Yet another scam

[the artfull-codgerParticipant @theartfull-codger]

Got an email today purporting to be from e-on [our electricity supplier] almost same logo & colour, saying that owing to an admin error they owe me £85,from my recent bill ,they needed my name, address,bank details ]mams maiden name in order to pay me??hmm don't think so they allready have them details to pay my bills also my recent bill was half that.needles to say it was reported as phishing, but could have easily fooled some people.

[the artfull-codgerParticipant @theartfull-codger]

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

This last week i have been plagued with txt & emails from the Royal mail, wanting postal payments. What i don't get is surely the gov will be chasing them. Using the crest & Royal mail name.

Steve.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

I received an e=post yesterday with font and colouring that resembled the Co-Op's, offering to pay for my shopping! Eh?

It was pretty clearly fraudulent by the usual things – TGTBT, slightly wonky English in the small print, very strange source.

Block & Delete – I opted for Block Domain rather than Sender, without really knowing the difference and effect, but it's gone.

That though was a mere irritation…..

Wednesday morning, phone rang. Usual thing – "Is that Mr. Gra-hamm?" "I'm from Microsoft and your computer has reported a serious attack…"

"No you are not and no it hasn't" , I replied firmly.

He persisted. I becamse shirty: "Microsoft do not ring people like that" , I said. "You are a liar and criminal. Goodbye!" and I hung up immediately. Usually that is enough but this one was not giving up easily.

He rang back to object to being called a liar and hung up on. I repeated my charge that he was not from Microsoft and ended the call.

Damn me if he didn't try again! "Persistant b-[railroad esperanto]-r aren't you?" I shouted and put the phone down. I realised his game – hoping to frighten me into obeying him.

He rang again but I said nothing, simply placed the handset face-down on the desk and waited, shuffling a few things around so he knew I was still here. He gave up eventually, but rang yet again a couple of minutes later. This time I simply left the phone to ring until he finally felt defeated.

Five attempts within ten minutes. Via 1471 and internet directory I found he was using a portable phone EE-registered in the UK. I had another call this morning, but the phone stopped ringing before I could reach it. This was another portable number.

It had not occurred to me to use my "Oh and by the way, I have worked in IT security!", which often scares them. Well, I did… Sort of. Clearing old packing materials from the firm's IT workshop and server-room.

Usually these parasites give up easily when they realise you have twigged their unlawful attempt, but I wonder if this was a one-off or a new development that will grow, in trying to browbeat the victim. He was certainly very persistant and aggressive.

[the artfull-codgerParticipant @theartfull-codger]

Hehe, I chuckled when I read your post Nigel, [not about the scam] but the fact that they just can't pronounce GRAHAM,as you say it's always gra- hamm!!

Regards Graham.

[Ian Skeldon 2Participant @ianskeldon2]

I had the same thing many months ago, knowing from the start that it was scam I played along with it and acted like I had really poor knowledge, I made him tell me where to find the keys and then I said things like "oh I am really worried what if I catch the virus and things like I can see that on the window screen etc" I struggled not to laugh at how stupid my replies were and could here him getting more and more frustrated. Then I just said, by the way mate I worked in IT and almost all of the events shown in event viewer can be ignored, plus I have configured my firewall so that t***s like you can't cause any harm. His reply was very very colourful and all the more funny because of he strong accent haha I hope they phone again at some point.

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

Posted by Nigel Graham 2 on 11/06/2021 20:43:41:
…

Wednesday morning, phone rang. Usual thing – "Is that Mr. Gra-hamm?" "I'm from Microsoft and your computer has reported a serious attack…"
…

Just tell them you're recording the call for training purposes and can you have their employee number to run through HR …
pgk

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

We should be at the point where we are alert to scam calls and can engage in a bit of sport winding them up, ideally a call received at work can be put on speaker to entertain the whole office.

Mike

[Robin GrahamParticipant @robingraham42208]

Weirdest one I ever had was typed message, delivered by snail mail and postmarked Nottingham, informing me that my uncle Hubert Graham had sadly met his maker (it was tragic accident) in his travels across China. His estate amounted to about $1m and would be passed to me for the asking. It somehow slipped my mind to claim the money, But no problem! Six months later I was told he had unfortunately suffered yet another fatal accident, but in the interim his estate had grown to $1.5m. He always was a reckless chap old Hubert, having fatal accidents all the time, but he knew how to make money, even when dead.

Robin Gra-haam.

[Stuart BridgerParticipant @stuartbridger82290]

Last time I got the washing machine warranty call, I decided to play them. Showed great interest and got transferred to supervisor to finalise the contract Then came the key part they wanted my bank details. I say no, I am paying you money, give me your bank details. The guy soon got tired of this and dropped the call.

The Microsoft one can also be fun. Once I told them that I have worked in IT for 30 years. The cheeky scammer then said I should know how serious the problem is…. Either that or play completely dumb. Anything to tie them up and delay calling anyone more gullible

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Mr Watson’s eMail address shows as: watson804@btinternet.com

… but of course he may be an innocent victim.

MichaelG.

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

There is one going around for Hermes re-delivery charges. Hermes don't charge for re-delivery.

Not a scam, but telesales many years ago got a call trying to sell double glazing "just got some last year" "how bout a conservatory?" "I'd love one" strung him allog for about 20 minutes until he aked for my address When I told him it was a firt floor flat he hung up on me…….

Robert G8RPI.

[LADmachiningParticipant @ladmachining]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 12/06/2021 07:07:47:

Mr Watson’s eMail address shows as: watson804@btinternet.com

… but of course he may be an innocent victim.

MichaelG.

He also can't decide whether his first name has one or two 'L's !

Anthony

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by LADmachining on 12/06/2021 12:46:21:

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 12/06/2021 07:07:47:

[…]

Mr Watson’s eMail address shows as: watson804@btinternet.com

… but of course he may be an innocent victim.

MichaelG.

He also can't decide whether his first name has one or two 'L's !

Anthony

.

Perhaps because ‘one L’ is the real DPD man, and ‘two L’ is the innocent whose address has been hi-jacked.
… I found watson804 mentioned here: **LINK**

https://www.railfuture.org.uk/DL162

It looks like ‘railfuture’ Phil Watson’s identity may have been ‘borrowed’

MichaelG.

[mark costello 1Participant @markcostello1]

Tell Them You have a new phone number, give Them Scotland Yard's.

[andrew lynerParticipant @andrewlyner71257]

Posted by Stuart Bridger on 12/06/2021 06:46:13:

Last time I got the washing machine warranty call, I decided to play them. Showed great interest and got transferred to supervisor to finalise the contract Then came the key part they wanted my bank details. I say no, I am paying you money, give me your bank details. The guy soon got tired of this and dropped the call.

The Microsoft one can also be fun. Once I told them that I have worked in IT for 30 years. The cheeky scammer then said I should know how serious the problem is…. Either that or play completely dumb. Anything to tie them up and delay calling anyone more gullible

I engaged a lady with an Indian accent for some while about some Microsoft security thing. Eventually she said "Wasting my time, bloody" and she rang off. Fifteen all, I reckon.

[BrevaParticipant @breva]

A new one that could catch you out!

A couple arrived at a hotel, went to the desk and sorted their account and were told their room was 202 .

Some time later a call came to the hotel asking to be put through to room 202. The desk transferred the call to room 202. When the couple answered, the caller identified himself as the hotel desk, said there was a small mistake, they had been slightly overcharged and requested bank details to provide the guests with a refund. It all sounded genuine.

The scammer had called the hotel, asked for a random room number and the desk suspected nothing and put the call through. Easy!

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

The sales attempts as Robert describes probably were genuine but they seem a lot rarer now.

I had one, nearly 20 years now, from some bloke with the usual East of Suez accent (could have been calling from anywhere) trying to sell me a portable-telephone contract that I soon determined was about twice my PAYG rate. After some verbal ping-ponging he excused himself, and after a few moments in which I could hear others in the background, a Young Lady came on the 'phone.

"Oh aye" , thought I, "The Charm Offensive. Get a YL to flatter the OM into paying £8 a month instead of 4."

It didn't quite work as they hoped though. The call ended after at least twenty minutes of very pleasant conversation about anything except 'phone contracts.

A week later, "Angel " as she had said her name was, called back. Another, and longer, very pleasant chat – it transpired my attraction was in my not being rude to her as so many callees are (nor had I been rude to Mr. E-of-S). I did though warn her to be careful as she was not paid for social chats.

A third call a week or so later, and again I told Angel I enoyed our conversations at her company's expense, but please be careful.

I never heard from her again and I do wonder if the poor lass, who'd apparently taken the work to fund a college course, had been found out and dismissed.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

E-post this morning, titled Costumer [sic] service <newsletter [at] absentcharity[dot]com>

It was only trying to sell me cannabis oils!

The Source tool showed it routed through bluetunasea[dot]icu.

Block domain, delete message. (I don't know the difference between Block Sender and Block Domain, but the latter sounds more powerful!)

Later I re-opened the deleted message and put "absentcharity.com" in the Search Bar. It revealed the fancy website apparently of a company selling web-site writing software. Odd name though, I thought, even by the standards of businesses using the least informative names they (or the most over-priced " Branding Consultants" they can find) can invent. It invited e-mails or telephone calls but gave neither phone number nor any clue to location.

"Bluetunasea"? It opened the same site but now with that aquatic name at the top! Very fishy…

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Just had an email into my work account about my Norton antivirus expiring. I use something differnt but it could catch people out if it hits their private account.

[peter smith 5Participant @petersmith5]

I just ask them what they are doing with the other hand?????

[Neil LickfoldParticipant @neillickfold44316]

We have been hit by phone scams. +67655 77017 , 82385, 94423, 94130 , 94701 , 93226,

They all come from the above area code, and the last 5 digits changes. The 1st 4 were in one day alone. They call, and then hang up quite quickly in the hope you will call them back. Then they make money by charging your account on the call back. I did answer one as I was right by the phone. The hung up of course immediately.

They do this to land lines and to cell phones.

Neil

[Anonymous]

Posted by Neil Lickfold on 14/06/2021 20:17:21:

They call, and then hang up quite quickly in the hope you will call them back.

Why would anyone do that? Call back to a number who's call was so unimportant they didn't leave a message.

[DMBParticipant @dmb]

Easy 2 dodge, just answer the callers that u recognise;relatives,friends,club members and ignore the rest

John

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

+676 is the Tonga country code (using the mobile convention of a + for international access). Depending on the nature of the operator/system making the calls they may get a "termination charge" for delivering an incoming call to a given number, paid by the international operator carrying it and recharged with margin to the caller – i.e. you. Yet another unintended consequence of the way telecom systems work.

[Author]

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