Banking scams - a warning!

[swee'pea99]

The Halifax thread has reminded me of something I read recently that really threw me.

Apparently scammers phone, give you some schpiel, then if you express any reservations say 'Totally understandable and very wise. So you know this is genuine, end this call, then call back using the number on the reverse of your card.' So you do, assuming that of course now you're definitely talking to your bank. But you're not. Just by holding the line open, if you call back within something like 15-20 seconds, the scammer receives the call you make, whatever number you dial. And then they take it from there - and you for all your money, if you're not careful.

It's a technical thing, and BT have been told by the government to pull their fingers out and sort it. In the meantime, it's a massive flaw in the system.

You may know this, I didn't. And since it's mostly elderly people who fall victim, you might want to let your parents know too.

 

[classic33]

The Halifax thread has reminded me of something I read recently that really threw me.

Apparently scammers phone, give you some schpiel, then if you express any reservations say 'Totally understandable and very wise. So you know this is genuine, end this call, then call back using the number on the reverse of your card.' So you do, assuming that of course now you're definitely talking to your bank. But you're not. Just by holding the line open, if you call back within something like 15-20 seconds, the scammer receives the call you make, whatever number you dial. And then they take it from there - and you for all your money, if you're not careful.

It's a technical thing, and BT have been told by the government to pull their fingers out and sort it. In the meantime, it's a massive flaw in the system.

You may know this, I didn't. And since it's mostly elderly people who fall victim, you might want to let your parents know too.

Which is one reason for getting the OP in the Halifax thread to report it.

 

[TVC]

No bank ever calls you or e-mails you and asks for you to disclose your account details, even by calling back. If they do it's a scam, end of story.

 

[Drago]

If they're your bank they'll already know your details. Tell them to foxtrot Oscar.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Just by holding the line open, if you call back within something like 15-20 seconds, the scammer receives the call you make, whatever number you dial.

To be more precise ...

Only a caller can end a call. If the call recipient hangs up but the caller doesn't, the line remains open.

What the scammers do is play a dialtone recording as soon as you 'hang up'. You dial your bank's number (which does nothing). They play a ringing tone and then an accomplice 'answers' the call and 'puts you through' to the first scammer.

 

[Profpointy]

No bank ever calls you or e-mails you and asks for you to disclose your account details, even by calling back. If they do it's a scam, end of story.

well actually yes they do - mine phoned me up then, I kid you not, asked for my security details. Yeah right! I then phoned the bank themselves up via the proper number and it really was them.

The girl in the bank couldn't grasp that this was a problem

 

[Ganymede]

Friend of mine works teaching in prison. One of her guys was done for stealing from cash machines and his advice is

1: Really hide your PIN. He says "almost nobody does".
2. If you are distracted by anyone behind you saying "Oh mate, I've just lost my card in that machine, there's something wrong with it", PUT YOUR HAND STRAIGHT OVER THE CARD SLOT - he used to time this "friendly intervention" so that when the card-owner turned round, the crim's mate would lean in and nick the card from the slot - I guess having pressed cancel, not sure. Then you would look round and think your card had been eaten by the machine.

He said if you keep your hand up on the card slot this is the best way to prevent fraud, but I was interested in what he said about PINs not being covered. It's so simple - do we feel impolite doing it or something?!

 

[Brandane]

well actually yes they do - mine phoned me up then, I kid you not, asked for my security details. Yeah right! I then phoned the bank themselves up via the proper number and it really was them.

The girl in the bank couldn't grasp that this was a problem

I've had this too; but I can't remember if it was the bank, or vodafone, or someone else who should have known better. They couldn't understand why I was getting narky with them when I refused to give my security details on the grounds that THEY called ME, so they should know who they are talking to!

 

[Brandane]

Keep your money under the mattress. It's safer.

Gets just as much interest these days too.

 

[byegad]

well actually yes they do - mine phoned me up then, I kid you not, asked for my security details. Yeah right! I then phoned the bank themselves up via the proper number and it really was them.

The girl in the bank couldn't grasp that this was a problem

Capital One are really very good on security. I got a call from them on the home phone re a payment made to a USA retailer. The caller asked me for my security details and I, like you refused. I called them back on my mobile and went through direct to the security department after typing in my card number. I explained why I never give security details to a caller and they agreed, but then told me most people do!!! Anyway the queried payment was made by me so we were sorted in no time.

 

[summerdays]

I always cover my hand typing in the PIN number with my other hand/purse, at the hole in the wall, but I'm aware I don't do it when paying in a shop at the tills, somehow that seems more awkward.

 

[BSRU]

The no hanging up is a feature from the old days to allow the receiver of the call to transfer the incoming call to another phone.
A call answered on phone downstairs then transferred to a phone upstairs, giving the called person time to get to the second phone.
Not as useful these days as many people have cordless phones at home.

 

[jefmcg]

I always cover my hand typing in the PIN number with my other hand/purse, at the hole in the wall, but I'm aware I don't do it when paying in a shop at the tills, somehow that seems more awkward.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Vc-69M-UWk

 

[ianrauk]

Bugger to being awkward. I cover it everytime.

 

[nickyboy]

Bugger to being awkward. I cover it everytime.

Me too. And if someone is standing close by when I'm at an ATM I ask them to stand back a bit.
It is difficult to cover the pin reader in a shop though, both from the shop assistant and the person behind you.

I don't understand why, in USA, where Credit Cards are so common, they still take your card away from the restaurant table to conduct the transaction. Fraught with opportunity to clone the card or just take the details. Went to Florida this Spring, lo and behold, next card statement had some car parts on it that someone had ordered on a UK site to be delivered in USA. Obviously the thief used a UK site so as not to flag up on the Bank's fraud prevention software