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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not understand the scam? Has anyone else had this

23 replies

Tiredsparrow · 08/09/2014 20:25

I recieved an email. It was from [email protected] (or something) and it said please find attached your statement from September. My phone won't let me open the statement.

At the bottom of the email was a name and mobile number. This mobile number has since returned my call and doesn't know anything about it.

Whitchurch is a legit insurance company (which I will call tomorrow to be super safe)

Am I being unreasonable not understanding the scam/point in this? Has anyone ever had this particular one?

OP posts:
theITgirl · 08/09/2014 20:28

Basicly the attachment is probably a virus. What is the name of the attachment? If it ends in .zip or .exe, it is definitely a virus.

DoJo · 08/09/2014 20:30

Possibly some spyware or similar in the attachment (I WOULD NOT open it unless you are absolutely certain that it is genuine) or just someone testing your email address to see if you open the email or attachment so they can sell it on.
Is the mobile number for someone at Whitchurch Insurance?

Minisoksmakehardwork · 08/09/2014 20:30

Don't phone it! Dh had one similar so he phoned his bank to ask whether the money was being taken and what it was for. The bank advised him it's a scam and if you ring the number on the email, you'll be paying something absurd like £25 a minute!!

If you are genuinely worried, contact your bank and ask whether the transaction is going through and report it as a fraudulent transaction if it is.

I've had two similar emails since dh had his, and having not ordered or expected anything needing a statement, I'm ignoring them.

iwantgin · 08/09/2014 20:30

Yes, don't ever tryto open attachments from an unknown source.

Do you have an account with Whitchurch ?

I get loads from HMRC, Nat West, Santander - all kinds of places. They are all spam - and I just delete ( sometimes I forward on to the genuine companies security as phishing)

Minisoksmakehardwork · 08/09/2014 20:31

Oh, too late that you've called the number. Maybe check your phone bill though...

Vitalstatistix · 08/09/2014 20:32

don't open the attachment!!!!

pudcat · 08/09/2014 20:33

Do you have insurance with Whitchurch?

Have you ever given them your email addy?

If you have answered No to either then it is likely that the attachment has a virus. So good that you could not open it.

rootypig · 08/09/2014 20:33

If you get an email like this, that is clearly a scam, don't open the attachment or call any numbers. Just look up the actual company online - many of them have an email address to which you can forward scam (phishing) emails that are in their name, to make them aware. Their online security teams will then address it as best they can.

Keepcalmanddrinkwine · 08/09/2014 20:39

I've had similar from Dales Power Solutions. Assumed it was a scam so haven't opened it. This seems to be a new one going round.

Original poster
Tiredsparrow · 08/09/2014 20:39

He girl on the other end of the phone didn't have a clue what I was talking about.

I have had my identity stolen in the past and a crazy ex who likes to use my details for insurance purposes so that's why I'm only 96% sure it's a scam

The statement ends in arj?!

Never dealt with Whitchurch personally though

I am a reasonable level headed and logical person yet when it comes to scams and emails something happens within me and I don't think Straight about them.

I'm actually glad it sounds like a scam because the alternative is hassle

OP posts:
pudcat · 08/09/2014 20:43

arj is an old type zip file.

Original poster
Tiredsparrow · 08/09/2014 20:45

Ok so it's an old virus haha

OP posts:
MoonlightandRoses · 08/09/2014 20:47

Does sound like a scam. An .arj extension is similar to a .zip one (just less well known as zip became the standard).

Original poster
Tiredsparrow · 08/09/2014 20:53

Ok thanks for the reassurance from everyone. I'm glad it looks like a scam

OP posts:
QuickQuickSloe · 08/09/2014 20:58

Don't open it! I have had one too, the business name was different but again a genuine company- QAD networks.

It was from a lady called Glayds though which set alarm bells clanging.

Some gumph on the bottom about it being virus free because avast! Has scanned it, does yours have that?

TidyDancer · 08/09/2014 21:00

Ooh I had these at work today. We do get a fair bit of spam so I just deleted them.

Primrose123 · 08/09/2014 21:15

We had one this morning that said we had bought tickets for Peter Pan in Bournemouth. DH looked on the internet and it appears to be a scam, so he deleted it.

Jelliebabe2 · 08/09/2014 21:23

Ooooh we had the Peter pan one too. Flippin idiots at work kept on replying to all to say "I don't know what this is about". Twats!

OddBoots · 08/09/2014 21:26

I had 2 of the Peter Pan ones this morning too, I didn't open the attachments but they were 0kb in size so I didn't understand what they were.

myotherusernameisbetter · 08/09/2014 21:33

I had one from Bossams boatyard with exactly the same set up. The company does exist but I think it's highly unlikely that I have a boat that I've forgotten about that is being restored on the Thames (I'm in Scotland)

CantUnderstandNewtonsTheory · 08/09/2014 21:45

I've been getting loads of these lately, the first one was confirmation of my (non existent) order and I briefly panicked thinking my card had been cloned or something like that. Luckily the penny dropped before I opened the attachment. Since then I've had loads from PayPal and one from a nigerian solicitor asking for id and bank details so that they can send me my inheritance from a multi millionaire long lost relative who died in a car crash last year! Are these scams just on the increase or are certain email addresses targeted repeatedly?

deakymom · 08/09/2014 21:51

scam... happens all the time the paypal one is a good one i nearly fell for that one HMRC scam looks real as hell but they say they will never email you about money so they are all scams!

ChuffMuffin · 09/09/2014 17:09

Probably a virus, I get them sent all the time from "DHL" and "HMRC" with attachments promising refunds or deliveries etc.

Incidentally you can't be charged £25 a minute for a national call in the UK. Most you can be charged to a premium no is £2.60 a min if you're on a mobile. V helpful website here - www.phonepayplus.org.uk/For-the-Public/Premium-rate-number-guide.aspx

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