What happens during a scam call?
Someone may call you claiming to be from your bank or mortgage company acting in your best interest. Its objective is to find out your personal data, including your account number, PIN number and 3 digital numbers on the back of your bank card. In short, they are looking for all the numbers they will need to easily access your bank account and transfer your money to them.
What is the most common type of fraudulent call?
When the scammer calls, they will state that they have noticed an unusual payment from your bank account and would like to investigate on your behalf. They will claim that they need your bank details so that “they can catch the person or persons involved”. To encourage you to hand over your data, they will tell a pretty believable story. It is at this point that vulnerable people are often fooled.
What are they likely to say to make them sound genuine?
Since most of us know that our banks would never contact us by phone asking for personal information, the scammer may invite you to call the phone number on the back of your bank card to confirm that the call is ‘genuine’. When you make the call to this number, the scammer keeps the line open and intercepts the call to get you back to the scammer or an achievement, when you think you’ve been connected to your real bank.
Who does this usually happen to?
Thieves often target vulnerable people in our community: the elderly are often victims of this type of crime.
Are there different types of fraudulent crimes?
Yes, there are three that are the most denounced by the victims. However, scammers try to find new ways all the time, so you need to stay vigilant.
1. Scammers may send a courier to come and collect your bank card in person once you have given them your PIN number over the phone. To make the story seem even more believable, the driver may not know that he is part of a scam.
2. Some victims are asked to purchase an expensive item on behalf of the scammer posing as the bank who wants to “catch the criminal handing over the item to see if they’ll accept it.” The courier (often unknowingly a part of the scam) comes to pick up the item to ‘pass it to the bank’ when it is the scammer who picks it up on the other side.
3. Victims are sometimes asked to transfer their entire account to a ‘safe account’ due to alleged corruption at the bank. The money is transferred directly to the scammer’s bank account elsewhere.
If you know someone who may be elderly or vulnerable, remind them to be vigilant when answering the phone to people they don’t know who claim to be from their bank or mortgage company.
Banks will NEVER ask you for your personal information by email or phone, which includes your PIN number and bank details.
If you find unusual activity call ActionFraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit http://www.actionfraud.police.co.uk