Scam?

Albermarle

I'm just reading the Daily Mail headlines and one of them is: "MSE Towers destroyed by benefit sponging immigrant labour voting, remainer terrorists" 

No doubt we can add more !

coyrls

They found out about it on Twitter, so it must be true.

Eco_Miser

John464 said:

Typically they will get the director's email address of a reputable company, change one letter, name looks the same but spelt slightly differently, and register that email address themselves.  So, unless you carefully check every letter and number, the scammers email address looks the same as the genuine one. 

Directors of reputable companies don't typically use Gmail or other public email providers, but their company's domain. So the scammer would register a whole domain - website and near infinite email addresses - with a tiny difference from the genuine one, which may be replacing a letter with a visually identical Greek or Cyrillic one.

apb123

Of course it is a scam...
To be honest it is worrying that you even have to ask. 

cymruchris

How did the call go?

MaxiRobriguez

cymruchris said:

How did the call go?

He managed to negotiate the sale of 48 camels from £29,000 to £22,000.

z6982667

Hi all. My elderly Dad received an email (& follow up phone call) form a Citibank offering me  the opportunity to invest in their
SLFC (CITIBANK) INTERNATIONAL PENSION FUND offering amazing Fixed Rate returns.
Realising it was a scam I managed to stop the application being sent and have now got Dad to block the phone number...
BUT, they have his Name, possibly his Date Of Birth(he can't remember if he gave it) and Phone number - is this now a problem?

Any info would be very much appreciated.

MaxiRobriguez

z6982667 said:

Hi all. My elderly Dad received an email (& follow up phone call) form a Citibank offering me  the opportunity to invest in their
SLFC (CITIBANK) INTERNATIONAL PENSION FUND offering amazing Fixed Rate returns.
Realising it was a scam I managed to stop the application being sent and have now got Dad to block the phone number...
BUT, they have his Name, possibly his Date Of Birth(he can't remember if he gave it) and Phone number - is this now a problem?

Any info would be very much appreciated.

There is the possibility that the scammers sell his details onto other scammers for them to try. He is likely at heightened risk so should be taking additional precautions from theft. Many older people find it hard to be 'rude' on the phone to strangers but his best defence is to put the phone down without saying bye to anyone who is cold calling. Same thing applies to unsolicited mail through the post: bin it.

If he sends money anywhere, it should be something he is expecting to pay for or something he initiates. No ifs, or buts.

If your father is very elderly and struggling, you could discuss whether he may like to have you as power of attorney. 

eskbanker

Just to add to the above, he should monitor his credit files for anything out of the ordinary (free) and potentially take out CIFAS protective registration (not free), which would hinder anyone's ability to take out credit in his name:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/check-free-credit-report/
https://www.cifas.org.uk/pr

lozzy1965

apb123 said:

Of course it is a scam...
To be honest it is worrying that you even have to ask. 

No way.  Scam posts are the most entertaining!  As long as the wonderful people on MSE prevent the scam of course!