bank account number and sort code

dawnjess

Last week i recieved a call at home from cancer research asking how the race for life went. He gave me lots of figures and numbers of how much is raised and how many lives are saved. He then said he was ringing for a monthly contribution of a tenner or a fiver a month, i said i woud be willing to donate fiver a month. He then asked for my sort and account number and then said that is such a bank in such a place. He said I would recieve a pack with a direct debit form in in a few days. that was a week aga and i have had no pack. My account is as it should be but I m a bit concerned now incase he wasnt from cancer research. What am i best off doing. What information can be got from the bank account and sort code . He also asked how my name appeared on the card. Any advice please !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stephb1986_2

im not sure but i think he would need
your date of birth
mothers maiden name
your password to your account
and your full address

you could ring your bank and tell them to put a note on your account asking to query any odd transactions going out of your account.

Stephb xx

geordie_joe

It depends what he intends to do.

If he was just trying to get money out of your account by DD he wouldn't need all that. Just your sort code accnt number, name on the account and branch address.

He already had the branch details, and now has the account details. He also has the OP's address, or can easily get it as he has the phone number, presumably from the phone book.

He could then ring back saying he was from the OP's bank, and "prove it" by quoting the OP's bank details. He could then get the OP to confirm who he was by asking his date of birth and mothers maiden name.

kitchen_buff

Sounds genuine enough. Direct debits come with a guarantee from the bank.

Mikeyorks

kitchen_buff wrote: »

.... Direct debits come with a guarantee from the bank.

..... if an error is made!! Doesn't cover being silly and handing out data to anyone who might ring you.

To the OP - do I take it you participated in the 'race for life' and left your contact details?

skintandsad

Do you have contact details for Cancer Research? Perhaps you could ring them and check that they have you as a regular donater. A call to your bank to see whether they have anything in place for them may also set your mind at rest. It may well be legitimate, but personally I never give out my bank details over the phone unless I have rang the company.
For future transactions, always ask if you can ring them back, take their contact name and extension number, then ring the company back after doing whatever checks you can to verify their identity.

I hope all is in order for you - after all - you were being charitable!:)

nobblyned

Don't worry. Your sort code and account number is on every cheque you write, if it was sensitive info that could be used in fraud that simply it wouldn't be there!

nobblyned

But do of course be aware that if someone rings you claiming to be from the bank quoting your sort code and account number - this doesn't prove anything, anyone could have it.

Always call your bank back on a verified number if they are asking anything security related.

geordie_joe

nobblyned wrote: »

Don't worry. Your sort code and account number is on every cheque you write, if it was sensitive info that could be used in fraud that simply it wouldn't be there!

No but it can be used to "put you at ease" when they ring up for more information.

Most people who are victims of fraud when they have given details out over the phone say "Well I thought he was from my bank, he knew my account name and number."

nobblyned

geordie_joe wrote: »

No but it can be used to "put you at ease" when they ring up for more information.

Most people who are victims of fraud when they have given details out over the phone say "Well I thought he was from my bank, he knew my account name and number."

Hence my second post

feliciared

Hey My Name Is Felicia As U Can Tell An I Work 4 Brittish Red Cross And Ndcs We Cant Do Anything With Your Bank Account An Sort Code Except Put Money In And Se Ta Direct Debit But Not Without Ur Concent. Plus The Guy Was Probly New An Dint Explain Properly What It Is That They R Gunna Do..u Will Recieve Ur Pack But Not Untill 2-6 Weeks So Be Patiant Have A Good Dayxx Fel