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Independent Banking Advisory Service |
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Current Scams Other scams that are around at the moment include:
'New twist' in prize draw scams - Victims of a prize draw scam are being being unwittingly groomed as money launderers for other victims' savings, says a watchdog. - 27th October 2008Research by the OFT suggests that as many as three million people a year have lost money to consumer frauds. And the regulator estimates that these mass marketing scams have cost their victims £3.5bn - 8th September 2008. Current scams - Parcel delivery - Belize based premium rate phone line scam - IBAS receives plenty of scam alerts and emailed information - this week several came in concerning a Parcel Delivery service scam which we were told incorporated a premium rate line - the messages vary a little but essentially the majority of the content is the same which is: "Take care if you get a card through the door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) saying that they have a parcel awaiting delivery instructions and asking you contact them on 0906 661 1911. Whatever you do, don't call that number because it's a premium-rate line charging £1.50 a minute! Can you circulate this around especially as Christmas is coming. IBAS have carried out our own checks on this information and our results are below: ICSTIS is now PhonepayPlus and below is what PhonepayPlus say is known about the number being circulated (09066611911). Current postal scam warnings: If you receive a copy of an email warning you about an alleged scam associated with the number 0906 661 1911, please do NOT forward it to others. This service was shut down by us in December 2005 and is no longer running. For more information see http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/. We have the following information about this number.
We also have contact details for the company that provides this
service. If you have any queries about it, please get in touch with them to find
out more. IBAS Summary: In essence this is a 'dead' scam since December 2005 - but only on that specific telephone number. It does not mean that another scam using exactly the same method but a different phone number will not emerge for Christmas 2008. So be aware - our advice, as always is not to just pick up the phone - always check telephone numbers, particularly if they are obviously premium rate phone lines. These scams rely on curiosity and lack of knowledge. So if you want to help those on your email address book send them this page or link to our website. Debt collectors and debt collection agencies also use similar 'we have your parcel' routines to obtain direct contact with those they are 'chasing' for payment. There are many fraudsters conning unsuspecting people and taking their money. Scam artists are growing in numbers every day using scams both old and new or variations of both to trick you into giving them your money. The Internet ‘breeds’ such scams and cons as it offers a huge number of people who may be vulnerable, you should be extremely cautious of anyone using a selling ‘pitch’ which just seems too good to be true - it usually is. Also, never agree to release any information or pay any money to any company, or individual, unless they can be verified as legitimate. Here are some common scams and cons: Email Foreign Money & Laundering Scams - There are a number of variations on the 'we are seeking funds for the WTC Disaster' or the Nigerian “419” scam which usually explains that 'I am a Nigerian tribal chief with $15M to ship out of the country but need your help' type of email. These scams will always want your details and information and will use your personal or business bank account details or your company letter heading to milk your accounts or take your identity. If you receive any of these delete them and do not respond in any way to them. Home Opportunities, Working from Home, Start your own small business – any companies advertising opportunities to work from your own home with over optimistic sales language should be regarded with extreme caution. So many want to work from home, or start small businesses and become their own boss that offers of huge earnings or easy pickings look very attractive. Any advert or mail which states they will pay ‘huge earnings’ and that ‘no selling is involved’ or ‘no experience is required’ may seem appealing but they are also likely to be scams particularly if they require a fee for administration or expenses or materials. Legitimate employers never seek any fees. Usually, these scams want someone ‘stuffing’ envelopes but crafting is such a growth industry that ‘new scams’ have grown up offering packs for making cards or sewing clothes or fabrics. Career opportunity, Wonderful Job, Start your own Business? - Want to be a successful author, inventor, sales agent or advisor? Want the returns from owning your own successful business? Want to reap the rewards of working for yourself? Almost the whole population think they ‘have a book in them’, and others believe they can write a best seller or start their own business. Whether it is a cottage industry or manufacturing and marketing their own ‘inventions’ they all want financial success.Many want to become authors or writers and others who seek career avenues where they as individuals are basically marketing themselves, choose to use the services of businesses who may promise their guaranteed success – some of these businesses look OK on the surface and will ask for an advance fee for accepting you on their 'books'. It seems like a quick way in to success. Unfortunately, little or nothing is likely to be provided in return for your advance fee, as these are often called advance fee frauds Prize draw winnings - You get a phone call or a letter, informing you that you just won a prize in a prize draw. You then need to claim your prize by paying an administration fee or by calling the draw organisers using a premium rate phone line. If you call, they keep you on the line while you rack up a large sum on your phone bill. If you receive any ‘offer’ like this you should destroy it. Unsolicited mail however good it may seem should be regarded with suspicion – unless or until it can be properly verified, using alternative sources. ‘Phishing’ – where fraudulent emails appear to come from your bank or other sources of finance or online trading accounts, usually requesting information from you so that they can update your account, their company records, or supposedly for you to remain registered online. They ask you to reply with your full details, such as your name and password. Never respond to these emails. Legitimate companies never ask for personal information by email, so be aware of these scams. IBAS has seen plenty in the last two years and they have become more dangerous as they perfect their methods. Always check the ‘browser’ details for the correct http:// address. Websites offering to reclaim bank penalty charges - or bank overcharging penalties for bank customers on a ‘no win – no fee’ basis. Bank charge cold callers – unsolicited telephone calls, cold callers or emails, offering to help you reclaim your bank charges – often claiming to be from IBAS the OFT or FOS. None of these organizations would make any unsolicited contact with you. Fund transfer schemes – money–laundering scams that tempt you to use your bank account by offering a commission for feeding funds through your accounts. You could wind up with losing your own money and a prison sentence as well. Share scams (also known as boiler room fraud) – a stranger rings you out of the blue and tries to offer you shares in a company you have never heard of. They typically sell shares to unsuspecting members of the public by cold-calling them. They then persuade their victims to buy shares that are worthless or have little value. Boiler Room Fraud - As above - 'Boiler rooms' are usually based overseas but sometimes operate with the help of "front" organizations in the UK and they 'channel' the money abroad. The FSA has no jurisdiction overseas but tries to close down any boiler room activities here.
Independent Banking Advisory Service
(IBAS) is
a national, independent, non-profit, unique specialist banking customer
membership organization which resolves banking complaints and disputes and which
has campaigned on UK Banking customer issues since 1992. We provide bank and
banking assessment, analysis, bank comment and content for BBC TV News, ITV,
Radio and national newspapers, keeping many serious banking issues
'alive' - see
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