I think I've just been a total idiot...I've been conned, haven't I?

[Misfitless]

I was on mumsnet when this happened about 10 minutes ago...a page popped up saying that I had been randomly selected from 'active conversations' to complete a questionnaire, and that I would be awarded a free gift.

I then answered 4 very basic questions which led to another page where I could select 1 of three free gifts.
lush]
The options were 1) a sin cream, 2) a £50 voucher or 3) 'Slim Body Cleanse'

I chose option 3, and then filled in my name, address and bank card details [blush.]

Have any other mners had experience of this?

Could MNHQ confirm if this is an official survey sanctioned by MN, or if it is indeed a con, as I suspect.

TIA

is it very flippant of me to have giggled over 'sin cream'?

Hope you get it sorted OP.

MrsOak I meant 'skin' cream .

Thanks KateSMumsnet I asked my DH not to close the windows down so I could get the details as after the pop-up thing it opened another window with the choice of free gifts, but he closed down everything whilst he was trying to check my anti-virus thing!

Anyway, thanks for responding, I went into my bank yesterday, all they've taken out is two transactions totally just under £5.00, it could have been so much worse, and now that I've changed my bank card, they won't be able to get any more!

These are ones I authorised, though I'm sure if I hadn't realised it was a con, they'd have helped themselves to regular small amounts - the kind you wouldn't miss, iyswim, the odd £5.00/£10.00 is feasible if you don't regularly check your statements.

I live and learn

You were very lucky to have realised it was dodgy so quickly. My card was cloned/swiped before Christmas without my knowledge. On the first day 2 small amounts were taken (about a tenner) but the following day this jumped to 2 massive transactions totalling £800. Thankfully I check my banking fairly often or who knows where that would have stopped.

Just watch out that you didn't sign up for repeat payments on your card, like a direct debit. You can't stop those even by changing the card I don't think, your bank should be able to tell you if these were single or continuous payments.

Thanks Whoknows.

I'm racking my brains trying to remember if I entered my account number or just my card number.

I'll have to go into the bank tomorrow and check about that. I spoke to the bank, but they didn't mention that. And the guy I spoke to assured me that they couldn't do this, though he was front of house, and didn't have access to my account. The girl who checked my account didn't mention it either, though.

Feel really uneasy about it.

Thanks again.

If it was your account number that's a direct debit and you can stop that. If it's your card no it can either be for a single payment or a continual authorisation one, which repeats like a direct debit. I just had a quick google, it seems you can now stop these (a few years ago you couldn't, things must have changed). Fingers crossed!

Thanks Whoknows

Going to the bank first thing tomorrow.

Now I know what to ask directly, I can find out for sure.

I think it's really lame of HSBC that I spoke to two separate people in person at the bank the day after it happened and a lady at the call centre on the phone immediately after it happened.

What did we all do without mn?

I think I might put in a complaint.

If it wasn't for the advice on here, I'd assume everything was sorted out.

I'm so grateful that you took the time to google that for me - there are some amazing people on here.

..think I deleted part of my message..

I think it's really lame of HSBC that I spoke to two separate people in person at the bank the day after it happened and a lady at the call centre on the phone immediately after it happened and none of them either mentioned never mind checked the things you've just told me about. .

Just to say that I've had pop up surveys on MN - I ignored them. If I recall, they had a cerise and lemon jaggy border.

Next time, I'll take a screen shot.

Just got one - I'll send a screen shot on.