General Chat

And I have just had a thought. Wonders if although 2 different scams, not the same people. As it does seem odd that you have been caught out twice in quick succession?

These scammers will often move from one scam to another and go to same people who they have hit in the past.

Awww.....that's rotten for you Ann......so sorry.

Have you got 'Caller display' on your phone?


If I don't recognise the number - especially if it looks odd (some of them do), I simply don't pick the phone up.

When I forget to look and get the usual sort of yatter from a company, I usually do something like :

say "I don't accept cold calls" and replace the receiver

or

I leave the receiver lying on the work top until it goes dead

or

if in a really silly mood, I put the receiver down and start banging things around.


Hope it all works out well for you though......and yes, cancelling your card is probably a good idea. :-D

Ann we all learn by our mistakes about trusting! keep smiling :-D <3 <3

thanks for the advice - and you are right - I am far too trusting

I have Sky Protect and it is on DD and continuous until I stop it.

I too get these shysters calling round the time for renewal, but I know they are just out to con me.

I hate to say this Ann, but you are very gullible and trusting. And I am assuming you live on your own and have no one to guide you.

IN FUTURE, BEFORE TAKING OUT ANY SUBS. OR PAYING MONEY. TELL THEM TO CALL BACK, MAKE A NOTE OF THE NAME OF THE COMPANY AND THEN COME ON HERE AND WE WILL ADVISE YOU. PLEASE. I HATE IT THAT YOU ARE BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.

I have the motto 'trust no-one'.

Please do think more about any phone calls you get in the future. And if they say you can call them back and give you a number, do ensure you get a dial tone before calling, many just stay on the line and hope you do not notice.

AnnC...so sorry to read this. Take care

jude xx

thanks Ann - if OH was still here this would never have happened - he was far too suspicious

I am sorry to hear this Ann, thank goodness we always let phone calls go to the answer phone or I am sure we'd have been tricked at some stage by these evil people. Do cancel your card though.

thank you Kay, very kind of you

They cant refuse to cancel your card forthwith which is a must really as thats twice someone has your card details......,,,,,,,,,and ask them for the address of their Ombudsman,banks really dont like these people,,,,dont let it rest there as in your favour they can make the bank reimburse you if proven in your favour.....Barclays are known for lack of concideration........hope your money stays safe..

Ooh AnnC I think Guinevere might be right about cancelling your card. Speak to Barclaycard to see what they advise first, though.

No JustJohn, there is nothing intrinsically unsafe about having credit or debit cards, but you wouldn't give me your card number if I approached you in the street....giving it to a stranger over the phone is no different.

I would certainly suggest that Ann cancels that card and gets a new one with a different number.

Sirius

Would it be better to throw all the debit and credit cards away and perhaps have one of those top up cards? There are just so many today trying to diddle older folk out of their hard-earned cash.

Not that I am saying you are older, AnnC. Well, older than Katherine Jenkins. But younger than Catherine Zeta-Jones and Bonnie Tyler. :-D ;-)

Unfortunately John , Barclaycard will be aware that Ann has already contacted them recently about the cream scam, they won't be particularly impressed that Ann has given out card details over the phone. I think Barclaycard would argue that it is the responsiblilty of the card owner not to give out card details to a third party they have not 'checked out' as secure and legitimate.

Four years ago I had a call to my mobile saying my year was up and needed to take out insurance for my Sky box.....I was a bit shocked as I had Virgin before and never needed it with them.

I didn't take them up on it....but never knew whether it was a scam or legit......should it pack up now will just buy a new box or take out a new contract

Oh, Ann, how awful. Cancel your card or they may try to take more.

they say it's my fault as I gave them my card details

How annoying Ann, but thanks for warning those of us that didn't know this one. We have Sky Protect as well.

"Barclaycard can do nothing"

That sounds wrong, AnnC. You already have a Sky insurance policy. They have pretended they were representing Sky and have asked you for details of your Barclaycard and you have presumably had your Barclaycard account debited £102.50.

That is the main reason we have Barclaycards. They are expensive but they give us protection against scams and inferior goods and services. It appears to not be your problem but Barclaycards. Am sure someone will confirm or tell me I am talking rubbish. :-S

From the BBC watchdog page,

"Once you've fallen for one scam, you could be bombarded with more of the same. Scamsters sell or trade lists of names and addresses, which is why so many unsolicited letters take pains to convince you they've dealt with you before."

and from another site

"16. ‘SKY PROTECT’ SCAM
You receive a telephone call supposedly from ‘Sky’ or ‘Sky Protect’, regarding insurance for Sky equipment. The caller may suggest your insurance is about to expire, or offering to reduce the monthly direct debit. However, the caller will then ask for your bank details – if this was a genuine call, they would already have this. ‘Sky Protect’ confirm this is a common scam – do not give your personal details to anyone calling you, whoever they say they are."