Scams - not sure

Grassing_Granny

First time I've posted so apologies if I am in wrong place. I have just had a phone call from american Express telling me that someone has applied for a credit card in my name and that I should check my credit file in case they have applied for others. How would that work if they have to give my address, wouldn't the card come to me?
I then tried to access my credit file with MM but couldn't remember password so applied for another which they say will take 2 days to do more checks on me before I can look at my file.
Is there any way I can check file today?

[Deleted User]

Start by checking the other two CRAs.

If someone has applied in your name, they probably won't be giving your address.

Grassing_Granny

Thank you, I hadn't realised they didn't need that to apply. How do I check the other credit files, I don't even know the names of the credit agencies.

Louoffofsparkle

There is ClearScore, totally money, credit karma that are free

sourcrates

How come they had your phone number ?
In my experience creditors do not ring you up out of the blue with such information.
They would normally write to you, I would tread very carefully, you didn’t confirm any personal or payment information did you ?

Grassing_Granny

She asked for me by name, told me about the scam then gave first line of my address and asked if that was correct and I said yes. I think she said they got my number from the phone book.

[Deleted User]

Grassing_Granny wrote: »

She asked for me by name, told me about the scam then gave first line of my address and asked if that was correct and I said yes. I think she said they got my number from the phone book.

This sounds massively dodgy. Credit card companies don't look people up in phone books.

AndyPix

^^ This


Did they get you to 'confirm some personal details to prove your identity' before they would speak to you ?


What action, if any , did they ask you to take ? (visit a website , call a number etc)


Also , what number did they call you from ? and did they call your landline or mobile ?

Grassing_Granny

Yes I think you're right but not sure what they gain from this or what I can do about it. I never give any passwords or account numbers but They are becoming so clever now it is frightening. I'm in my seventies so I wonder if they have DOB and target old people.

Grassing_Granny

AndyPix - She just asked if she was speaking to (my name). I looked at phone number which started with 0127 - and rang landline.

AndyPix

As long as you didn't give out any personal info (D.O.B etc) and you didn't take any action on the back of the call then you are in the clear.


Very very suspicious though and highly unlikely to be actually from American Express


Be mindful that this call might have been a "primer" for another call to follow - which will ask you for more info.( they call it a primer because it puts you in the mindset of trusting the situation is real)


If another call comes , don't answer any questions apart from your name


Andy