To warn people about the ‘Hermes’ scam

[FlorettaB]

It starts with texts, supposedly from Hermes, requiring a £1.50 admin fee for two missed deliveries. My great aunt had one last week. Luckily she told her son before she did anything. If you pay the fee you get contacted a few days later by ‘your bank’.

www.theguardian.com/money/2022/aug/10/scammers-took-30000-of-my-wedding-savings-but-revolut-wont-pay-me-back

Hermes isn't even hermes anymore.

I really thought everyone heard about these by now because it seems to be going on for years AND everyone I know had the message. Repeatedly 😳

Re the person in the article. Banks issue warnings that they will never call you and want your details etc. You do not do anything or give details on incoming call. They will send automated call or message asking you to contact them.

I wouldn’t deal with anything over the phone but I know my father would be liable to panic first and think later.

Dodgy texts are as old as text messaging. Elderly people are still at risk from them but I think most younger folk know by now not to click links in texts for 'fees' and 'inheritances' and stuff.

You can only advise people so often, but plenty choose to keep clicking and giving their bank details to all and sundry.

Was just showing dp this text when I saw this. Was suspicious but this is the first I'd seen of it - thanks for sharing!

We had issue with grandma (when she was in early stages of dementia) and we circumvented it by her having special mobile with big buttons no internet access.
Still git scammed into buying overpriced pots at her doorstep...

Just had one from Evri

It's pretty obvious to me as many times I'm not even expecting a package, plus I have experience of ordering with them before so know that's not how they operate.

However it's definitely good to speak to older relatives who may not be as attuned to ever-evolving scams and may not use these services frequently.

@FlorettaB Forward any texts like this to 7726 the more people that do, the better as they will be removed. You’ll be asked to reply with the number that sent it.

I’ll pass that number on thanks Blowthemandown.

My relative didn’t realise the texts were a scam. She was just annoyed that they said they’d tried to deliver because she’d been in the house all day! She phoned her son to complain they were charging her for no reason.