Sky Zero

fwor

JR2011JR said:

Check the ISIN's on the stock exchange.

It's easy for a scammer to quote a valid ISIN, in the same way that it's easy for you to look one up. The problem is not that they have invented a fictitious bond - it's that you pay them money and you get nothing in return.

JR2011JR

fwor said:

JR2011JR said:

Check the ISIN's on the stock exchange.

It's easy for a scammer to quote a valid ISIN, in the same way that it's easy for you to look one up. The problem is not that they have invented a fictitious bond - it's that you pay them money and you get nothing in return.

Indeed hence why necessary to review the paperwork and check the firm outside of the email (i.e. don't respond giving your details).

jimjames

JR2011JR said:

I received the email too.  Check the ISIN's on the stock exchange.  I randomly selected the second one ISIN XS1143502901 it is listed in Dublin.  All the documents are available to read.

NOTE: I have not reviewed the docs and am not saying legit but at least one of the ISINs exists and is listed to Sky.  Will do some more investigation.

Biggest hallmark of a scam is that you've been emailed selling a bond that is listed on the Dublin stock exchange. Genuine stockbrokers do not send out random emails to sell bonds to people so if you receive one then it will be a scam or fraud.

Bravepants

RL11 said:

Email from mail@sky-zero.co.uk
Links go to https://skyzero.online
Looks totally legit!

I would question several things:

1. Why the hyphen in sky-zero.co.uk?

2. Why not https  : //skyzero.co.uk?, or

3. Why the lack of a hyphen in skyzero.online?

Picky probably, but these are often missed by people.

jimjames

JR2011JR said:

fwor said:

JR2011JR said:

Check the ISIN's on the stock exchange.

It's easy for a scammer to quote a valid ISIN, in the same way that it's easy for you to look one up. The problem is not that they have invented a fictitious bond - it's that you pay them money and you get nothing in return.

Indeed hence why necessary to review the paperwork and check the firm outside of the email (i.e. don't respond giving your details).

How exactly are you proposing to check the firm?

Gold_bullion

I suspected this was a scam because there's a typo in the address they give for the Wells Fargo's business (the real address is "King William Street" rather than the quoted "King Williams Street" in the attachments they send, as confirmed by a postcode check. There's also quite a few typos in the "application form".

Anyway, I e-mailed the address given by Wells Fargo on the FSCS site for the company FSCS reference the literature quoted (186745) i.e. ukcompliance@wellsfargo.com and received the following reply:

"Thank you for engaging us in relation to the below.

I can confirm this does not relate to genuine Wells Fargo business. We are advising members of the public to report the incident to Action Fraud." 

I did get called by one of the scammers calling himself Nigel Adams (from 0800 802 1986) and I have to say he was pretty convincing answering my questions. He sent me a follow up e-mail calling himself "Managing Director" of "Wells Fargo Securities International" but the limited company of that name has no such director as a check of Companies House showed. Once again the address he quoted had the additional "s".

Incidentally the scammers are doing an almost identical thing offering bonds associated with Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) with different rates on offer. Again there's a typo in the address for the postcode given ("Tonbridge" rather than Tunbridge).

 

Nickchev12

100% a scam. Spoke to a guy claiming to be James Marriott from Wells Fargo. Hung up then called James Marriott at Wells Fargo and spoke to a completely different person who knew nothing of this. AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!!!

barnstar2077

I don't read unsolicited emails, or answer calls from numbers I don't know.  Funny how scammers don't like to leave voicemails!