A scam phone calls and emails discussion.

[pokemonsuper9]

For a few months I had a spam email problem where loads would come through and not get sent into my spam folder, but I just realised they've all stopped (and have been gone for at least 2 weeks).

Maybe they gave up on my email address given all that happened is no response (I don't know if they get told if their emails get reported).

I think I jinxed it, another just came through.

 

[najaB]

I think I jinxed it, another just came through.

Isn't that always the way though?

 

[DelW]

Yes, that is becoming much more common. I had one the other day that came up with my own phone number. So I knew it wasn’t legit!

I had that happen a few months ago, I was rather bemused when it came up on the caller display. As you say, an easy decision not to answer that one!

 

[londonbridge]

London area code, caller claimed to be from my mobile provider, I let him get as far as saying he could offer me a discount on my bill before I hung up. Immediately the phone rang again, same guy but this time ringing from a Bristol number. Asked him if he could teach me how to get from London to Bristol in ten seconds before telling him where else to go….

 

[londonbridge]

Just got this one:

EVRI mail package in the process of transportation, due to damage to the outer package, address information is lost, can not be delivered. Please be sure to update the delivery address information in the link within 12 hours.

xxxxxhttps://evriil.com/i

(Please reply Y, then exit the SMS, re-open the SMS activation link, or copy the link to open in Safari)

The EVRI team wishes you a great day!

(Link edited by adding xxxx in order to disable it)

So they don’t have my address but they’ve managed to locate my mobile number…..yeah right…….

 

[jmh59]

I finally had one of those 'this is your bank ... did you pay xxx, press 1 etc etc', from a Leeds number. Not my bank's fraud number, didn't say which bank and anyway I would always ignore such calls. But I was feeling left out having never received one of these...

 

[AndrewE]

I had that happen a few months ago, I was rather bemused when it came up on the caller display. As you say, an easy decision not to answer that one!

My BT Voicemail shows our phone number as the originator.

 

[dangie]

… Not my bank's fraud number….

I think I mentioned this a few posts back, but some weeks ago we received a scam call pertaining to be from Nationwide, and the callers number was only one digit different (the last digit) from the fraud number printed on the rear of the Nationwide Credit Card.

 

[PeterC]

I think I mentioned this a few posts back, but some weeks ago we received a scam call pertaining to be from Nationwide, and the callers number was only one digit different (the last digit) from the fraud number printed on the rear of the Nationwide Credit Card.

I have had two legit calls from their fraud team over the last couple of decades. Always hung up cleared the line and called back.

Silly thing is that in the distant past the phone banking team asked me to provide a password for them to use when calling me. When I asked the security team for it they didn't know what I was talking about.

 

[DaleCooper]

I feel left out, I can't remember ever receiving a scam phone call and only ever received one, or possibly two, scam emails. Perhaps I have the secret to avoiding these things, I wish I could share it but I've no idea what it is.

 

[najaB]

I feel left out, I can't remember ever receiving a scam phone call and only ever received one, or possibly two, scam emails.

You can fix that, if you want to: https://mailbait.info/

 

[PeterY]

I feel left out, I can't remember ever receiving a scam phone call and only ever received one, or possibly two, scam emails. Perhaps I have the secret to avoiding these things, I wish I could share it but I've no idea what it is.

I don't get them either. Maybe because I don't have a smart phone. I've only ever had one scam text on my dumb phone and that was saying I owed money from EE when I use O2.

 

[dangie]

Used to receive lots on our landline before we unplugged it and went mobile only. Must admit I often quite enjoyed them as I’d string them along until either I lost interest or more often they hung up. That’s the thing with being a pensioner, you need a hobby and you have time to do it

 

[steamybrian]

I get a steady trickle of scam calls and as per Dangie I like to string them along.
I wonder how many have arrived at one of the false addresses I gave them- 24, Leinster Gardens, London W2 3ET....?

 

[DaleCooper]

Maybe because I don't have a smart phone.

I thought I was the only one.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I thought I was the only one.

No, that makes two of us.

 

[[.n]]

I get a steady trickle of scam calls and as per Dangie I like to string them along.
I wonder how many have arrived at one of the false addresses I gave them- 24, Leinster Gardens, London W2 3ET....?

I usually use this post code SW1A 1AA

 

[najaB]

I usually use this post code SW1A 1AA

We are not amused.

 

[DaleCooper]

I usually use this post code SW1A 1AA

We wondered why we get so much junk mail.

 

[Purple Train]

I haven't had a scam message since I threatened to disown my "child" for two blatant grammatical errors in their message (ignoring the fact that they called me "mum")

I haven't had any on the phone in goodness knows how long, but I think I need a testbed for my songwriting output...

 

[Ediswan]

Apparently, my TV Licence has just expired, mid month, in the middle of the afternoon. That is the fourth time so far this year.

 

[londonbridge]

Just got this one:




(Link edited by adding xxxx in order to disable it)

So they don’t have my address but they’ve managed to locate my mobile number…..yeah right…

Further to the above, it came through SMS messages but the contact was given as an email address rather than a mobile number. I blocked the contact and deleted the message, I’ve just had the exact same message again from a different email.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Telling people from these scam call centres that they have rung Scambusters and asking which expert they want to speak to seems to have a most undesired effect on the caller.....

 

[John Webb]

I've noticed a further upswing in the number of unwanted calls on my landline following my early March posting. February and March had 10 each, but I'm already up to twelve this month and only a third of the way through it! (My 'Call Guardian' system has stopped any of them getting through.) On looking them up two-thirds of the numbers have been recognised scammers.....

 

[Deroro]

My laptop runs Window 10 and has all the latest updates installed. It gets minimal usage and is turned on infrequently. I only use it for booking flights, hotels and restaurants as my elderly eyes cannot see clearly on a small phone screen. I do not visit dodgy sites and in over twenty years have never had any security issues. I have just done a full security scan on the laptop which showed no issues.

Over the past few days, I have been plagued with emails from ''Microsoft account team'', allegedly, saying that unauthorised attempts have been made to access my account. The email address the messages come from is ''account-security-noreply@accountprotectiondotmicrosoftdotcom''. This morning I received a message from them saying I had requested a single-use code to use with my Microsoft account. I made no such request.

I went to the Microsoft site ''See when and where you've used your account''. This showed that over the past few days innumerable, unsuccessful attempts have been made to access my account in Brazil, Guatemala, Vietnam and Argentina. Worryingly, two successful attempts were made in Canada and Spain. Any help regarding what I should do would be gratefully received.

Thank you.

​

 

[Eyersey468]

My laptop runs Window 10 and has all the latest updates installed. It gets minimal usage and is turned on infrequently. I only use it for booking flights, hotels and restaurants as my elderly eyes cannot see clearly on a small phone screen. I do not visit dodgy sites and in over twenty years have never had any security issues. I have just done a full security scan on the laptop which showed no issues.

Over the past few days, I have been plagued with emails from ''Microsoft account team'', allegedly, saying that unauthorised attempts have been made to access my account. The email address the messages come from is ''account-security-noreply@accountprotectiondotmicrosoftdotcom''. This morning I received a message from them saying I had requested a single-use code to use with my Microsoft account. I made no such request.

I went to the Microsoft site ''See when and where you've used your account''. This showed that over the past few days innumerable, unsuccessful attempts have been made to access my account in Brazil, Guatemala, Vietnam and Argentina. Worryingly, two successful attempts were made in Canada and Spain. Any help regarding what I should do would be gratefully received.

Thank you.

​

Sounds like a scam in itself

 

[najaB]

I went to the Microsoft site ''See when and where you've used your account''. This showed that over the past few days innumerable, unsuccessful attempts have been made to access my account in Brazil, Guatemala, Vietnam and Argentina. Worryingly, two successful attempts were made in Canada and Spain. Any help regarding what I should do would be gratefully received.

Change your password and enable two-factor authentication (if feasible) and then don't worry.

 

[Deroro]

Thank you so much for this advice. I contacted a young, computer literate relative and he advised me to do as you suggested. He also told me how to do it.

The worst thing is the worry and stress these criminals engender in old people like me. In future, I will use my iPad for booking flights etc.