SCAM TEXT ALERT!

[Alfisti]

Just had a scam text purporting to be from the government regarding the Living Expenses Subsidy Scheme.This is a genuine scheme that has been extended until next March to help people who are struggling to pay bills,heat homes or provide food for themselves or their families,and was featured on one of the morning programmes yesterday,but they warned that scammers,or low lifes,would jump on the band wagon to get money out of people.One of the scammers tricks is to get you to rush into clicking the link as the scheme according to them runs out tomorrow,26th Oct.Please be very aware of this scam,contact your local council or go direct to the government web site.The link looked extremely dodgy with no bearing to any legit government body.

 

Dave.

[Stu_davros]

Just had the same text today, straight into the junk mail box

[John_W]

Same here. Blocked and reported.

The link address was a bit of a giveaway. 

[Whofan]

Is anyone still getting the phone call allegedly from “bank security department”?

 

that tells you there two payments blocked, one of £199 and one of £399 to Amazon?

 

I thought that one had died out, but I had one yesterday.

 

 

[Des]

42 minutes ago, Whofan said:

Is anyone still getting the phone call allegedly from “bank security department”?

 

that tells you there two payments blocked, one of £199 and one of £399 to Amazon?

 

I thought that one had died out, but I had one yesterday.

Recently had a slight variation - the payment was to West Midlands Railways for tickets to San Pancreas.

 

I was ruder rude about their poor grasp of English.

[flyboy2610]

I screen all my phone calls through an answering machine. I have my phone service set up so family members phones generate 2 rings in rapid succession. Those I answer immediately.

[Whofan]

2 hours ago, Des said:

Recently had a slight variation - the payment was to West Midlands Railways for tickets to San Pancreas.

 

I was ruder rude about their poor grasp of English.

Oh, San Pancreas!!

 

I’d have loved to have had that one!

[upnorth]

1 hour ago, flyboy2610 said:

I screen all my phone calls through an answering machine. I have my phone service set up so family members phones generate 2 rings in rapid succession. Those I answer immediately.

 

I'm similar, I just don't answer unknown phone numbers. nine times out of ten, they are telemarketing anyway.

 

I stick the number into one of those "Who called me" type websites and then decide if I'll call back.

 

I figure if it's really important, they'll email or text me sooner than later if I don't return the call.

[Chimpion]

14 hours ago, Whofan said:

Oh, San Pancreas!!

 

I’d have loved to have had that one!

If it's a train from the West Midlands isn't the station pronounced "Euston"?

 

[Whofan]

4 minutes ago, Chimpion said:

If it's a train from the West Midlands isn't the station pronounced "Euston"?

 

It certainly is, unless it's a Chiltern line train in which case it's pronounced Marylebone.

[Des]

7 hours ago, Whofan said:

It certainly is, unless it's a Chiltern line train in which case it's pronounced Marylebone.

Or with the continental tendencies of my caller Mar le Bonne perhaps.

[bentwaters81tfw]

Had one this morning telling me I can still apply for the winter heating allowance. Came from a French number, and thanked me for 'supporting you Government' (sic)

Another scumbag trying to prey on the confused.

[Admiral Puff]

Haven't had any SMS scams, but the scam calls just keep on coming. Got one this morning - someone with a distinctly non-Australian accent assuring me he was from Microsoft and had an urgent "repair" that needed to be made to my computer. I told him where he could put his "repair" and questioned his legitimacy for many generations into the past before hanging up. Probably had little effect, but it made me feel good. This was a rare one, as my phone is pretty good at weeding out the dud calls.

 

Some of these people must live under a rock - how long is it since Microsoft stopped doing anything like that over the phone?

[Hoppy]

45 minutes ago, Admiral Puff said:

Haven't had any SMS scams, but the scam calls just keep on coming. Got one this morning - someone with a distinctly non-Australian accent assuring me he was from Microsoft and had an urgent "repair" that needed to be made to my computer. I told him where he could put his "repair" and questioned his legitimacy for many generations into the past before hanging up. Probably had little effect, but it made me feel good. This was a rare one, as my phone is pretty good at weeding out the dud calls.

 

Some of these people must live under a rock - how long is it since Microsoft stopped doing anything like that over the phone?

I just tell them I need to turn the computer on and can they hang on ? 11 minutes is the record so far before they hang up. I love the little cry’s of hello in an Indian accent in the background.

[ArnoldAmbrose]

1 hour ago, Admiral Puff said:

Got one this morning - someone with a distinctly non-Australian accent assuring me he was from Microsoft and had an urgent "repair" that needed to be made to my computer. I told him where he could put his "repair" and questioned his legitimacy for many generations into the past before hanging up. Probably had little effect, but it made me feel good.

       I used to get them, a non-Australian voice pronouncing my name as spelt, not it's normal pronunciation, asking about my com-put-ter. I tell them I don't have one. I used to but I tied it to a telemarketer's ankle and threw him into the river. It was funny seeing him try to swim with 15 kilos of computer tied to his ankle. What was even funnier was after about ten minutes he realised the river was only four feet deep. He could have simply stood up. By this time they've usually hung up. 😁

       My son also likes to wind them up. If he gets a call saying he's won a holiday somewhere he often says "That's great! Can I bring my parole officer?" They usually hang up then. 😁

Regards, Jeff.

[John_W]

I stopped getting the "our records show you had an accident that was not your fault" calls after I followed a friend's advice and replied "oh no, it was my fault, I was drunk and speeding".

[ArnoldAmbrose]

14 hours ago, John_W said:

I followed a friend's advice and replied "oh no, it was my fault, I was drunk and speeding".

.   .   .  while driving into the sun with a dirty windshield and no brakes. 😁

[Bullbasket]

16 hours ago, John_W said:

I stopped getting the "our records show you had an accident that was not your fault" calls after I followed a friend's advice and replied "oh no, it was my fault, I was drunk and speeding".

My brother dealt with those type of calls in a similar manner. When they rang, and a voiced asked for my brother, he would reply in a very agitated way, "He not here. He in prison for murder!"

 

John.

[Des]

19 hours ago, John_W said:

I stopped getting the "our records show you had an accident that was not your fault" calls after I followed a friend's advice and replied "oh no, it was my fault, I was drunk and speeding".

 

4 hours ago, ArnoldAmbrose said:

.   .   .  while driving into the sun with a dirty windshield and no brakes. 😁

"And it was only a bus full of nuns and orphans . . . . . when will I get my money? . . . . .  how much will I get?  . . . . . when will I get my money? . . . . .  how much will I get? . . . . . when will I get my money? . . . . .  how much will I get?" . . . . . until they hang up.

[Skodadriver]

I had a "bank security department" call on Tuesday. I didn't let them get far enough to tell me what the "problem" was. You would really think even the thickest scammer must realise that one has run its course.

 

Our Council TS department recently posted on Facebook about a new and particularly mean scam which seems to have started up in this area and may be operating elsewhere. Essentially the scammers look in the local press for genuine death announcements, then a fake social media post is put up including a link where mourners are advised they can watch the funeral online. This link then asks for credit card details for a small payment to view the proceedings, putting people's personal financial information into the hands of the scammers. There also seem to be variations on the theme with scammers setting up fake profiles and sending friend requests to those close to the deceased person, often asking for money for fundraising campaigns or donations that don’t exist. Sometimes scammers even publish a complete fake "tribute" page.

 

I know many scams are so ridiculous they are funny but deliberately targeting people who have recently been bereaved is beyond detestable.

 

Dave G

 

[ArnoldAmbrose]

49 minutes ago, Skodadriver said:

I know many scams are so ridiculous they are funny but deliberately targeting people who have recently been bereaved is beyond detestable.

I have to totally agree with you there. Regards, Jeff.

[RAF4EVER]

Had one here in The Netherlands  yesterday, DESPICABLE:

 

https://nltimes.nl/2024/10/30/fake-cop-scams-elderly-widow-eu10000-weeks-husbands-funeral

[bentwaters81tfw]

Speaking of scams on the bereaved, the local paper - part of a National chain now, has a Family Announcements page. Whereas you could post a Death notice for free, they now charge well into 3 figures. 

Then they wonder why readers will not subscribe for their pretty useless rag.

[Whofan]

4 hours ago, Skodadriver said:

the scammers look in the local press for genuine death announcements, then a fake social media post is put up including a link where mourners are advised they can watch the funeral online.

Dave,

 

this is very interesting, because I belong to a Who related Internet forum and last week someone notified the forum of the death of a member (not unusual, sadly, given many people on the forum have been fans of the Who for up to 60 years now) and it gave a link to watch the funeral online.

 

I confess I am wondering now if the kind person who posted that was a victim of that scam.

[Skodadriver]

3 hours ago, Whofan said:

 

I confess I am wondering now if the kind person who posted that was a victim of that scam.

Provided it was set up through the Funeral Directors it will be legit. Wearing my other hat as a church organist, we livestream our Sunday services and will stream a funeral service if requested. That is done using the church's own equipment and there is never any charge for it. I don't know what happens at the local crematorium or the various funeral homes but presumably similar arrangements apply.