The scammers are out this weekend

RetSol

The snow means that the miscreants are indoors with nothing to do.  Today, HMRC has a fraud case registered in my name, apparently.  Automated message.  They could at least give it the personal touch.... 

schiff

ivormonee said:

My memory seems to fail me as I too had forgotten to renew my TV licence, netflix subscription and Amazon Prime. In fact I'm so forgetful that I seem to have no recollection of a netflix account, so I can only extend my gratitude to all who've contacted me with these helpful reminders, complete with helpful links in their emails to save me having to search for the right webpages.

Would also like to say a big thank you to HMRC. I know they sometimes get a lot of stick but, if it weren't for their call just this morning I'd've been completely in the dark regarding the fact that my personal details have been used fraudulently. Luckily, the person on the phone helped me through the process of restoring my tax account by taking all my information during the call which ended with his reassurance that all was now ok and that no action would be taken against me for fraud.

I should add that I was particulary impressed with how thorough he was to make sure that I passed security: he asked for my full name, address, phone, NI number, DOB, passport number and driving licence number - now that was a foolproof identity check!

Which cheek was your tongue in when you wrote that?

cannugec5

I’ve had 3 phone calls this week about the compromised situation of my NI Number. They kindly tell me that I’m in West Wales (actually I’m in Scotland!). After each call I’ve blocked the number, but they ring again on a different, but similar one. 

colsten

cannugec5 said:

I’ve had 3 phone calls this week about the compromised situation of my NI Number. They kindly tell me that I’m in West Wales (actually I’m in Scotland!). After each call I’ve blocked the number, but they ring again on a different, but similar one. 

Phone numbers can still be spoofed. Amazingly, the industry and the regulators have as yet not put a stop to it.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/problems/tackling-nuisance-calls-and-messages/phone-spoof-scam

Descrabled

Spoofed numbers

I have been receiving many calls during the last week from so called Amazon. These inform me that a payment of over £1000 is being taken from my account. The telephone display shows a different number each time. I noticed that several of the spoofed numbers are local and some are 0345 numbers but they are also correctly named as "international".

The difficulty is that I don't have an Amazon account; prime or otherwise.

RetSol

Descrabled said:

Spoofed numbers

I have been receiving many calls during the last week from so called Amazon. These inform me that a payment of over £1000 is being taken from my account. The telephone display shows a different number each time. I noticed that several of the spoofed numbers are local and some are 0345 numbers but they are also correctly named as "international".

The difficulty is that I don't have an Amazon account; prime or otherwise.

I have lost count of the number of calls which I have had informing me that my (non-existent) Amazon Prime membership is due for the renewal. 

TheShape

colsten said:

cannugec5 said:

I’ve had 3 phone calls this week about the compromised situation of my NI Number. They kindly tell me that I’m in West Wales (actually I’m in Scotland!). After each call I’ve blocked the number, but they ring again on a different, but similar one. 

Phone numbers can still be spoofed. Amazingly, the industry and the regulators have as yet not put a stop to it.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/problems/tackling-nuisance-calls-and-messages/phone-spoof-scam

The problem with preventing the amending of the caller ID is that many organisations use it for legitimate purposes.  For example, I have often made calls to people in my work.  The caller ID displays a central number, not the number for the phone on my desk.  If the number displayed was my actual direct number, that phone would ring all day.  I'd either have to answer it and be unable to carry out my role or not answer which would be frustrating for people trying to contact the organisation.

By what process would you determine who could and who could not amend Caller ID?

[Deleted User]

I had three or four calls a day a few weeks ago. An 0203 number. When I called back a gentleman answered and I advised I was returning a call, I was routed to a voice recording telling me scammers were pretending to call from the company.

Virtual numbers outside of location should be banned!