We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide
Beware - fake phone calls claiming money owed to HMRC or other organisations
Bogof_Babe
Posts: 10,803 Forumite
Posting this here in case anyone has elderly relatives who might be scammed, and didn't see the programme this morning (BBC1 9:15).
Apparently it's a widespread fraud that people are receiving phone calls telling them they owe money to the Inland Revenue or other outfits, and that they must pay today or go to court and maybe jail. They are told to go and buy iTunes vouchers to the value of their alleged debt, and then phone the codes through to the scammer. The scammers are then apparently selling these codes on to innocent purchasers.
People have actually been falling for this. I know it seems crazy, but some elderly and/or vulnerable people are so terrified by the threat of jail that they are going along with it in a sort of blind panic.
Please warn your relatives and any elderly neighbours not to get caught out. It's shocking and horrifying.
Apparently it's a widespread fraud that people are receiving phone calls telling them they owe money to the Inland Revenue or other outfits, and that they must pay today or go to court and maybe jail. They are told to go and buy iTunes vouchers to the value of their alleged debt, and then phone the codes through to the scammer. The scammers are then apparently selling these codes on to innocent purchasers.
People have actually been falling for this. I know it seems crazy, but some elderly and/or vulnerable people are so terrified by the threat of jail that they are going along with it in a sort of blind panic.
Please warn your relatives and any elderly neighbours not to get caught out. It's shocking and horrifying.
I haven't bogged off yet, and I ain't no babe
0
Comments
-
Bogof_Babe wrote: »Posting this here in case anyone has elderly relatives who might be scammed, and didn't see the programme this morning (BBC1 9:15).
Apparently it's a widespread fraud that people are receiving phone calls telling them they owe money to the Inland Revenue or other outfits, and that they must pay today or go to court and maybe jail. They are told to go and buy iTunes vouchers to the value of their alleged debt, and then phone the codes through to the scammer. The scammers are then apparently selling these codes on to innocent purchasers.
People have actually been falling for this. I know it seems crazy, but some elderly and/or vulnerable people are so terrified by the threat of jail that they are going along with it in a sort of blind panic.
Please warn your relatives and any elderly neighbours not to get caught out. It's shocking and horrifying.
Yes, I saw it. The poor lady had no idea, she was just terrified of going to court and thought the vouchers were just a legitimate means of paying the alleged debt.
She even asked if it was a scam and they said that scammers ask for bank details, which was not the case here.GE 36 *MFD may 2043
MFIT-T5 #60 £136,850.30
Mortgage overpayments 2019 - £285.96
2020 Jan-£40-feb-£18.28.march-£25
Christmas savings card 2020 £20/£100
Emergency savings £100/£500
12/3/17 175lb - 06/11/2019 152lb0 -
I don't think this is "Rip-Off Britain", which implies people being overcharged, or "iTunes vouchers scam", which implies people being scammed with fake vouchers.
A better thread title would be :
"Beware - fake phone calls claiming money owed to HMRC or other organisations"If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales0 -
I will amend the heading forthwith
. I haven't bogged off yet, and I ain't no babe
0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 353.4K Banking & Borrowing
- 254.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 455K Spending & Discounts
- 246.5K Work, Benefits & Business
- 602.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 178K Life & Family
- 260.5K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards