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AIBU?

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Original poster

I think I almost fell for a scam.

26 replies

TimeAtTheBar · 02/09/2022 13:27

I’ve just redone all our life insurances etc.

Got a call yesterday from Aviva (they said) saying they needed to speak to me about my policy. Told me my name and address.

But then I said it’s not actually my policy it’s my husband and he said ah yes, how do you pronounce his name please? (His name is a Tim/Tom/Ben type name). I did think that was a bit odd but he’d caught me on the hop a bit so I said it.

Then he said for security I needed to tell him how much my premiums are. I literally couldn’t remember off the top of my head and said so. Then he asked how much was left on our mortgage.

I hung up at this point. I’ve had four missed calls since then, no message left.

I didn’t actually give anything away other than Dhs first name but I am right this is a scam, right? Actual Aviva would already have all this info.

I pride myself on being quite clever and I’m clearly not 🤦🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
Blackalice · 02/09/2022 13:30

I would ring the actual Aviva number and check this out.

Original poster
TimeAtTheBar · 02/09/2022 13:33

I’m 99% sure Aviva would email me, or leave a message.

OP posts:
Doorhandleghost · 02/09/2022 13:41

Whenever I get these calls I always say "what number can I call you back on" - if they're genuine they're always fine about to, if not they will start to try and convince you they are genuine.

Some companies will call you up for a genuine and expect you to go through all your personal details for security reasons - my mobile phone company is particularly bad for this.

Sparklesocks · 02/09/2022 14:04

I would call them on their general number to confirm for peace of mind.

mumda · 02/09/2022 14:06

If it's on a mobile it's easy to report spam numbers

knittingaddict · 02/09/2022 14:09

Doorhandleghost · 02/09/2022 13:41

Whenever I get these calls I always say "what number can I call you back on" - if they're genuine they're always fine about to, if not they will start to try and convince you they are genuine.

Some companies will call you up for a genuine and expect you to go through all your personal details for security reasons - my mobile phone company is particularly bad for this.

That's not as helpful as it sounds. Only call them on a separate phone to the one they rang you on. They can stay on the line while you phone the company and it goes straight to the scammers again.

BuildersTeaMaker · 02/09/2022 14:31

yep, scam…anything financial will contact you in writing, or send you messages on secure site on your app or internet interface. Literally no one rings you for these matters. Or Amazon. Or HMRC. Or post office, Hermes . Or pretty much anyone.
As much as anything they can’t afford, or simply don’t have staff, to man phones to ring people on off chance they’re in 🤷🏼‍♀️🤣🤣. Think about how long it takes to get through when you actually need them!

my quickest route to get rid of scammer calls is to say “why?” to everything they say…after about 3 “whys” they either realise I’m taking piss out of them or that I am so mad it’s pointless talking. It’s a game to play to see how many whys I can get in before they hang up. 🤷🏼‍♀️

BuildersTeaMaker · 02/09/2022 14:32

Doorhandleghost · 02/09/2022 13:41

Whenever I get these calls I always say "what number can I call you back on" - if they're genuine they're always fine about to, if not they will start to try and convince you they are genuine.

Some companies will call you up for a genuine and expect you to go through all your personal details for security reasons - my mobile phone company is particularly bad for this.

Turn off your options for contact by phone…only allow letters, emails or text…problem solved.

DoNotGetADog · 02/09/2022 14:37

The “how do you pronounce his name” is a weird question, but I’ve found it’s quite common to be asked questions like how much your premium is or the remaining mortgage balance as it’s information other people wouldn’t know.
I’ve been asked these questions before when I 100% knew it was genuine - eg when I have phoned the mortgage company myself to start off with.

Original poster
TimeAtTheBar · 02/09/2022 14:41

It was the fact he didn’t know it wasn’t my policy, combined with fishing for DHs name.

I signed up to the Snoop app a little while ago and inputted dates for redoing insurance etc. worst mistake ever as I’ve been bombarded with calls for weeks now. It’s only because this one said Aviva that I got reeled in for a minute.

OP posts:
Original poster
TimeAtTheBar · 02/09/2022 14:42

I don’t have life insurance as I’ve got bipolar, I smoke, I’ve spent time in MH wards and basically it would cost eight million pounds a month to insure me.

OP posts:
Candleabra · 02/09/2022 14:46

You say scam, no genuine company would call blah blah / but I’ve had an ongoing argument with Lloyds bank because they DO keep calling. It’s the branch account manager who wants to help me look after my account. Could I start by giving them some security details… Yeah right I thought, you must think I was born yesterday.

Went into the branch to complain. And there they were. Genuine. And saw NOTHING wrong with their modus operandi. Just being helpful apparently. I trust no one these days.

Aria999 · 02/09/2022 14:54

I once ended up with a county court judgment for not paying a store card because I thought a call was a scam!

I had forgotten about the card balance (I only used it once), and didn't recognize the name of their payment management company who just called me up and started asking personal questions, and refused to tell me what the call was about unless I answered their 'security questions'.

Agree with pp call Aviva customer service.

DodoApplet · 02/09/2022 16:11

Yes, it's a scam: it's obvious when you're given time to mull over it - but then of course, they don't give you time to mull over it. Why would they need to speak to you about your policy anyway? But don't feel bad about being duped: it happens.

A few years ago I received a call on my company mobile from the Director of the Far East division: he was stranded at Heathrow and was supposed to have been met by our CEO there before being driven to an important meeting in central London. The CEO hadn't shown up; he was already late, and to cap it all, when he rang Head Office to find out where the hell the guy had got to, our wretched receptionist had gone and put him through to the wrong number. Could I just give him the right one, please? Yes of course, I replied, and promptly did so. He thanked me and hung up. Later that morning I spoke to the receptionist, and mentioned in passing that the call from the Director of Far East had been incorrectly routed - but not to worry about it, I'd put him straight. "I haven't transferred any calls to you at all this morning," she replied. "Oh shit," I thought, "I've just handed over the CEO's personal mobile number to a scammer."

The clues are urgency - he claimed to be late for his meeting, and was therefore understandably a little short-tempered - and authority: I'd never met the Director of Far East or ever heard his voice, but there was no way I was going to quibble with one of the company's most senior execs who had just mistakenly been put through to me. God knows how he got hold of my number: probably by pulling the same stunt on someone else within the same company. All mobile numbers - including the CEO's - were listed on the company's intranet, so anybody could look it up... but then, someone stranded at the airport wouldn't have been able to log into the company's intranet without a laptop, so the justification for the call was credible enough.

It was very well done, I'll give him that. I could even hear the hubbub of an airport terminal in the background while I was talking to him - which no doubt he was playing from a recording.

Oh well, we learn from our mistakes. Just pray that the mistakes we learn from aren't too serious, that's all.

ShirleyPhallus · 02/09/2022 16:16

EDF sends text messages with a “here’s a link to pay” but they’re texts without a number if that makes sense and look totally spammy, but they are genuine! So weird.

OnTheBrinkOfChange · 02/09/2022 18:56

Doorhandleghost · 02/09/2022 13:41

Whenever I get these calls I always say "what number can I call you back on" - if they're genuine they're always fine about to, if not they will start to try and convince you they are genuine.

Some companies will call you up for a genuine and expect you to go through all your personal details for security reasons - my mobile phone company is particularly bad for this.

I wouldn't ask for their phone number. I say don't worry I can google it.

Surtsey · 02/09/2022 19:10

It was definitely a scam OP. If it was your husband's policy then neither Aviva nor any other reputable organisation would talk to anyone other than the policyholder about it at all. GDPR etc.

wherearebeefandonioncrisps · 02/09/2022 20:09

Haha! Yes... had a call from Aviva yesterday about our insurance policies.
My husband smelled a rat when the woman started to get irate with my husband who was a bit reluctant to answer her questions.

He decided to call Aviva and yes you've guessed it, they hadn't contacted him.

Verbena87 · 02/09/2022 20:17

TimeAtTheBar · 02/09/2022 14:42

I don’t have life insurance as I’ve got bipolar, I smoke, I’ve spent time in MH wards and basically it would cost eight million pounds a month to insure me.

I’m missing the point of the thread here @TimeAtTheBar but this really made me laugh. My husband would also cost millions a month due to a dodgy cancer gene: almost like they don’t want to insure folk who might actually need to use their insurance.

Justanotherwinter · 02/09/2022 20:18

OP it’s interesting you mention the Snoop app
my bank account got hacked last month and I couldn’t work out how, especially as they have strict security
I downloaded snoop around that time

Fairyliz · 02/09/2022 20:25

Hope none of you bank with Nat West. I had a call supposedly from their fraud department. The man asked for my name, PIN number and NI number and got quite aggressive with me when I wouldn’t give them.
I put the phone down and rang them on the number on the back of my debit card. It took 27 calls over 4 days hanging on for 20 minutes each time before I got through.
It turns out it actually was their fraud department who had phoned me!
I put in a complaint and a snotty woman phoned me and told me their system was fine.

Deux · 02/09/2022 20:27

ShirleyPhallus · 02/09/2022 16:16

EDF sends text messages with a “here’s a link to pay” but they’re texts without a number if that makes sense and look totally spammy, but they are genuine! So weird.

That’s weird, I recently had a phone call from EDF and I thought they were scammers but it was genuine too.

RoseGoldEagle · 02/09/2022 22:46

It sounds like a scam, and the fact they kept ringing afterwards adds weight to it being a scam too- a genuine company wouldn't do that so incessantly! Don't feel bad, sounds like you got wise to it very quickly, and these people are so convincing.

JorisBonson · 02/09/2022 22:49

* quickly deletes Snoop account *

jcyclops · 03/09/2022 00:20

It is unlikely to be a full on scam.

They are much more likely to be trying to get you to take life insurance or tempt you to switch to another provider so they can collect the commission and/or introduction fee. If they persuade you to tell them the sum assured and how much you are paying they have a good chance of finding a deal with a genuine provider that is cheaper, offers a bigger payout, or some benefit such as an M&S voucher. In effect they are cold-calling brokers. Aviva is invariably one of the companies they can set you up with.

They used to do it with energy supplies until cheap deals ended!