Phone scammers

[IzzyGee]

My 87 year old mother was nearly scammed earlier today. A caller persuaded her he was a policeman and that he needed her help to catch a crooked employee in her bank branch. She drove to her branch but fortunately came to her senses before withdrawing the cash as intstructed.

Obviously they’re called confidence tricksters for a reason. I think many British people…perhaps also older ones or female ones…….are in the habit of being cooperative. My mum found it really hard to say “no….sorry…..I’m not doing what you ask”

I’m sharing this as a warning to others. I’m just so fucking angry. (And relieved.)

The safest thing to do is just hang up.
I've been pestered every day for a week with emails saying my TV licence payment hasn't gone through with a link to "make the payment" or I'll be fined £1000.
Of course it's a scam but looks very genuine so I could imagine some people being taken in by it.

We don’t have a landline and my iPhone screens all calls. If they aren’t a contact they don’t get through. Saves a lot of hassle!

This is the reason I keep them on the phone for as long as possible talking rubbish and hopefully making them question their life choices.

DP thinks I’m being mean but I’m just trying to prevent them from scamming on the elderly.

My friend gets her teenage daughter to deal with them, she was bullied at school and gives the scammers a graphic description of how she wants to torture the bully to death, just talking and not letting them get a word in edgeways.

Your poor mum, it's infuriating that these bastards target the elderly and they can be very convincing. OP, you need to coach your mum to say that she will need to speak to her daughter who handles all financial matters for her. That gives her a good excuse to hang up and speak to you before she agrees to anything. It also gives the scammers a heads up that she has someone looking out for her. Any genuine callers, like her bank or utilities will be fine with her doing that.