Is this a scam?? HELP!!

Rock_Chick_Bird

Hi All
Just a bit of advice from you if I may be so bold!:p (sorry if this is the wrong forum - I usually stick to the comping board!)
My parents own a newsagents & have, for the past few days been getting very wierd calls from someone called Doug Weston.

He insists on speaking to my dad, who owns the shop but refuses to divulge what he needs to talk to him about, apart from that it is regarding a woman called Cyn Chan Cheung & that my dad will know what its about.

My dad has always been out of the shop when these calls happen, even though the caller has been told on numerous occasions what time he will be around.
My dad has no clue at all what this is about, but I suspect some kind of scam.

Has anyone else had calls like this? My parents are in their 60's & my mum is really worried. I'd love to be able to put her mind at rest.


THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

superscaper

Not heard of anything like that before and I'd probably classify it more as a prank call than a scam. Bit difficult to say one way or other until you know what the speakers would say if your dad answers the phone. Have you made a note of the number that's been calling?

skylight

Get a male friend to hang around and answer the phone??

Rock_Chick_Bird

He never calls when my dad is around, and when we call 1471 the number is with-held.

superscaper

Rock_Chick_Bird wrote: »

He never calls when my dad is around, and when we call 1471 the number is with-held.

I wonder if it's worth contacting BT's nuisance calls department. If you think it's too much of a coincidence in his timing. It still sounds like a prank caller.

Unless your dad is good at changing his voice and is winding you up
(I know that's not the case)

It may be worth a try with charlotte's suggestion of using any male to answer as your dad.

Rock_Chick_Bird

Thanks everyone! Will look into your suggestions to see if we can sort this guy out!!

In a really wierd twist to the tale though, a lady from another newsagents round the corner from ours has just found out that after she bought something online and sending a cheque for £10, the person she sent the cheque to has changed the £10 to £1,000!!

When she has gone to the bank to check it out, the person that has forged the cheque has apparantly bought plane tickets to travel from the East.

Cyn Chan Cheung is a very Eastern name - co-incidence??? :eek:

maninthestreet

Rock_Chick_Bird wrote: »

Thanks everyone! Will look into your suggestions to see if we can sort this guy out!!

In a really wierd twist to the tale though, a lady from another newsagents round the corner from ours has just found out that after she bought something online and sending a cheque for £10, the person she sent the cheque to has changed the £10 to £1,000!!

When she has gone to the bank to check it out, the person that has forged the cheque has apparantly bought plane tickets to travel from the East.

Cyn Chan Cheung is a very Eastern name - co-incidence??? :eek:

How did the bank fail to spot this altered cheque? The person would have had to change the wording from 'Ten pounds' to 'One Thousand pounds' -surely that would have been obvious?

superscaper

maninthestreet wrote: »

How did the bank fail to spot this altered cheque? The person would have had to change the wording from 'Ten pounds' to 'One Thousand pounds' -surely that would have been obvious?

You'd think so wouldn't you. Personally I don't have the confidence in the banking sector to actually be surprised.

hollydays

Have you tried asking for his number? Are you sure no-one is filling their pockets in the shop while you are taking these calls? Is it wise,if you have cash on the premesis,to be telling someone your Dads movements?

superscaper

hollydays wrote: »

Is it wise,if you have cash on the premesis,to be telling someone your Dads movements?

Never even occurred to me. I'm glad someone on here has the mind of a master criminal.
:beer:

hollydays

mmwaahaha..............