucher and they said that they wouldn't. I gave them the voucher no. and arranged delivery the next day. When I checked online with sites that accept UKASH my voucher had been used.
The morning of the next day they asked me to get 2 more UKASH vouchers of £200 each and as the hand the cheque over they'll give me £400 cash in exchange for the vouchers. I told them that it sounds like a fraud and I wanted my money back to which they said I'd get a money order in 10 or so days.
Now they keep ringing me to tell me it's all above board and that they'll email me the cheque no. and gave me the correct MSE address+reg no. 4557992.
I still don't believe them, what shall I do next?

dunstonh

mrruby wrote: »

I've also been contacted by a company claiming to to represent the government and MSE, they offered me a cheque of £4,682 to be delivered when I wanted. First they told me I must get a UKASH voucher of £190.
They told me I could keep the voucher until they've delivered the cheque and it has cleared in my bank and that I could ring them back on 02081231937. I rang them back and they asked for the voucher number, I told them they would use the voucher and they said that they wouldn't. I gave them the voucher no. and arranged delivery the next day. When I checked online with sites that accept UKASH my voucher had been used.
The morning of the next day they asked me to get 2 more UKASH vouchers of £200 each and as the hand the cheque over they'll give me £400 cash in exchange for the vouchers. I told them that it sounds like a fraud and I wanted my money back to which they said I'd get a money order in 10 or so days.
Now they keep ringing me to tell me it's all above board and that they'll email me the cheque no. and gave me the correct MSE address+reg no. 4557992.
I still don't believe them, what shall I do next?

It is fraud. It is known as advance fee fraud.

You need to go to the police as you have been scammed.

[Deleted User]

mrruby wrote: »

I still don't believe them, what shall I do next?

Yes, as Dunstonh says, go to the Police as you've been robbed.

foundationsmcr

Surely someone from MSE should post a response to this?!

[Deleted User]

foundationsmcr wrote: »

Surely someone from MSE should post a response to this?!

Why should MSE have any thing to say about it?
Or do you think they should publicly denounce these scoundrels for using the MSE name?
Do you think the Prime Minister should comment too because they claim to also be from the government?

dunstonh

Whilst MSE have no responsibility for the fraud as Moneyineptitude says, it is still worth letting MSE know as they may choose to allocate some resources in tracking down the source of the fraud and may take legal action against it (as they have in the past).

I have sent a PM to MSE Investigator linking this thread.

[Deleted User]

dunstonh wrote: »

I have sent a PM to MSE Investigator linking this thread.

Bravo, Dunst!

foundationsmcr

dunstonh wrote: »

Whilst MSE have no responsibility for the fraud as Moneyineptitude says, it is still worth letting MSE know as they may choose to allocate some resources in tracking down the source of the fraud and may take legal action against it (as they have in the past).

I have sent a PM to MSE Investigator linking this thread.

That's the point I was trying to make.

Moneyineptiture, have I upset you somehow?

[Deleted User]

foundationsmcr wrote: »

Moneyineptiture, have I upset you somehow?

Everyone on here upsets me, that's why I spend hours of my own time replying to them all!:D

(Seriously, no-I'm just as blunt as a hammer with my opinion)