Over a while now I have picked up tips on scams, so I thought it would be a nice gesture to share these tips to potentially damaging scams to save all our readers from falling foul into these nasty scams.
PDF)
(Pdf reader required.)An email I got sent to me read as follows:-
I received a call from a (so called)
'representative' of BT, informing me that he was disconnecting me because of an
unpaid bill. He demanded payment immediately of £31.00, or it would be £118.00 to
re-connect at a later date.
The guy wasn't even fazed when I told him I was with Virgin Media, allegedly Virgin Media have to pay BT a percentage for line rental! I asked the guy's name - the very 'English' John Peacock with a very 'African' accent and phone number - 0800 0800 152.
Obviously the person realised I wasn't
believing his story, so then offered to demonstrate that he was from BT. I
then asked how could he do that and he told me to hang up and try phoning someone
- stating he would disconnect my phone to prevent this from happening therefore
proving his point.
AND HE DID !! My phone was dead - no
engaged tone, nothing until he phoned me back again. Very pleased with himself,
he then asked if that was enough proof that he was with BT. I asked how the
payment was to be made and he said credit card, right now there and then.
I said that I didn't know how he'd done it, but I had absolutely no intention of
paying him, I didn't believe his name or that he worked for BT. He then hung
up. I then did 1471 and phoned his fictitious 0800 number - which was not recognised.
I phoned the police to let them know
of this, I wasn't the first! It's only just started apparently but it is escalating.
Their advice was to let as many people know by word of mouth of this scam. The fact
that the phone does go off would probably convince some people it's real, so please
let as many friends & family aware of this scam.
This is good but not that clever. First of all he gave the wrong number - it should
have been 0800 800152 which takes you through to BT Business.
The cutting off of the line is very simple , he stays on the line with the mute button on and you can't dial out - but he can hear you trying to phone out.
(This is because the person who initiates a call is the one to terminate it).
When you stop trying he cuts off and immediately calls you back. You could almost be convinced!
The sad thing is that it is so simple that it will certainly fool the elderly and vulnerable.
An email I got sent to me read as follows:-
If you receive a phone call on your
mobile from any person, saying that he or she is a company engineer, or telling
that they're checking your mobile line, and you have to press #90 or #09 or any
other number, end this call immediately without pressing any numbers.
There is a fraud company using a device that once you press #90 or #09 they can
access your 'SIM' card and make calls at your expense.
Forward this message to as many colleagues, relatives and friends as you can, to
stop it.
Many thanks for your time regarding this matter, take care and regards.
Phil Corris
Police Constable/Crime Prevention Officer
Ext 496696 (Internal)
01524 596696 (External)
Email PhilCorris@lancashire.pnn
THIS APPLIES TO BOTH MEN AND WOMEN
BEWARE OF PAPER ON THE BACK WINDOW OF YOUR VEHICLE-- NEW WAY TO DO CARJACKING!
Heads up everyone! Please, keep this
circulating.. You walk across the car park, unlock your car and get inside.. You
start the engine put it into reverse.
When you look into the rear-view mirror to back out of your space, you notice a
piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you stop and jump
out of your car to remove that paper (or whatever it is that is obstructing your
view).
When you reach the back of your car, then this is when the carjackers appear out
of nowhere, jump into your car and take off.
They practically run you over as they
speed off in your car.
And guess what, ladies? I bet your purse is still in the car. So now the carjacker
has your car, your home address, your money, and
your keys.
Your home and your whole identity are
now compromised!
BEWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME THAT IS NOW BEING USED.
If you see a piece of paper stuck to your back window, lock your doors and just
drive away.
Remove the paper later (or whatever it is).
Then be thankful that you have read
this report.
I hope you will forward this to friends and family, especially to women.
A purse contains all kinds of personal information and identification
documents, and you certainly DO NOT want this to fall into the wrong
hands.
Can you circulate this around. Especially as Xmas is fast approaching it has been confirmed by Royal Mail.
The Trading Standards Office are making
people aware of the
Following scam:
A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service)
suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact
them on 0906 6611911 (THIS IS A
Premium rate number). DO NOT call
this number, as this is a mail scam!
Originating from Belize. If you
call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will already have been
billed £15 for the phone call.
If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal Mail Fraud on 02072396655 or ICSTIS (the premium rate service regulator) at www.icstis.org.uk
I locked my car. As I walked away I heard my car door unlock. I went back and locked my car again three times!. Each time, as soon as I started to walk away, I would hear it unlock again!!
Naturally alarmed, I looked around and there were two guys sitting in a car in the fire lane next to the store. They were obviously watching me intently, and there was no doubt they were somehow involved in this very weird situation.
I quickly chucked the errand I was on, jumped in my car and sped away.. I went straight to the police station, told them what had happened, and found out I was part of a new, and very successful, scheme being used to gain entry into cars. Two weeks later, my friend's son had a similar happening....
While travelling, my friend's son stopped at a roadside rest to use the bathroom. When he came out to his car less than 4-5 minutes later, someone had gotten into his car and stolen his cell phone, laptop computer, GPS navigator, briefcase.....you name it.
He called the police and since there
were no signs of his car being broken into, the police told him he had been a victim
of the latest robbery tactic -- there is a device that robbers are using now to
clone your security code when you lock your doors on your car using your key-chain
locking device..
They sit a distance away and watch for their next victim. They know you are
going inside of the store, restaurant, or bathroom and that they now have a few
minutes to steal and run.
Answer to this scam is:-
The police officer said to manually
lock your car door-by hitting the lock button inside the car -- that way if there
is someone sitting in a parking lot watching for their next victim, it will not
be you.
When you hit the lock button on your car upon exiting, it does not send the security
code, but if you walk away and use the door lock on your key chain, it sends the
code through the airwaves where it can be instantly stolen.
This is very real.
Be wisely aware of what you just read and please pass this note on. Look how many
times we all lock our doors with our remote just to be sure we remembered to lock
them -- and bingo, someone has our code....and whatever was in our car.
reader).
PDF Files (also known as Adobe Reader).Some of these Scams are in
PDF Format which is a free download. If you don't have
one already installed (best to try and open it first to see you can open it and
if it opens up for you don't do nothing) as you may probably have a reader already
installed on your PC if not you can download the latest free version
here. Just install it once downloaded. Then you should be ok to
read or save these type of files now.
14th Dec 2009.
Computer users are being warned to be
on their guard against a "cold calling scam" that could leave their bank details
available to criminals.
The magazine Which? Computing said it had heard from people around the country
who had been called by scammers pretending to be from the computer software giant
Microsoft or an internet service provider.
Some victims had their bank accounts emptied as a result of the con.
The ruse works by making people think that their computer has a virus. The
"problem" is then fixed by a series of steps which ends with the scammers being
allowed remote access to the computer.
To add insult to injury, people are also asked to provide their credit card details
in order to pay a fee for the repair.
Which? Computing has reported the scam to the police central e-crime unit
and Microsoft.
Jaclyn Clarabut, assistant editor of Which? Computing, said the magazine had
received about 10 calls from around the country but it was aware that trading standards
officers were also receiving some.
She thought there were only a handful of cases where people were defrauded.
"We wanted to draw attention to this before the situation gets any worse," she said.
source.
This is a genuine scam - I've checked it out and it's one you really should take notice of this one!
Police Warning!
Watch Out For This Scam!
Police say that the gang usually is comprised of four members, one adult and three
younger ones.
While the three younger ones, all appearing sweet and innocent, divert their 'attention'
(or intended target) with a show of friendliness, the fourth -- the eldest one--
sneaks in from behind the person's back to expertly rifle through his or her pockets
and purses or bags for any valuables being carried.
The picture below shows the gang in operation..
This page was last updated on 25/02/2010