Hi all,
Just thought I’d make you aware of a scam that’s my father has fallen victim too and lost £20k.
Received a phone call yesterday on the landline, the person on other end pretended to a BT Openreach employee stating that the broadband/telephone line was about to be cut off and the IP address has been compromised.
Cut a long story short, they got my old man to download a remote access app on his laptop, log on to his online banking, get an access code from his card reader, assuming setting themselves up as a payee on his account, and then withdrawing his entire bank balance to a Clydesdale bank account - probably been transferred all over the world by now.
Natwest and police are on the case, unsure what the outcome will be.
Totally shocked that my old man could fall for this trick but he isn’t particularly tech savvy, but if I can save another person falling for this then that’s great. Worrying that having worked all his life he now has £0 to his name - stupid mistake I know.
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I really hope the police and Natwest can do something for him.
I hope he can recover some or all of his losses given the circumstances. If he reported it promptly then the bank should take some responsibility for not questioning such 'unusual' transactions I would have thought.
If you're harassed with other things it is all too easy not to be as savvy as normal when confronted with such a situation.
Elderly, vulnerable, retired formerly hardworking individuals don't matter in 21st Century Britain.
What's the last 4 digits of the card you have on file for me?
When was the last time you debited me?
When was the last time I spoke to you and was it online, email or phone?
This is info any real company will have access to, and will be able to confirm for you.
If they can't tell them to f*** off and correspond with you via an official letter.
I'd love to have one of these call me.
I think there has to be a global campaign and their punishment should be multi national too. I'd like a system where all countries pay Thailand or similar to build the prisons and give an international court jurisdiction to send these scammers there. A really strong detterent is the the best way to attack the problem.
We usually have a discussion and then they are told to go away impolitely.
Get another one from 'BT' where its a recorded message about my internet/router asking me to press 1 to talk about this problem. I have never pressed 1, as mentioned above you probably end up on some premium rate line.
BT however, were absolutely disgraceful. She called them to let them know someone had called representing them. They told her it was a known scam and that to get peace of mind she should upgrade her broadband package to the more expensive product. The scam had nothing to do with her hub or WIFI. Luckily I found out before the 14 day cool off period so she could cancel, otherwise she'd have been paying £47 per month for WIFI in a flat she only lives in 2 days a week.
https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/
I also always direct clients to a publication called The Little Book of Scams, which the various police forces around the country badge as their own and send out. The latest personal version (there is a corporate one as well) is here:
https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/the-little-book-of-big-scams.pdf
It is full of really useful tips and details as much as it can all the fraud types that are out there at the moment.
I hope your dad can get at least some of his money back.
All the best
Terry
The rule I always tell my grandparents is that nothing is ever that urgent. Politely tell them you are not available at the moment and that you will call them back later in the day (ideally with a family member around). Never call the number they give but call the number you usually call for them or one found online.
would gladly go back to the days where people were branded so everyday folk knew exactly what type of person they are.
am sorry to hear about your old man @iamdan
Incredibly stupid, I gave him both barrels in the heat of the moment.