To warn others?

[Beerwench]

Had a call a few minutes ago and it's worried me a bit that others may get caught out if they're elderly/vulnerable for any reason.

The guy told me he was calling from a building society I don't use, and asked me to confirm my postcode, which he read out to me (an old onmumsnetters! asked him why, and what he wanted. He said he couldn't tell me unless I confirmed my postcode and address for security reasons. I said I wasn't going to do that until he told me what he wanted. He then went on to ask a barrage of questions such as my dob, my marital status and employment status and more worryingly, the number of under 16 dependants at home. I told him no chance, don't even use the building society he claimed to be from.
To which he laughed and asked again if I was married or single and saying (quite taking the piss I'm sure) 'I love you, will you marry me' in a rather creepy voice!
I hung up without telling him anything, but it has worried me as until he realised I wasn't being taken in, he had my old postcode, and he did sound plausible and professional saying the questions were security based etc. Worried someone night actually fall for this and reveal those details to some unscrupulous person on the end of a phone because he wasn't asking for bank numbers etc - had I answered he'd know where I live, if I'm likely to be alone in the house and if there are any children here.
I shudder to think what he'd want to know those things for!
Anyway I've emailed the building society in question to let them know, so they could warn their customers if it's more than a one off and just wanted to warn others!
Have a great day mumsnetters

[Beerwench]

an old onmumsnetters!
That was supposed to read (an old one) no idea how mumsnetters got in there!

[Hmmalittlefishy]

You can sometimes report these types of scams to your trading standards department at the local council who will sometimes put out information to residents. May be worth a call on Monday or an email?

[isthistoonosy]

I think they want the info to pass security checks in your name.
I have had these calls claiming to be from e.g.barclays, barclaycard, natwest and a very funny one claiming to be from my swedish bank but the guy couldnt talk swedish.

[Beerwench]

Yes hmmm, I have the number he rang from so I'll report there too. Thanks

[harderandharder2breathe]

I say it on all of these threads, yes sometimes companies do call and ask for security info before they'll speak to you BUT anyone genuine will be polite and happy for you to call them back to discuss (I always give our number and say they can check our website or previous correspondence to confirm it).

Obviously this one was a scam since OP doesn't even use the company they claimed to be from, but even if you do use the company, if you haven't done anything to initiate contact it's fine to say no I'll call you back on the number from my statement.

[LittleMisslikestobebythesea]

To add to the advice from harder if you can ring from another phone, as I know someone who put the phone down and thought they were ringing the bank, but the other person hadn't put the phone down so they scammed them that way.

[StillDrivingMeBonkers]

log it here too

who-called.co.uk/

[ThePurpleOneWithTheNut]

How weird. I had a call this morning from a BS we don't use. We might have had an account with them years ago but I certainly don't recall the details off the top of my head.

Got asked a load of security questions but when I couldn't answer the question about what account(s) we have with them the woman wouldn't talk to me anymore. I never asked her to call me anyway!

I dislike online banking at the best of times. I understand why they have to grill you, but I usually hesitate or say the wrong thing and then they make you feel like you've done something you shouldn't. But to have one call out of the blue and do it and then not tell me why makes me cross.

I think it could worry some people unduly. The call you had OP sounds very suspect.

[MusicToMyEars800]

I don't answer the phone to numbers I don't recognize, Unless I am expecting one, This is one of the reasons why.

[Albadross]

I had some company with all the details of a car accident I had almost a year ago - they started off giving all the details of my insurance, the other driver's name, all my details etc, and then told me they were sending a cheque for £2000 because there was some new rule from the FCA that any crash with over a certain level of damage would automatically mean you'd been 'jolted'. So this continued on for about 30 mins and then he finally told me I'd need to lie to say I was injured... it was one of those no win no fee BS companies.

Should I be worried that I gave them my DOB? They had literally ALL my other details...

[user1495832265]

Have you put the number he rang from into Google?

[innagazing]

Purple- that sounds like an attempted scam too then! Good job you didn't have any accounts with them, or they could be emptied by now if you'd given the account details,

[kaitlinktm]

I seem to remember being told recently about a phone scam where they try to get you to say yes and then they record it so that they can use it on one of these lines where you choose from a menu and give consent. Just a thought which occurred to me as the guy was obviously trying to get you to confirm and deny stuff.

I had a minor bump 2 years ago which was my own fault - no injuries,
(the other person wasn't even in his car ) and I have been phoned several times now saying there is compensation waiting for me. I just repeat that nobody was injured and that I don't approve of claiming falsely as that puts everyone's premiums up and is fraudulent. They always have an answer though.