Common Scams Section

This is the place for posts that don't fit into any other category.

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
User avatar
CitroJim
A very naughty boy
Posts: 49518
Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
Location: Paggers
My Cars: Bluebell the AX, Polly the C3 Picasso, Pix the Nissan Pixo, Propel the duathlon bike, TCR Pro the road bike and Fuji the TT bike...
x 6156
Contact:

Re: Common Scams Section

Post by CitroJim »

GiveMeABreak wrote: 15 Sep 2020, 14:17 They have no shame using human misery to scam people.
I think it's utterly evil and totally reprehensible Marc :evil:
Jim

Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 36996
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5644

Re: Common Scams Section

Post by GiveMeABreak »

TV Licensing Latest Scam.

As more people are cancelling their TV licences than ever before, I thought I'd put this latest scam up we received today.

As you can see the email looks very well composed and very genuine - but it is a complete fake.
TV Scam A.png
1) Your TV licence number will usually be 10 digits and always included on your TV licence or paper correspondence from them. The one in the fake email will be completely different to your licence number. TV Licensing will always include part of your postcode in their emails too, and include your real TV Licence number that you should check against before responding.

2) TV licensing only have 2 email addresses that they will send from, either:

tvlicensing.co.uk
or
spp.tvlicensing.co.uk

and these will show in brackets after the main TVLICENSING in the 'From' field of your email. As you can see the email above has no email shown after the TVLICENSING and if you do hover over it or look underneath it, the fake email is exposed:
TV Scam D.png
3) Even the Twitter and Youtube links below are fake, and if clicked will again take you to the scammer's website, so don't click them.
TV Scam B.png
4) Despite trying to appear genuine by encouraging you to click the links to the Privacy Policy, or Website, Anti Scam info, Accessibility sections, or Direct Debit, every single clickable hyperlink in this email (that I have arrowed in red) is a fake and is exactly the same link which it would not be in a genuine email!
TV Scam C.png
The Hyperlinks take you to the same scamming website here:
TV Scam E.png
5) Never call the number on this fake email shown above - the phone number is very similar and looks like the real TV Licensing number, but the last few digits are changed and it is a scam number.

Obviously I have replaced links with images here, but wanted to show you the sort of length that these criminals are going to. So don't be taken in and never click anything in one of these emails. It does make one wonder about the vulnerable - especially the Pensioners that no longer get a free TV licence - so do make sure you let anyone know about this scam whom you think may be at risk.
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 36996
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5644

Re: Common Scams Section

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Ok, here's the latest one to make it's way into my inbox - wait for it - a 'Home Office' :rofl2: parking charge notice!

Well, for a start I live in Wales, not London where we are in a Sidiq Khan-free zone, yet alone in a 'Charging Zone'. :roll: Not many people here would even know what one of those is!

Click Image to Zoom
Fine Scam.PNG
Well. this one will be winging its way to the scam squad.....
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
User avatar
mickthemaverick
Donor 2024
Posts: 13520
Joined: 11 May 2019, 17:56
Location: Hertford
My Cars: 70+ former cars (list available) including 11 Citroens, 3 Renaults
Current cars: 2004 Subaru Legacy 2.5 SEn, 1994 Mazda MX3
x 6010

Re: Common Scams Section

Post by mickthemaverick »

I've had that one too Marc and was about to post it up here when your post came up!! I love the "telephone number temporarily unavailable" bit!! :-D
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure!
I used to ride on two wheels, but now I need all four!
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 36996
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5644

Re: Common Scams Section

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Indeed!

Anyone with any Phishing or Scam Emails in the UK should forward them onto this address.

report@phishing.gov.uk

Link to the UK National Cyber Security Centre

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/information/rep ... ous-emails
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
User avatar
myglaren
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 25362
Joined: 02 Mar 2008, 13:30
Location: Washington
My Cars: Mazda 6
Ooops.
Previously:
2009 Honda Civic :(
C5, C5, Xantia, BX, GS, Visa.
R4, R11TXE, R14, R30TX
x 4888

Re: Common Scams Section

Post by myglaren »

Almost the same as the one I had a month ago.
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 36996
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5644

Re: Common Scams Section

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Well had a nasty surprise this morning. Went online to pay a £250 credit card bill today after receiving notification my statement was ready. Instead of expecting a £250 balance, it was showing £800!

So it looks like a website I have used at some point has been hacked and customer details stolen. Now I only use this particular card for 4-5 websites intentionally. One of the amounts for £170 was for a large well known national online pet food / supplies retailer and I've not used that for some time and only for specialist dietary biscuits for the cat.

The second purchase was for a £400 coffee machine from some online company I've never used.

So I have to say it only took a phone call to the fraud department and a few questions to answer for the card to be immediately blocked and a new one issued. I was told it was likely to be a large breach and would affect hundreds if not thousands of other individuals when this happens, but they couldn't tell me the specific store at this time as they were investigating.

Now I'm quite tech savvy and can spot a scam from a 1000 paces, but there's not much you can do when the problem is with the poor safeguards, security measures and unreported data breaches that happen with the retailer or the company that handles their 'secure' transactions.

I was told that where there has been a data breach, I should, as a previous customer, have had a letter from the relevant company explaining this and what to do. Suffice it to say this has not happened as yet. So either this is a recent hack (as these transactions both happened within 6 days of this week) and they are not yet aware of it or they are dragging their heels.....

So just be aware - always check your online account transactions regularly and always use different passwords for each place you shop online. Also, do use a Credit Card if possible for online transactions as it does afford you some additional protection and at least any potential hacker dould not have access to your bank account if using a debit card.

I will now be closing the few shopping accounts with the companies I know that I used this card with as an extra precaution.

A thousand lashes on the individuals who did this and I hope the coffee machine that was bought breaks down immediately.: :grr:
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
User avatar
mickthemaverick
Donor 2024
Posts: 13520
Joined: 11 May 2019, 17:56
Location: Hertford
My Cars: 70+ former cars (list available) including 11 Citroens, 3 Renaults
Current cars: 2004 Subaru Legacy 2.5 SEn, 1994 Mazda MX3
x 6010

Re: Common Scams Section

Post by mickthemaverick »

Sorry to hear that Marc, not that you will actually lose anything but it is a pain and a major hassle to re-organise when this sort of thing happens. I never use any cards online at all, if the supplier doesn't accept Paypal I go elsewhere. I'm not saying Paypal is any safer but at least I only have one place to blame if anything does go wrong!! :(
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure!
I used to ride on two wheels, but now I need all four!
User avatar
bobins
Donor 2023
Posts: 5697
Joined: 05 Jul 2012, 18:07
Location: Midhurst, West Sussex
My Cars: Kia Sportage
Mazda BT-50
Land Rover SIII SWB
V-F-R800
SL320
MX5
x 2871

Re: Common Scams Section

Post by bobins »

I'd think that if they've successfully used your credit card, then that means they'll have the three digit security code from the back of it, which means either the hacked website has been storing that code (which they're not supposed to do) or the hackers have been grabbing the data as it's been inputted at point of sale.
Sadly no longer a C5 owner :(
User avatar
bobins
Donor 2023
Posts: 5697
Joined: 05 Jul 2012, 18:07
Location: Midhurst, West Sussex
My Cars: Kia Sportage
Mazda BT-50
Land Rover SIII SWB
V-F-R800
SL320
MX5
x 2871

Re: Common Scams Section

Post by bobins »

Mick - be wary of using Paypal for all/most online transactions as I'm not sure how good their fraud refunding/reimbursement is when used for online payments. The cover provided by credit card legislation may actually give you better cover !
Sadly no longer a C5 owner :(
User avatar
mickthemaverick
Donor 2024
Posts: 13520
Joined: 11 May 2019, 17:56
Location: Hertford
My Cars: 70+ former cars (list available) including 11 Citroens, 3 Renaults
Current cars: 2004 Subaru Legacy 2.5 SEn, 1994 Mazda MX3
x 6010

Re: Common Scams Section

Post by mickthemaverick »

I have found them to be excellent so far bobins, I have had three separate error/fraud issues and I have been refunded overnight on each occasion. I am not advocating anything for others, but most of my purchases are through ebay which may have helped; on one transaction I clicked "pay now" twice inadvertantly and immediately got an email asking if the second click was deliberate. I confirmed it was a mistake and the second payment was not made so I am pretty happy with them!! :)
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure!
I used to ride on two wheels, but now I need all four!
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 36996
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5644

Re: Common Scams Section

Post by GiveMeABreak »

bobins wrote: 23 Oct 2020, 15:19 I'd think that if they've successfully used your credit card, then that means they'll have the three digit security code from the back of it, which means either the hacked website has been storing that code (which they're not supposed to do) or the hackers have been grabbing the data as it's been inputted at point of sale.
Exactly - It's another reason why I use Apple Pay wherever I can as no actual personal or card data is exchanged with the EPOS system - only a code that is meaningless to anyone / anything. So I use my Apple Watch to pay for most items of about £40 or under at present in stores.

I was told that a website has been hacked - and I too wondered why they store this data. Anyway, I've removed all my cards from the suspect sites for the time being.

I've not been out of pocket - I just hope they catch the bu**ers and have a stake out at the coffee machine delivery location.
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
User avatar
CitroJim
A very naughty boy
Posts: 49518
Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
Location: Paggers
My Cars: Bluebell the AX, Polly the C3 Picasso, Pix the Nissan Pixo, Propel the duathlon bike, TCR Pro the road bike and Fuji the TT bike...
x 6156
Contact:

Re: Common Scams Section

Post by CitroJim »

:evil: Oh gosh, that's terrible Marc 😲

For that very reason I check all my accounts at least once a day...

So far, touch-wood, no problems but I'm very choosy with whom I shop.

PayPal I've used extensively without issue. The one time, years ago now, I did need to interact I found them ok but painfully slow...

One needs to be ever vigilant...
Jim

Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
User avatar
bobins
Donor 2023
Posts: 5697
Joined: 05 Jul 2012, 18:07
Location: Midhurst, West Sussex
My Cars: Kia Sportage
Mazda BT-50
Land Rover SIII SWB
V-F-R800
SL320
MX5
x 2871

Re: Common Scams Section

Post by bobins »

mickthemaverick wrote: 23 Oct 2020, 15:33 I have found them to be excellent so far bobins, I have had three separate error/fraud issues and I have been refunded overnight on each occasion.
To be fair to Paypal, they are pretty good when it comes to issues linked to eBay use, but they fall down when used to pay via other sites. Basically, you lose your 'Section 75' rights.

Quote:
"Section 75 applies where there is a ‘direct relationship’ between a debt and the product. Typical examples include credit card purchases, specific car finance, store cards and credit from stores for products.
Traditional payment processors act as a way for the retailer to receive its money. But with PayPal, in simple terms, you’re paying PayPal and it's paying the retailer. Therefore, even if you’re just putting your credit card details into PayPal to pay, it counts as an agency, the path is broken, therefore you don’t have Section 75 protection."

Also a 'chargeback' can't be instigated if you use your Paypal balance to buy something from a third party website, but it can be used if you use your credit card to directly fund a Paypal purchase.

Much more info here:
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credi ... Section75/
Sadly no longer a C5 owner :(
User avatar
mickthemaverick
Donor 2024
Posts: 13520
Joined: 11 May 2019, 17:56
Location: Hertford
My Cars: 70+ former cars (list available) including 11 Citroens, 3 Renaults
Current cars: 2004 Subaru Legacy 2.5 SEn, 1994 Mazda MX3
x 6010

Re: Common Scams Section

Post by mickthemaverick »

That's interesting. I don't have a paypal balance as such, unless I happen to sell something and the buyer pays by paypal against my listing instructions! I only sell items which are for collection and thus all payments are cash on collection unless a buyer gets click happy and paypals, in which case I refund. I have the account backed by a bank account used solely for that purpose. When I buy something I transfer the funds to that account from my current account and then paypal to the seller. That way even if someone gets hold of the paypal account backer there will be no money in it!! :-D
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure!
I used to ride on two wheels, but now I need all four!
Post Reply