Think I nearly got scammed!

[bananaskin123]

Had a phone call yesterday purporting to be the police at Hammersmith informing me my debit card had been cloned. I was told someone had tried to use it on the Apple shop for something costing £400. I was asked if I had my cards with me, I luckily did. Surprisingly he didn't ask for numbers on the card etc.Was beginning to smell a rat (I think). He then told me his name, he was a DC and his number. Told me he was going to put me through to 999 as it was essential that I report the matter. At this point I put the phone down and rang my Bank who confirmed no change on my account.

I had heard of this scam but just wanted to warn everyone again. I so nearly fell for it.

What would have happened if they'd 'put you through to 999'?

As in, they would have impersonated being 999 also and then got details?

Have you spoken to the police about this, as impersonating police is something they would be interested in pursuing I would have thought?

Will be alert to that now thanks for posting it

If this ever happens to anyone, please call back on a different line to the one you recieved the call on. Fraudsters keep the line open, so you think you're calling your bank for example, but still talking to the fraudster.

No one would ever put you through to 999 for card theft/cloning.

You’d report it on MN’s favourite number 101.

My DM had this. Luckily she had the presence of mind to go next door to call the bank on their landline, who advised that it was a scam.

Please report this to the police. My aunt was on the jury for a case that sounds very similar to this. The perpetrators got 6 years each but they knew that they were not the ‘top’ people in the scam.

This has been going on for years and years - exactly the same. What usually happens is that they advise you to call your bank so you put your phone down and call them. The scammers have not disconnected their end so that you end up speaking to them.

They will often suggest sending a courier round to collect your "cloned" card.

Please report it to police and make your friends aware as they tend to target specific areas for some time.