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Original poster

Should you report phone scams, and if so, who to?

6 replies

igivein · 27/01/2025 14:50

Someone tried a phone / text scam on me this morning.
Original message came from a known contact telling me they'd got a new number and could I update.
(I've let this person who's number the first message came from know about it).
Then came the 'please could you do me a favour?' with a request that I pay £1800 into an account to settle a bill because they couldn't access their account for 24 hours because of the new phone number...
So based on the theory that whilst they're going backwards and forwards with me they're not trying it on with anyone more gullible I decided to play along.
I kept them busy for an hour and a half before they realised and stopped responding.
I'm amazed they lasted so long to be honest, because I was being fairly outrageous - had lots of fun.
Anyway, the account they wanted me to transfer money to (from my Coutts account 😂) had a sort code that belongs to HSBC in Southampton, so would be going to an actual traceable UK account. Would anyone be interested in this, at the very least from the point of view of shutting the account down or ideally using it to trace the scammer and having a few stern words.
Who should I contact? The police, HSBC, no-one?

OP posts:
Original poster
igivein · 27/01/2025 15:00

Thanks @Arlanymor I've reported it.

OP posts:
HarrietofFire · 27/01/2025 16:20

Be very careful about engaging with scammers, even just for fun. They have been known to record your voice and use it for voice recognition eg 'yes' 'no' and numbers, words etc to access accounts and data.

These accounts may not even be yours. They need to be able to replicate your voice saying several different things.

Next time keep it as short as possible, they are almost certainly more tech savvy than you and there will have been a reason that they engaged with you so long.

Hang up immediately, block the number and report.

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Original poster
igivein · 27/01/2025 16:24

HarrietofFire · 27/01/2025 16:20

Be very careful about engaging with scammers, even just for fun. They have been known to record your voice and use it for voice recognition eg 'yes' 'no' and numbers, words etc to access accounts and data.

These accounts may not even be yours. They need to be able to replicate your voice saying several different things.

Next time keep it as short as possible, they are almost certainly more tech savvy than you and there will have been a reason that they engaged with you so long.

Hang up immediately, block the number and report.

Thanks for the heads-up @HarrietofFire , but there were no voice calls involved, all text.

OP posts:
HarrietofFire · 27/01/2025 17:02

Good news!

Vinnyzzz · 19/04/2025 11:20

Mr Mohammed Khan Use this link to resolve your account with Hyperoptic pay.paycars.co.uk/QvDkkVE, if you need help call 01256306798 REF: 29528292. This was text to me it's a scam I have never been with the company and not owed £10 be watchful

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