To ask you how this scam could have happened?

[PenguinLord]

This happened a while ago, but I was just reading another post about scams and reminded me of it.

A few months ago I lost my credit card on the bus- I used it to pay for the ticket and must have put it in my pocket and it fell out, or maybe someone took it out from my pocket... Anyways I realised that evening, I contacted the bank. Luckily, the card was only used in a newsagent for the amount of £5 something and for another bus journey. Ordered a new card, got the £5 refunded after a few days.

Now, a few days after I got my new card, I got a phonecall from a mobile number- the man introduced himself as a PC and some name, knew my first and last name and said they were investigating my stolen card as they were contacted by the bank. They asked if it is correct that I lost my card and started asking some other questions- I was in a bit of a shock and was about to answer believing it to be a genuine call, but all of a sudden they said they need to attend to another matter and would call me back which I think saved me. When I put the phone down, all of a sudden I realised it was bizarre- police hardly has time to investigae burglaries, not to mention a fiver on a credit card. I contacted the bank, the woman on the phone almost laughed (professionally :)) when I asked if they contact the police about matterslike that, she said they would never be investigating £5 and no contact was made with the police on their behalf.

Anyways, the number tried to reach me a few more times that day but I ended up sending them a rude text and they gave up. Clearly it was not a police officer, but I was wondering how on Earth he could have my mobile number?

I have only one social media profile with a fake name that does not correspond to that on my card. The only thing I could think of is someone who found it had any contacts with the company I have my mobile phone registered, and they tracked me through that?

Someone you know took the card and sokdnthe card and mobile number to a scammer?

The person who found the card posted the name or a picture on a local socail media and asked if anyone has contact details of the owner in order to return it?

In the time between losing the card and cancelling it, could they have got into the account and seen your back up phone no?

In case it helps anyone else - if rung by the police, you can ask for their name and collar number, and then contact 101 for confirmation that they are indeed police officers.

I dont think they could have access my bank account without having all sorts of passwords, not sure what details you can gett off a card except for your name?

It's extremely unlikely it would have been someone we knew, it's not my regular bus route, and we dont really know anyone here except a bunch of neighbours, none of whom have my mobile number anyways. The only people who have my phone number are people at work and they would have contacted me about seeing the card rather than providiong contact details.
But gave me something to think of, as I was convinced it must have been the mobile phone company!

Could be a coincidence then, as there are lots of scam calls looking for opportunities?

But they knew my name and that I lost the card- so it was not jus ta random number calling hoping for the best.

Did they volunteer the card number or any other detail they couldn’t otherwise have known?

What they usually do is say that your card’s been stolen/used in a shop and if you say no, they say it must have been cloned. If they’d followed through with this they would have asked you to give your card to a courier who’s coming to your door because they need it for evidence.

It sounds like coincidence to me.

Sorry if this is stupidly obvious but have you googled your name to check your number isn’t online somewhere? Some ancient newsletter or a petition?

Do you have an unusual name? Just wondered if they tried to hack into your email or something (if the address is intuitive) as sometimes mobile numbers are stored there?

There have been various website hacks over the years, with the stolen details being sold on in lists. Maybe your name and mobile number are on one of those?

You can use sites like this to check whether your details have been hacked on one of these breaches

https://haveibeenpwned.com/

I do, but my emails are not connected to my name in any way, but then who knows...

No, he didnt, just conformed my name and if I reported my card stolen, but then he was about to start asking questions about the new card being issued but we luckily got interrupted, so I dont know if they actually had my card in their hands. I think they may have and tried to use it, but it was no longer operational so they may have tried to get the details of the new card?
Id have thought it was a coincidence (like all the have you been in an accident texts) if it wasnt such a short timeline between losing the card and them ringing.

They know your name and number from a list. That sort of information circulates. Often got from others’ hacked email accounts that store contact details.

After that they told you nothing to suggest they knew your card was stolen.

I’ve had the same. I said no, it hasn’t been stolen. They then said that it’s been used in a shop and must have been cloned. Then the bit about giving your card to a courier for evidence so they can check the real one against the clone.

The only difference is that - coincidentally- you had lost yours soon before. But it’s the same scam.