Warning: Don't get scammed.

[cjt110]

My Mum is quite a technophobe and isn't very IT savvy.

Yesterday she received an email on her personal email account from EE stating that if she didn't click on the link below her phone contract would be disconnected. She isn't with EE but panicked as her old mobile phone (talking 2+ years ago) was with them.

So, she clicked the link complied with the request for information and thought nothing of it. Within 30 or so minutes they had emptied her account. This included a payment I had made yesterday morning. I left her at approx 745 and the payment I made was at around 8am. She was at the bank by 9.

Fortunately she had the foresight to go into her bank branch and they confirmed to her that the email was a scam, that a provider shouldn't/wouldn't email her in such a way and that they will refund the funds to her bank. The police will also be informed.

So... Just a quick reminder to us all, don't always believe what you see, never click on links contained in an email and check it out yourself with independent links or phone numbers.

My poor mum says she feels really silly and embarrassed that this has happened to her.

That’s awful!

They're getting more and more sneaky, aren't they?

I'm just so glad your mum has such an understanding bank and they are refunding her the funds.
These people are such scum bags,

I just don't get how it works, how do they empty your account from details such as account number? Surely she'd need to give her online banking passwords in full, and why would you do that for ee? Not doubting, I just don't understand the mechanism of these scams.

I have no bloody clue Eatsleepworkrepeat I can only imagine she logs on, provides her EE details and they hack into the account and get the bank details from there.

abigailsnan I would like to look into more actually, why the bank refunds the fraud money. Great that they have, obviously, but why are the bank picking up the tab.

Ah fuck, just realised I put this in AIBU... Sorry!

I imagine they are refunding as a goodwill gesture. I don't think they have to this scenario.

In the past month I have had two emails supposedly from 'Paypal' and one from 'Apple' telling me I need to urgently log in to my account for one reason or another - all scams. In the past I've also had them from 'HMRC'. If you're not sure always check the senders email address (not who they say they're from but the actual email address). It'll usually be [email protected] or such like. But in any case, always sensible to ignore the email and contact the organisation directly yourself by looking up their contact details online if you think it's something you need to check up. 9/10 it's a scam. Thanks for the reminder @cjt110 and I'm sorry to hear your mum was caught out. They're bastards.

Heard about this from my local police. Apparently it does look quite real so do be careful

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I think my husband has had a few in the past - paypal saying if he doesnt log on his PP account will be closed down.

We've even had them at work. It's always worth just a nudge to remind people.

Sounds similar to the email my Mum received ImAGoofyGoober

Fucking scumbag cunts. Honestly this fucking world. Why is there a skank around every corner waiting to con someone.
Thanks for the warning. Let's hope they catch them and Thank God your poor mum got her money back. Mind you I hate to say this but don't they already have her bank details. Is her money safe. They cant tale anymore can they. If it we're me I'd be closing my account and opening a fresh one. Mind you I'm very over cautious and suspicious.

were me not we're me.

Awwlookatmybabyspider I think it was her card details they got, as opposed to her bank details. Bank has cancelled her card. Grateful it wasn't her savings account.

She's not elderly or anything either - in her 50's but not IT/computer savvy at all. She's very... conformist so the fact she got an email saying if she didnt reply her phone contract would be cut off - for a previous provider - made her panic thinking she must owe them money or the likes.

I recently received a text from 'DVLA' saying I hadn't claimed my car tax refund for a specific amount. I have had a few different cars over the last couple of years so it was feasible, and without thinking clicked on the link. It took me to a page where I had to enter my bank details. I immediately googled refunds on car tax and found out you get a cheque, the money doesn't go in to your account, so it was obvs a scam. I'm pretty clued up on these things but it didn't register straight away, I think because the text 'number' said DVLA.

Not all scams are obvious so it pays to be wary.