Banking scam - beware - please use the upmost caution

[elgin51]

I have just been the victim of a banking scam so wish to make people aware to prevent from suffering the same experience.

A rogue payment request was made on my credit card, for far more than my credit balance. I then received repeated calls from a private number but then decided to answer as I wondered whether the call was from my credit card company to advise me of this payment request.

The caller was well prepared, professional (though direct) and used passcodes to "prove" that he was legitimate so I decided to follow their advice on dealing with the matter in hand. Then things got out of hand by which time it was too late.

They are very clever people and know precisely how to use psychology to get what they want.

So, having become a victim, I plead with anybody reading this message that if you do receive a call like this from somebody acting as a member of your bank's fraud team, or indeed any other department, always ask them for their number and then phone them back.

Sorry you were caught out. Everyone thinks it won't happen to them but they are getting more sleek and clever these days and I think many people would be caught out by these type of scams.

Although I wouldn't ask them for a number to call. Go online and look up the number for your bank and get put through to the fraud team to check.

No you dont ask them for their number. You hang up and use the number on your card or look it up and then phone that number.

Sorry this has happened to you

No not ask them for their number. Also if they call your land-line use a mobile to call your banks number as they can stay on the line on a land-line as they made the call. Then when you think you are calling your bank it will still be the same people.

To be extra safe, call back from a different phone. My mum got caught out once when she did everything right - they called from her bank's number, she (having heard scammers can pose as a different number) hung up and called the number on the back of the card. Somehow they intercepted her call. Her bank said it was the most sophisticated scam they had ever seen and she thankfully got her money back as she could prove no negligence on her part.

But they wouldn't have been able to do this if she had borrowed a phone to make the call to the number on the back of her card!

Sorry you lost out @elgin51 that really sucks.

Just to add, if the scammers call on a landline they have a trick to nake you think you are dialling the bank when you aren't. If you end the call, they can keep the line open and play a recording of the dial tone, so when you pick up the phone to dial the correct bank number you are still connected to the scammers. So as well as getting the correct number from your bank website, also use a different phone.

So, having become a victim, I plead with anybody reading this message that if you do receive a call like this from somebody acting as a member of your bank's fraud team, or indeed any other department, always ask them for their number and then phone them back.

That is the wrong advice. Relying on a potential scammer to give you a phone number to call is asking for trouble. I agree with others, use a different phone to call the number for your bank and find that legitimate number online or on paperwork.