Scammed

beula

I was scammed over the phone after I had done a survey (which I never usually do). A couple of days after the survey I got a call saying they would like to send me petrol vouchers as a thank you. I thought it a bit odd but went along with it and even gave my card number so they could take £1 postage. After I had put down the phone I googled the 'company' which is called Sapphire and saw that others had been scammed by them and that they would take £80 out of my account. Not much I know but it is my money. Anyway when I realised what I had done (within about 10 minutes) I went straight to my branch of Natwest and told the lady on Customer Services what I had done. She cancelled my card and ordered a new one. She also kept my card and told me she would destroy it. I transfered my money to another account as I no longer had a card to access it with. After two weeks, my new card had not arrived so yesterday I phoned the call centre number on the back of another of my Natwest cards to ask why. I was told that my other card had not been cancelled and that no new card was on its way. No record of me requesting it. I was also told that this 'Sapphire' company had tried several times to take money from my account but could not due to insufficient funds.
I am shocked. What if I had had money in there? They could have taken it all. I also wonder if my card was ever destroyed.
I have made a complaint and the lady I spoke to gave me an apology over the phone and said that the branch of NW concerned would be informed. But I feel like this isnt enough.....anyone have any thoughts? Should I just leave it there?

Dimey

I would be angry at myself as well as the girl at Nat West who clearly didn't understand banking security.

Obviously you know you shouldn't have given your card number to the research co. over the phone. A genuine company wouldn't have asked you to pay postage.

But more importantly you shouldn't have left your card with the girl at Nat West. Giving your card to someone else goes against the rules and that's irresponsible. You should have kept it or cut it up.

Hopefully Nat West will reassure you their girl has been re-trained. And you get a letter of apology for her lapse in security.

Thank goodness you had the foresight to move your money. (Edit- will you close the account given that "Sapphire" are still trying to get money from it?)

I guess you should consider where the scam survey company got your phone number from and block that leak.

spacey2012

"Good afternoons Sir, we are pleased to tell you we are doing a survey and need your bank card details to send you much gift"

beula

Hi Dimey
Yes I was annoyed with myself. So stupid and especially that while I was doing it I was thinking to myself that I shouldnt...
I've been told that I dont need to close my account as the card number that I gave no longer exists. I would feel happier having a new account but have been reassured by the bank that they cannot get to that account now that I have cancelled the card.
I have lost my trust a bit...
and I will never ever speak to any one of these random callers again!

grumbler

Dimey wrote: »

...Giving your card to someone else goes against the rules and that's irresponsible. You should have kept it or cut it up.

Cutting it up and then giving to someone isn't much different from just giving an uncut card.

grumbler

beula wrote: »

I am shocked. What if I had had money in there? They could have taken it all. I also wonder if my card was ever destroyed.

If the transaction was authorised by you, it cannot be stopped by cancelling the card. If it wasn't, like in this case, then you call your bank and claim all the money back, including the charges (if any): Visa, Mastercard & Amex Chargeback Protection for debit card purchases

Dimey

grumbler wrote: »

Cutting it up and then giving to someone isn't much different from just giving an uncut card.

I didn't mean to cut it up and give it to someone. I meant to cut it up and throw it away - obviously tiny pieces over different bin empties..

Dimey

beula wrote: »

Hi Dimey
Yes I was annoyed with myself. So stupid and especially that while I was doing it I was thinking to myself that I shouldnt...
I've been told that I dont need to close my account as the card number that I gave no longer exists. I would feel happier having a new account but have been reassured by the bank that they cannot get to that account now that I have cancelled the card.
I have lost my trust a bit...
and I will never ever speak to any one of these random callers again!

I'm afraid that's a good thing in this day and age.

spacey2012

Does the chip in a card store any data or leave a trail of data on the banks systems as to where the real card was used ?
If so why cut it up, when it can be used to prove where the card was used.
If you do cut it up and chuck it away and the banks asks where the card is as you could have lost it and failed to inform them, what you going to do then.

Dimey

spacey2012 wrote: »

Does the chip in a card store any data or leave a trail of data on the banks systems as to where the real card was used ?
If so why cut it up, when it can be used to prove where the card was used.
If you do cut it up and chuck it away and the banks asks where the card is as you could have lost it and failed to inform them, what you going to do then.

But the OP did inform the bank. He was face to face with the girl. If the bank had wanted him to keep the card he could do - himself. If they didn't need it then he could cut it up and dispose of it - himself.

It doesn't bother me whether banks/cardholder prefer to keep the card instead of cutting up. I suggested both options and I'm not arguing for one way or another. Perhaps card holders should find out what policy their bank has and follow that.

Edit - thinking back, when I was scammed by a petrol station employee selling a list of card no's to a professional scam outfit, I offered to take the card to my bank so they could see it was still in my possession but they told me to cut it up.