Ee email scam

Sncjw

Hi all

I'm very concerned as I had an email what I thought was ee saying there's issue with direct debit. I have recently signed up with them so I thought it was them. 


I filled on the details with my name dob address bank account number sort code and card information. 

Onto Halifax and they said just keep eye out to see if there's any charges from Ee but I have signed up to them. I said to them at the start the scammers have my card details and account information. 

I did reiterate that the scammers  have my information even though they said to just keep eye on it. 

They then ask oh did you give them your account number and sort code and in like I told you this at the start. 

I'm worried that the scammers have this information and now Halifax isn't replying back to me 

Band7

Unlikely that EE asked you for your card info or your DOB when setting up a DD. So yes, you are probably at the receiving end of a scam.

It's not clear whether you have now given the info to the scammers. If you have not - great!  Do not give it to them! If you have, however, to avoid losing money, you should:

1. immediately freeze your debit card. You can do this in the app, and may be also online (you might need to get some cash from an ATM, to tick you over the next few days)
   
   
2. request a replacement debit card. Again, you can do this in the app 
   
   
3. check your Halifax account daily for the next week or two. If there are any unexplained payments, immediately report them to Halifax
   
   
4. consider CIFAS protective registration
   
   
5. log into your EE account - Menu - Bills and payments - Direct Debit and check that the correct details are there. Change as needed.
   
   
6. not respond to any unsolicited calls purporting to be from Halifax Security. Put the phone down immediately.
   
   
7. not respond to any more emails asking you for bank and card details and personal data such as DOB

Sncjw

Halifax didn't ask me to freeze the card but I did say the form asked me for account and sort code

Band7

Your decision whether to do as Halifax suggested, or whether you assume the unusual email was from a scammer and take precautions to secure your money.

masonic

Sncjw said:

Halifax didn't ask me to freeze the card but I did say the form asked me for account and sort code

Your account number and sort code do not need to be kept private, so that should be of little concern. The card details and address could be used fraudulently, so that's the most important thing to sort out, by freezing and requesting a replacement.

Sncjw

I went back on the chat to another advisor and they said to cancel the card. 

What can people do with my account number 

masonic

Sncjw said:

What can people do with my account number 

Pay you some money. In theory, they could register a direct debit in your name, but this could easily be reclaimed under the DD guarantee and wouldn't have any value to a fraudster.

Lindlou

Had the same several years ago. The minute they asked for a card number I realised it was a scam as I pay by DD. I didn't go any further. They are very convincing. As you have been previously advised, freeze the card and request a new one. 

Band7

Lindlou said:

Had the same several years ago. The minute they asked for a card number I realised it was a scam as I pay by DD. I didn't go any further. They are very convincing. As you have been previously advised, freeze the card and request a new one. 

Too true, some of the scammers are terribly convincing. I nearly got done myself in an Omicron scam. 

They texted me to say I need to order an Omicron test kit as I had been in contact with someone diagnosed with Omicron. Whilst it was totally stupid of me to not think it through how anyone would know this, at the time I just thought OMG I might have Omicron. So I clicked on the link, which "helpfully" sent me to a site that looked like an NHS site, where I could order my Omicron test kit, for only the cost of P&P. This all happened just after free test kits were discontinued. I was asked to pay for the P&P by debit card but I didn't even need to enter my card details as the site offered to scan the card. But like any good NHS site, it asked me for me name, address and DOB......and I stupidly provided it all. 

A bit later, I texted my partner - obviously he needed to know immediately he was at risk of a deadly virus........I won't repeat what he called me but it was then that it all dawned on me. I then froze my card (any good bank now lets you do this in their app. Mine was Santander), so the fraudsters couldn't order their Just Eat deliveries (which Santander later told me had been attempted). It didn't stop the shysters from calling me a few days later on a Sunday evening, just after 7pm. A bloke with impeccable Queen's English announced he was from Santander Security and there had been a serious fraud attempt on my account. He then proceeded to tell me I needed to immediately transfer my balance to a safe account. Luckily, I did have my wits together this time, and he didn't succeed. But boy, are these fraudsters laying on a convincing story!

My recommendations to the OP are to a large extent based on my own near-miss. To me, the OP's story sounds very much like they are the subject of a serious scam, and if I were the OP, I would do as I suggested earlier. But obviously, I might be wrong, and the OP is free to ignore my suggestions.

username

What you've given them is enough for them to take out contracts in your name and pass security.

Make sure you have a password on your EE account.

Beware of additiona lines apppearing and phones or SIMs appearing at your address.

If they do turn up, put it to one side. Do not under any circumstances send it to any other addresses, let a  "courier" come and pick it u or send to an address that someone purporting to be from EE calls you out the blue to send it to.

penners324

You're very likely to get numerous phone supposedly from Halifax fraud department.

They'll be very convincing because they now have all your information