to warn you about this scam?

[Lovecat]

Sorry, not really an AIBU but I am fuming and don't want anyone else to get caught out like I was.

Long story short, I was called by someone claiming to be from Orange offering me an upgrade on my phone, which has just come out of contract. They had all my customer information and asked for letters from my password etc., very professional. They offered me a new phone and talked through the various plans available. They then said they were actually the Carphone Warehouse but were authorised dealers for Orange.

I was online at the time and checked out the deal, it was the one that the the Carphone Warehouse were offering and as it was impossible to a) get through to Orange on the phone about an upgrade b) use their site to do it online as it kept crashing, I thought 'well, at least I've heard of the Carphone Warehouse' and agreed to the deal.

I was told that my phone would be with me in 2-3 working days and if there were any problems to call 0844 89393 for their customer services. Well, 3 days came and went, I called the number and was on hold for nearly an hour being told I was 'number 2 in the queue'. Gave up. Tried again the next day (I know, I know) and ended up on hold for half an hour again at 'no 2 in the queue' before I gave up.

I then googled and found this: www.whophonedme.co.uk/08448933933 and it turns out it's a massive scam and I'm going to get a huge phone bill (£1 a minute - aaargh!).

I'm so furious with myself for being taken in and I'm going to report them to the police, the Carphone Warehouse and anyone else I can think of, but just wanted to warn others - I thought I was fairly savvy about stuff like this but these people are extremely professional, highly plausible and worse, know ALL your personal information.

Don't be taken in like I was!

That's horrible Lovecat. Thanks for sharing and alerting others, hopefully you will have prevented someone else getting caught out too.

Thanks for the info, Lovecat

I get a lot of the emails claiming to be from paypal or from Royal mail but I just delete those. Oh, and loads from Natwest and Santander asking me to log in to confirm security access to my account. (I don't have an account with either!)

I did get a call yesterday for my DH from someone claiming to be from FB calling about his FB business page. When I asked him to hold on whilst I checked with DH if he was interested, the caller hung up.

So many unscrupulous people about at the moment.

Always, always, always ring them. A reputable company/bank would never, ever phone you up and get you to give details out over the phone. YOU have to ring them to make sure it's the right number. Ditto emails. NEVER click on the links.

DH was also saying the other day (copper) that they've had scams where people have googled their banks and clicked on the first link in the list and entered their details when the first link is www.barc1ays.com instead of www.barclays.com (made up obviously). They get shut down and quickly but only ever bank online from a saved link. Don't google it and follow google links.

I was really quite rude to someone who rang very early in the morning claiming to be from my credit card company, and refused to give them any information. Turned out it really was my credit card company

Mind you, they should understand customers being wary and encourage you to ring a number you know is bona fide (they told me to ring the one that was on my card, can't go too far wrong with that).

A colleague got that Paypal email the other week, it did look very professional, but we smelt a rat and googled it. Paypal have some sensible advice on their website about how to spot them. It was only the following day that we realised the email had come to her work address, which the real Paypal wouldn't have known...

The weird thing is, I've been called by my own bank before, asking me to identify myself to them. So it does happen, and it was genuine.

I remember protesting about it at the time but in the end they won't talk to you unless you do give them certain ID and you don't know what it's about.

Mine wanted to offer me a loan I think. Pointless and stupid way to do it really.

Talk to Orange. I suspect that this is where they got your details from - some kind of leak or security lapse. I suspect it because I just read your OP to DH and he said he go the same kind of call the other day. He refuses to buy over the phone so he told them to go away.

It sounds frighteningly plausible.

Oh God thats awful. Its a horrible feeling when you feel you have been done. Stuff like this terrifies me. Stuff like this makes me so angry. Its horrid that you can be ripped off in your own home.

I am so terrified of this sort of thing I generally dont engage in ANY sales calls I get or any calls from any organisation. As soon as I realise they are from such a such organisation I put the phone down. I have probably missed out on loads of good deals etc over the years but I just think if I actually want a cheaper electricty tariff or cheaper ISP deal then I will shop around when the time comes. Usually when you phone a business to cancel cos you move elsewhere they will pull out the stops with a good offer then to keep my business. Thats good enough for me.

I get some really stroppy people on the phone and on the door step speaking to me like I am an idiot saying stuff like "so you dont want 3 months free whatever?" or "So you actually want to pay 40% more for your gas then?". I just cba to spend time sussing out if someone is genuine or not. If I want a better deal or want to buy something I will do it off my own back and not because someone is on my phone or doorstep.

I've reported a call from someone claiming to be from my bank before ... and they were! They were just totally unprofessional.

I had an email thanking me for my booking with American Airlines, and if I could just click here and fill in my credit card details to verify.

It was very professionally done and did worry me for a while. I didn't click the link, but did think that if anyone had managed to get £750 out of my (constantly maxed) credit card then fair play to them!

I googled it and found pages of confirmation that it was a scam.

I got a very plausible man making out that he was 'representing' Vodafone.

He had my name & phone number, & knew that i was with Vodafone.

But i was suspicious when he seemed to know nothing about my contract; so i said ''you're not actually anything to do with Vodafone, are you'' & he said ''no'' & put the phone down.

Like Soggy i now don't respond to salespeople at the door, 'chuggers' or people who phone from any organisation.
They can write to me if they need to & i'll phone them.
For my bank i tend to actually phone them or go into the bank.

I phoned my bank once at their Indian Call Centre & said ''i choose not to do internet banking because i'm too concerned about fraud'' & the lad said ''that's the best choice'' - i don't think he thought first about what he said, talk about first hand info!!!
So i don't use internet banking.

Best to use random passwords - no pet names, relatives' names or birthdays etc etc.
I've known lots of people who've had their FB hacked by using obvious Passwords.

DH and I have both had legit calls from banks and other companies before where they've asked us to identify ourselves. We always refuse because how can you know who is phoning you. Some I've had them give me enough information to satisfy me that they were who they say they were, other times I've refused to give the information and called them back on a number I know or waited for a letter.

It really annoys me that they do this because giving people the expectation that it does happen and is legitimate leaves them very open to being taken in by scams like this.

I hope it doesn't leave you too much out of pocket.

Fakebook
The 3 phonecalls are not a scam. I have had 2 phones from them and are really good value.
But they don't ask for any information such as passwords etc.

But I would point out the 3 ones are not upgrades, they are additional contracts and they clearly state that you are not replacing current contract

YANBU to warn people! That's a horrible scam and an easy one to fall for.

Also watch out for emails that you are not expecting from your fb friends. I am getting these daily and as these friends would usually text or call me I know they are viruses. I had one off fb today that said I had a friend request and when I clicked the virus scanner picked it up as a trogan.