Stolen debit card - new type of fraud

EssexExile

Sensory said:

I must be jaded because I never help strangers, especially desperate and/or friendly ones. Ever since I was mugged because someone asked me for the time.

That's sad. I came home today to find a broken down car outside my house, I lent the chap a trolley jack and various bits and pieces to get him out of trouble. He returned everything.

AskAsk

born_again said:

spenderdave said:

Sadly I was conned out of my HSBC debit card today in central London. A young chap claiming to be French (but looked Asian) approached me claiming his brand new electric car battery had failed (standing next to a shiny motor) and needed to phone his insurance company in France. For some reason he couldn't do this on his own mobile and could I help him show how to do it in the phone box opposite. I almost did smell a rat. Anyway, these chaps are very convincing and somehow he managed to get me to put my card in the phone and even sillier type in my pin. He must have distracted me as when I looked there was no sign of my card. He claimed it was hidden inside the phone. He did something and the phone rang, claiming it was BT and chap was on the way to unlock the phone and return my card. Bloke of course was nowhere to be seen. Phone goes again, another chap from 'BT', wanting to know what was going on and yes, chap was on his way and indeed there was a card in the phone. I realised pretty quickly that the two calls were pre-arranged and forged. No mobile on me to ring HSBC and I didn't have my account details anyway so came home which took a couple of hours on the train.

Trying to ring HSBC on their 'lost card' number was a pain as it seems to go to their normal number and 20 minutes wait before got through. I had already checked my online banking and yes, loads of money had gone from my account starting with £500 from a cash machine nearby. Card blocked (seems you can do this from the app if you had that, I did find the option on the website but it is well hidden) but not sure what happens to what has been fraudulently withdrawn prior to me being able to notify them.

Feeling a right old fool, even more when I was in online banking yesterday and realising there was rather a lot in my current account deciding not to move some of it over there and then. Guess they checked the balance at the cash machine as well and said 'wow'. Oh dear, I will never learn.

So if you meet a non-French looking Frenchman wanting help in driving our payphones just say no.

Not a new scam. Been going on for years. It just a twist on the ATM version.

what's the ATM version?

MalMonroe

The most disturbing part of this for me was  - " A young chap claiming to be French (but looked Asian)".

"A young chap" would have done. No need to qualify what you judged his heritage to be. You can be scammed by absolutely anyone, of any nationality or colour or gender or age.

Someone comes up to me and asks to 'borrow' my bank card. Yeh, right. 

And, not being rude but you were in central London. Before you got on a train could you have gone into a branch and reported the card stolen? I know you didn't have any details on you but could they have possibly traced you through your name, dob and other security info?

MalMonroe

masonic said:

Catsacor said:

Seriously ?

The most surprising element of this story for me is that phone boxes now accept debit cards for payment. Shows how long ago I last used one!

I'm more surprised by the fact that there ARE phone boxes. 

MalMonroe

EssexExile said:

Sensory said:

I must be jaded because I never help strangers, especially desperate and/or friendly ones. Ever since I was mugged because someone asked me for the time.

That's sad. I came home today to find a broken down car outside my house, I lent the chap a trolley jack and various bits and pieces to get him out of trouble. He returned everything.

It's not really sad, as Sensory said they were mugged when trying to help a stranger. I've also been mugged and would find it hard to stop for someone who had a sob story. 

Besides, it's a totally different matter if someone's car breaks down outside your home - even if he'd have run off with everything you lent him, your bank account would still be intact. And you'd also be able to give the cops his registration plate number and make an insurance claim. I think you have to be sensible about these things and make your own judgements at the time.

AskAsk

MalMonroe said:

masonic said:

Catsacor said:

Seriously ?

The most surprising element of this story for me is that phone boxes now accept debit cards for payment. Shows how long ago I last used one!

I'm more surprised by the fact that there ARE phone boxes. 

yeah, they still exist, lol.  i often wonder who uses them but i think they have internet access as well?  i can't believe they make any money.

spenderdave

It is easy to criticise those of us who have been conned in this way, but when you have been done you look at it in a different light. I would never have done any of the things I did and was a total fool to do them but after the convincing talk they have you in a corner, especially as once inside the phone box if I resisted it could easily have turned violent. I still have my life, just lost a bit of money.

Having said that, although once I got through to HSBC they were very helpful it was not a good start after ringing their special lost card number being stuck in a queue for 20 minutes - 'your call is important to us', no, it is important to me. Although the card was disabled and a new one and pin arranged (still waiting for it to arrive) they were very evasive when I asked about compensation and it looks as if I will separately have to pursue that, the (large) purchases chap made within an hour are now clearly showing on my statement still. Police don't seem interested, I completed an Action Fraud report but they instantly told me it doesn't classify for a police record.

If I had a smartphone and their app it seems I could have blocked the card with that (I did so once home on my internet banking while waiting for HSBC to answer). I am not sure going into a random London bank would have been any quicker and was not sure where the nearest HSBC was.

Vegastare

There is the saying we learn by our mistakes - and sadly Dave has, I agree it is too easy to criticise but  then what do we do !! have to look at everyone as being corrupt - what a sad world it is.

Thank you for posting this and making me aware of it.

JGB1955

Someone recently asked me for the bus fare to the nearest town (10 miles) so he could move into his new emergency accommodation.  I pointed out that he could walk there in less than 4 hours .... it wasn't like he had anything else to do that day....

eskbanker

spenderdave said:

Police don't seem interested, I completed an Action Fraud report but they instantly told me it doesn't classify for a police record.

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/what-we-do-with-your-information

When you report a fraud to Action Fraud, you are given a  police crime reference number

However, that's just a box-ticking exercise, it's not as if they'll immediately spring into action and despatch a crack team of detectives to the scene....