08007838422 Scam or Genuine HSBC?

GrowMoney

Hi all,

I have been receiving calls from this phone number 08007838422 on my mobile 2 or 3 times a day for weeks. When I answer I end up speaking to an Indian call centre.

The male tells me that he is calling me from HSBC and that he has to inform me of something important associated with my account.

But first he says I must verify my details. The first question he asks is "What is your date of birth!"

Naturally I keep refusing to give him these details. If I ask what the call is regarding he just repeats that I need to verify my details. I have repeatedly told this number that they are calling me and that it is them you need to verify their details. I hang up but the calls keep coming.

I wondered if anybody else has been getting these calls. A quick search on internet revealed the following thread http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/08007838422 It seems I am not alone and that hundreds of people are reporting the calls.

Nobody seems to know if this is a Scam or a genuine call from HSBC. If it is HSBC then I am shocked that they would call in this manner. I mean has HSBC never seen Phone Jacker! This is turning into Harassment

Anybody else had any problems?

TEDDYRUKSPIN

Actually it sounds like this is a scam.

From what I remember, if HSBC phone you and you do not answer they will not leave a number to ask you to phone back. If you phone back to this number it will provide a voicemail stating that HSBC has attempted to phone you. They will not leave a number.

gt94sss2

GrowMoney wrote: »

I have been receiving calls from this phone number 08007838422 on my mobile 2 or 3 times a day for weeks. When I answer I end up speaking to an Indian call centre.

The male tells me that he is calling me from HSBC and that he has to inform me of something important associated with my account.

I wondered if anybody else has been getting these calls. A quick search on internet revealed the following thread http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/08007838422 It seems I am not alone and that hundreds of people are reporting the calls.

Having read that thread, its quite obvious to me that its a genuine HSBC number and not a scam..

Regards
Sunil

GrowMoney

How do you work that out Sunil? a lot of people say they have called HSBC and that they deny making the call.

I think I will give him a false date of birth next time he calls. If he is genuine he should spot the error.

gt94sss2

GrowMoney wrote: »

How do you work that out Sunil? a lot of people say they have called HSBC and that they deny making the call.

1. The number of people on that thread who have called HSBC afterwards on one of their main numbers and HSBC say they did try and contact them.

2. Those who agreed to give their postcode etc and found it was a genuine call..

I suspect different parts of HSBC may have access to different databases - hence the differing replies when someone tries to call HSBC and confirm if its a genuine call - sometimes they are wrongly informed its not.

It also makes sense that the callers sometime say they represent:

- HFC
- Marks and Spencer Money
- The GM Card

instead of HSBC.. as they are all owned and run by HSBC.

Regards
Sunil

guynextdoor82

I can re confirm with sunil that IT IS GENUINE HSBC its from their collections dept i had on of them wen i went over my overdraft

the actual call center is in Philippines

fas3robinj

The number checks out OK on "Say No to 0870" as an HSBC number.

GrowMoney

Thanks to all those who replied, I have just phoned HSBC on their complaints line and they confirm that they have been trying to contact me. It seems my new card has been returned as I have changed address.

Still I cant believe that they would do this. This 0800 number is not listed in their phone directory. I would not recommend that anybody give their DOB, sort code, account number etc to some random stranger who calls them on the phone. It wont be long before the scammers pick up on what HSBC is doing.

Thanks again

GrowMoney

iwanttoberich

I totally agree with you GrowMoney. I never give out my details unless I have originated the call. Otherwise I tell them that if they really want to talk to me then send me a letter or I look for the number myself and call. I think if it is a serious issue then they should contact you in writing anyway.

These days, with so many scams around, you never really know who is on the other end of the line, regardless of how professional they sound.

Paul_Herring

SayNoTo0870 list the number as an HFC/HSBC number

That said however I'm loathe to give out any personal details to someone who calls me out of the blue from a number I don't recognise. (Exceptions being IceSave the other night because I knew they'd be calling, and Egg who's number I have in my phone's address book.)

My first question in reply to their (non-known caller) first security question is 'prove that you do work for $COMPANY'. They usually can't.

If you don't want to talk to them, ask for a reference number which you can use if you ring back on a publicly advertised free number on their website.

Scousebird_2

GrowMoney wrote: »

Thanks to all those who replied, I have just phoned HSBC on their complaints line and they confirm that they have been trying to contact me. It seems my new card has been returned as I have changed address.

Still I cant believe that they would do this. This 0800 number is not listed in their phone directory. I would not recommend that anybody give their DOB, sort code, account number etc to some random stranger who calls them on the phone. It wont be long before the scammers pick up on what HSBC is doing.

Thanks again

GrowMoney

Well done on being so sensible, there is so much fraud going on out there so you were right to question.