Lotto cold caller scam

Matt002

My elderly mother seems to have fallen victim to a lotto scam. They cold called and got her bank account details (not the online login just the sort code and account nunber). As soon as she got off the call she realised what had happened and called the bank to cancel her card etc.

However a couple of weeks later it would appear they are setting up a £39 a month direct debit on her account.

Speaking to the bank they say that we are covered by the DD gaurentee and they will cancel it and refund the money. They recommend not changing her account account number.

Is it likely in cancelling the DD they can come after her for the money by any legal means etc through some kind of verbal contract? She cant remember what was said in the call etc.

Is it worth changing her bank account number and phone number etc anyway? Any other steps worth taking?

davidmcn

For starters, what do you mean by "scam"? If it's somebody authorised to set up paperless direct debits, they must be relatively legit. So in theory yes it's possible she's actually liable to pay them money. Hasn't she received anything in writing from them?

No point in changing her bank account, at worst all they can do is try reinstating the direct debit, in which case she could reverse the payment again via the DD Guarantee.

mikb

davidmcn said:

For starters, what do you mean by "scam"? If it's somebody authorised to set up paperless direct debits, they must be relatively legit

While I agree with your question/statement, I would also flip it around -- "Which legitimate lottery company is cold calling people asking them to sign up and play?"

I'm hoping it's a very short list.

[Deleted User]

It’s more than likely one of the charity organisations that run their own lotteries. I don’t think it’s a scam, it’s something she has signed up to and misunderstood. 

Cancelling the card in the first instance was the wrong thing to do because by your post she didn’t give card details she give bank account details. They would of had no way to take from her card. 

Pollycat

What was the 'lotto' company?

I too think it's probably one of the charities

Can you (through your Mum) ask for a recording of the call?

£39 per month seems a massive (and odd) amount.

And how did they get hold of her number?

I'd want to stop that happening again with other companies.

Matt002

Thanks for the replies. 
Its superlottos.com
She got an email from them this morning saying her membership was cancelled.

From a google there seems to be a lot of people saying various negative things about them and cold calling. They may well be legit but with a cold calling as their operating method I simply don't know so as pointed it out above it may not be a scam. 

Its difficult to get a straight answer from my mum as she simply can not remember what happened. All quite a stressful start to 2021 though.

I guess we just need to see how things pan out. In the meantime we have enabled white list call receipt only on her phone, started looking at getting an LPA in place etc. etc.

Pollycat

Matt002 said:

Thanks for the replies. 
Its superlottos.com
She got an email from them this morning saying her membership was cancelled.

From a google there seems to be a lot of people saying various negative things about them and cold calling. They may well be legit but with a cold calling as their operating method I simply don't know so as pointed it out above it may not be a scam. 

Its difficult to get a straight answer from my mum as she simply can not remember what happened. All quite a stressful start to 2021 though.

I guess we just need to see how things pan out. In the meantime we have enabled white list call receipt only on her phone, started looking at getting an LPA in place etc. etc.

It's very sad that we have to protect our elderly relatives from companies like this.

I've been there, it's hard to walk the fine line between leaving their independence intact and protecting them.

Keep_pedalling

Superlottos do not run a lottery, they are running a syndicating operation. For some unknown fee they purchase various logo tickets for you lumped into a syndicate with a bunch of other people. 

It is highly unlikely that your they will pursue her for the money.

Matt002

Pollycat said:

Matt002 said:

Thanks for the replies. 
Its superlottos.com
She got an email from them this morning saying her membership was cancelled.

From a google there seems to be a lot of people saying various negative things about them and cold calling. They may well be legit but with a cold calling as their operating method I simply don't know so as pointed it out above it may not be a scam. 

Its difficult to get a straight answer from my mum as she simply can not remember what happened. All quite a stressful start to 2021 though.

I guess we just need to see how things pan out. In the meantime we have enabled white list call receipt only on her phone, started looking at getting an LPA in place etc. etc.

It's very sad that we have to protect our elderly relatives from companies like this.

I've been there, it's hard to walk the fine line between leaving their independence intact and protecting them.

Its exactly that isn't it, such a thin line to walk. I think she still thinks everyone you talk to is nice and a friendly person trying to help you out.

Ive had a chat with the local beat police chap and he is going to go and have a chat with her about this kind of thing and door knocker cold callers etc. Hopefully it will sink in a bit more coming from him.

So sorry you have had to deal with this kind of thing too. It isn't really the company thats stressed me out its the realisation that suddenly the relative needs a lot of support.

Thanks again all. Hope you all have as good a new year as you can!