PFP Energy scam?

Pollypatch

I’ve been having a private number call my mobile several times a day since Thursday.  I normally ignore these calls but I’m waiting for a medical appointment so decided to answer the call this morning.  It was from my (business) energy provider?..... explaining that because businesses were closed because of COVID they were moving people like me onto lower tariffs.  I’m now incredibly uneasy about what I told the caller.  During the call his blurb was interspersed with questions.  He asked if he could take a password so I could access the account if ever I had a query.  He asked my business name and address.  He asked my home address and how long I’ve lived here.  He asked if I had been closed during lockdown.  He asked my name on the account and email address.  After the call ended he rang back five minutes later to ask my date of birth.  I questioned that then for some reason gave it anyway.
My question is have I been stupid and what should I do?  I’ve rang PFP to check if this was a legit call and their systems are down, just my luck!! I’ve also rang my bank who weren’t that concerned as I didn’t give out any bank details.  Could this be a scam using my details perhaps?

niktheguru

It depends. Did they state which energy provider it was? It seems odd they would ask all those questions, they surely should have all that information.
There are lots of scammers about at the moment trying to capitalise on covid.
First thing I would do is to change the password for anything you use which shares the password you gave them.
If PFP when their systems are back say that it wasn't then I would suggest ringing ACTION FRAUD and registering it as a potential scam call. The police wont be interested as a crime hasn't taken place.

brewerdave

If you are a business user ,its probably a "broker" who will use the info. to switch your supply elsewhere for a bung! Keep a very careful eye on your PFP account.

UnclaimedEnergy

Pollypatch said:

 He asked if he could take a password so I could access the account if ever I had a query.  

As soon as they ask for a password that's when it sounds like a scam. No company should be asking their customers for passwords even if it is just to set up an account for them.

If the person calling you has your number, they may also have your email address. If the password you gave them is the same as you use anywhere else, you may wanna do a sweep and change your passwords.

If you gave them information which would be used for security questions, again, you will need to change this to be safe. Where possible, also set up 2-step authenticator everywhere.

Gerry1

Could well have been a scam by someone trying to rob you.  They may well have had almost  everything they needed apart from your DoB, so the first call was largely to get you primed and warmed up for when the second call came in, so that you would happily reveal your DoB without thinking.  Open,Sesame !

Unfortunately the answer to your question is that yes, you have been stupid because you may well become a victim of identity theft.  Sorry, but that's the way it is.

The golden rule is NEVER to give personal info to anyone calling you.  Cold callers claiming to be from generic or ambiguous names are a red flag, e.g. 'the bank' (why won't they say the name?), 'MasterCard/Visa' (it's one or the other, they're separate), 'your energy provider' (again, say the name), as are major organisations such as Amazon, Microsoft, BT, Openreach, the NHS, TV Licensing etc that so many people use.

Always hang up and call the number on the bill, bank statement or whatever, preferably from a different number if they called your landline.

It also shows just how stupid the banks and energy providers are in asking for DoB as a password.  Passwords should be changed frequently and be something known only by the user, so DoB, mother's maiden name etc fail on both counts.  I always refuse to give my DoB to energy companies and anyone who doesn't have good a very reason to know it, so not much more than insurance companies, NHS and (irritatingly) banks.  Energy companies et al are always told that it's a case of MYOB.

Elmer_BeFuddled

MYOB?     

t0rt0ise

Elmer_BeFuddled said:

MYOB?     

Mind Your Own Business 

MWT

brewerdave said:

If you are a business user ,its probably a "broker" who will use the info. to switch your supply elsewhere for a bung! Keep a very careful eye on your PFP account.

This is the most likely reason for the phone call.

Notify the current supplier that any attempt to switch or terminate the current contract from any broker or agent should be rejected as you have given no such authority to anyone and believe that your details may have been obtained fraudulently.