It'll never happen to me - A word of warning!

Yes, it did. I got caught!

Initially, the call claimed to be from O2, but because it caught me in
Morrisons I missed the POSSIBLE SPAM warning on my mobile.
They rang me back later and the SPAM warning didn't show. They offered
me a 30% discount on my monthly charges, which, since I am SIM only,
wasn't very much, but heigh ho.

They seemed to go through all the security stuff, but I fancy I might
have confirmed my email (which they probably didn't have!). They asked
me to change my password and I refused, but they did ask for my O2
secret question - well they would, wouldn't they? They then asked me
whether I needed a new phone, and I said no. They said they would send
me the latest offer anyhow, and I thought no more of it.
A while later a contract appeared in an email, and again I ignored it.
However, the next email said that the phone was on its way and the
charges would appear on my next O2 monthly direct debit.

At that point, I rang what I knew for sure was O2 who checked me out and
assured me it wasn't them and said they would sort it out and handed me
to their Fraud department.

They explained that this is a common scam and it goes like this: The
item (in this case a phone) arrives and you phone the bogus number who
say they will arrange collection. A man arrives hi-vis jacket etc. to
collect the phone, but he is part of the setup i.e. he keeps the phone
and you still pay for it.

Anyhoo O2 said that they will stop the dispatch and prevent any Direct
Debit setup, mainly, I think because I acted quickly. I
T DIDN'T

I got another email this morning saying the phone is on its way -
followed by a phonecall saying the same. I asked them for the security
code that O2 gave me yesterday and they hung up - so I guess they know
I'm on to them.

How they have my sort code and account number I don't know, but my bank
has assured me that since O2 won't allow the direct debit to be set up
then it will be okay and to keep an eye on it.

I checked the two phone numbers the fraudsters used using who-
called.co.uk who say that these numbers are used to carry out this type
of fraud and have been doing it for years. They include O2, Curry's,
Virgin Media etc etc in their trawl.
Why they cannot prevent them as it is a London number, I don't
understand

However if this diatribe helps you then it's done its job

UPDATE 8/4/24
DHL inform me that the phone is on it's way.

WHAT DO i DO?
REFUSE TO ACCEPT (How do I know the van driver wn't keep it?)
Sign for it and ask O2 to send a return envelope? (Have you tried
contacting O2 by phone or text?)

--
Jim the Geordie

On Mon, 8 Apr 2024 10:43:41 +0100, Jim the Geordie wrote:

> It'll never happen to me - A word of warning!
>
> Yes, it did. I got caught!
>
> Initially, the call claimed to be from O2, but because it caught me in
> Morrisons supermarket, I missed the POSSIBLE SPAM warning on my mobile.
> They rang me back later and the SPAM warning didn't show. They offered
> me a 30% discount on my monthly charges, which, since I am SIM only,
> wasn't very much, but heigh ho.
>
> They seemed to go through all the security stuff, but I fancy I might
> have confirmed my email (which they probably didn't have!). They asked
> me to change my password and I refused, but they did ask for my O2
> secret question - well they would, wouldn't they? They then asked me
> whether I needed a new phone, and I said no. They said they would send
> me the latest offer anyhow, and I thought no more of it.
> A while later a contract appeared in an email, and again I ignored it.
> However, the next email said that the phone was on its way and the
> charges would appear on my next O2 monthly direct debit.
>
> At that point, I rang what I knew for sure was O2 who checked me out and
> assured me it wasn't them and said they would sort it out and handed me
> to their Fraud department.
>
> They explained that this is a common scam and it goes like this: The
> item (in this case a phone) arrives and you phone the bogus number who
> say they will arrange collection. A man arrives hi-vis jacket etc. to
> collect the phone, but he is part of the setup i.e. he keeps the phone
> and you still pay for it.
>
> Anyhoo O2 said that they will stop the dispatch and prevent any Direct
> Debit setup, mainly, I think because I acted quickly. I T DIDN'T
>
> I got another email this morning saying the phone is on its way -
> followed by a phonecall saying the same. I asked them for the security
> code that O2 gave me yesterday and they hung up - so I guess they know
> I'm on to them.
>
> How they have my sort code and account number I don't know, but my bank
> has assured me that since O2 won't allow the direct debit to be set up
> then it will be okay and to keep an eye on it.
>
> I checked the two phone numbers the fraudsters used using who-
> called.co.uk who say that these numbers are used to carry out this type
> of fraud and have been doing it for years. They include O2, Curry's,
> Virgin Media etc etc in their trawl.
> Why they cannot prevent them as it is a London number, I don't
> understand
>
> However if this diatribe helps you then it's done its job

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

UPDATE 8/4/24
DHL inform me that the phone is on it's way.
O2 sent a new phone number for it.

UPDATE 2
After a long wait to get a live person at O2 they inform me that:
1. They don't do 30% discounts
2. If it had arrived: to refuse to accept, and it would be returned to
sender
And finally:. DHL deliveries finally got round to reading a message I sent
over the weekend and have said the parcel is being 'RETURNED TO SENDER'

If it looks too good to be true; it probably is.
Good luck
--
Jim the Geordie

On 08/04/2024 10:43, Jim the Geordie wrote:
> It'll never happen to me - A word of warning!
>
> Yes, it did. I got caught!
>
Bad luck. :-(
> Initially, the call claimed to be from O2, but because it caught me in
> Morrisons I missed the POSSIBLE SPAM warning on my mobile.
> They rang me back later and the SPAM warning didn't show. They offered
> me a 30% discount on my monthly charges, which, since I am SIM only,
> wasn't very much, but heigh ho.
>
I used to get these, but after a few attempts,they seem to have me
marked as a bolshy git, so have given up. I tend to notice two calls
from the same number, so refuse the second one.

> They seemed to go through all the security stuff, but I fancy I might
> have confirmed my email (which they probably didn't have!). They asked
> me to change my password and I refused, but they did ask for my O2
> secret question - well they would, wouldn't they? They then asked me
> whether I needed a new phone, and I said no. They said they would send
> me the latest offer anyhow, and I thought no more of it.
> A while later a contract appeared in an email, and again I ignored it.
> However, the next email said that the phone was on its way and the
> charges would appear on my next O2 monthly direct debit.
>
When I get such calls, I am always too busy to deal with it now, and I
will call customer services back when I have time.
Usually,that is an end to it. Sometimes,I actually do call customer
services (It's a free call, on a number stored locally by the service
provider on the SIM when they issue it.) They usually don't give a d@mn
that someone is trying to scam their customers.

> At that point, I rang what I knew for sure was O2 who checked me out and
> assured me it wasn't them and said they would sort it out and handed me
> to their Fraud department.
>
Good.
> They explained that this is a common scam and it goes like this: The
> item (in this case a phone) arrives and you phone the bogus number who
> say they will arrange collection. A man arrives hi-vis jacket etc. to
> collect the phone, but he is part of the setup i.e. he keeps the phone
> and you still pay for it.
>
If they try that with me, they always ask me for my address, so I say
"send it to the address you have on file", and refuse to confirm it.

> Anyhoo O2 said that they will stop the dispatch and prevent any Direct
> Debit setup, mainly, I think because I acted quickly. I
> T DIDN'T
>
Speak to your bank's fraud department and they will stop it. It is easy
to organise one that works if you need to, later on.

> I got another email this morning saying the phone is on its way -
> followed by a phonecall saying the same. I asked them for the security
> code that O2 gave me yesterday and they hung up - so I guess they know
> I'm on to them.
>
If you hadn't asked for the code,they would have asked you to confirm
your address and bank details.

> How they have my sort code and account number I don't know, but my bank
> has assured me that since O2 won't allow the direct debit to be set up
> then it will be okay and to keep an eye on it.
>
I don't know how they can get the details unless they have hacked your
O2 account.

> I checked the two phone numbers the fraudsters used using who-
> called.co.uk who say that these numbers are used to carry out this type
> of fraud and have been doing it for years. They include O2, Curry's,
> Virgin Media etc etc in their trawl.
> Why they cannot prevent them as it is a London number, I don't
> understand
>
I had a similar call a while back. When I checked on who-called, it came
up as belonging to a company that rents blocks of numbers of phine
companies and then rents them on to people who use them for whatever
they wish. It is a cheap way to get a business line in a hurry if you
need one.

When I contacted the owners of the numbers, they said that while the
number was indeed theirs, it was not in use, so the callers must have
spoofed the number when they called me. This is the reason they say "We
will call later" A call back from you will not connect as long as you
dial it manually. It may connect if you just click on the recent numbers
listing. Luckily, most systems now prevent the trick where they keep the
call open and play a dial tone for when you dial your ban or whoever,
and end up speaking to one of the gang instead.

> However if this diatribe helps you then it's done its job
>
> UPDATE 8/4/24
> DHL inform me that the phone is on it's way.
>
> WHAT DO i DO?
> REFUSE TO ACCEPT (How do I know the van driver wn't keep it?)
> Sign for it and ask O2 to send a return envelope? (Have you tried
> contacting O2 by phone or text?)
>
Send a return message to the sender saying that the item has been sent
in error, and will not be accepted, sokeep it in the depot. If they
don't read the message, you have done your best...

Just don't answer the door? If they leave it anyway, then it must have
been stolen, because you haven't seen it. As proof you did not speak to
the DHL guy, there is no signature or picture of you doing so. A picture
of your door or a picture of it in a "safe place" is not proof that you
have it or were even in at the time. (Assuming the box didn't fit
through your letter box, of course.)

If it has been sent using a service that requires a signature, their
system says the operative has to leave a card telling you a delivery
attempt was made, and contact this number to arrange redelivery or
collection.

If it has been left somewhere "safe" just be sure you do not try to use
it with your SIM in it afterwards,as the IMEI number will be traceable
the SIM user, and will have been marked on their system as stolen.

Something I have had, though, is a similar call from someone claiming to
be from Vodafone, but on a number I didn't recognise. I then contacted
Vodafone, who said "Yes, he's working for a company we hire to do that
for us, it was a legitimate offer". So I told them why I had told the
guy to go away in short sharp jerks while impregnating himself.

--
Tciao for Now!

John.

On 08/04/2024 11:48, Jim The Geordie wrote:
<Snip attempted sam details>
>
> If it looks too good to be true; it probably is.
> Good luck
>
A good ending, then, Just aggro you could have done without.

--
Tciao for Now!

John.

On Mon, 8 Apr 2024 11:55:39 +0100, John Williamson wrote:

> On 08/04/2024 11:48, Jim The Geordie wrote:
> <Snip attempted sam details>
>>
>> If it looks too good to be true; it probably is.
>> Good luck
>>
> A good ending, then, Just aggro you could have done without.

Thanks. Teach me not to be complacent (aka a smartarse)
--
Jim the Geordie

On 08-Apr-24 11:55, John Williamson wrote:
> On 08/04/2024 11:48, Jim The Geordie wrote:
> <Snip attempted sam details>
>>
>> If it looks too good to be true; it probably is.
>> Good luck
>>
> A good ending, then, Just aggro you could have done without.

We now get fairly regular calls on the landline, always at 10AM,
"This is your Bank..."

Since we don't have an account with "Your Bank", we just delete the
message[1].

[1] We don't answer the phone at such ungodly hours of the morning, so
the answerphone deals with them.

--
Sam Plusnet

On Mon, 8 Apr 2024 19:33:29 +0100
Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:

> On 08-Apr-24 11:55, John Williamson wrote:
> > On 08/04/2024 11:48, Jim The Geordie wrote:
> > <Snip attempted sam details>
> >>
> >> If it looks too good to be true; it probably is.
> >> Good luck
> >>
> > A good ending, then, Just aggro you could have done without.
>
> We now get fairly regular calls on the landline, always at 10AM,
> "This is your Bank..."
>

Oh, it's usually "bank security" I get; but that's as far as I let it go.

> Since we don't have an account with "Your Bank", we just delete the
> message[1].
>
> [1] We don't answer the phone at such ungodly hours of the morning, so
> the answerphone deals with them.
>
> --
> Sam Plusnet
>

--
Bah, and indeed Humbug.

On 2024-04-08, Jim the Geordie <jim@jimXscott.co.uk> wrote:
> It'll never happen to me - A word of warning!
>
> Yes, it did. I got caught!
>
> Initially, the call claimed to be from O2, but because it caught me in
> Morrisons I missed the POSSIBLE SPAM warning on my mobile.
> They rang me back later and the SPAM warning didn't show. They offered
> me a 30% discount on my monthly charges, which, since I am SIM only,
> wasn't very much, but heigh ho.
>
> They seemed to go through all the security stuff, but I fancy I might
> have confirmed my email (which they probably didn't have!). They asked
> me to change my password and I refused, but they did ask for my O2
> secret question - well they would, wouldn't they? They then asked me
> whether I needed a new phone, and I said no. They said they would send
> me the latest offer anyhow, and I thought no more of it.
> A while later a contract appeared in an email, and again I ignored it.
> However, the next email said that the phone was on its way and the
> charges would appear on my next O2 monthly direct debit.
>
> At that point, I rang what I knew for sure was O2 who checked me out and
> assured me it wasn't them and said they would sort it out and handed me
> to their Fraud department.
>
> They explained that this is a common scam and it goes like this: The
> item (in this case a phone) arrives and you phone the bogus number who
> say they will arrange collection. A man arrives hi-vis jacket etc. to
> collect the phone, but he is part of the setup i.e. he keeps the phone
> and you still pay for it.
>
> Anyhoo O2 said that they will stop the dispatch and prevent any Direct
> Debit setup, mainly, I think because I acted quickly. I
> T DIDN'T
>
> I got another email this morning saying the phone is on its way -
> followed by a phonecall saying the same. I asked them for the security
> code that O2 gave me yesterday and they hung up - so I guess they know
> I'm on to them.
>
> How they have my sort code and account number I don't know, but my bank
> has assured me that since O2 won't allow the direct debit to be set up
> then it will be okay and to keep an eye on it.
>
> I checked the two phone numbers the fraudsters used using who-
> called.co.uk who say that these numbers are used to carry out this type
> of fraud and have been doing it for years. They include O2, Curry's,
> Virgin Media etc etc in their trawl.
> Why they cannot prevent them as it is a London number, I don't
> understand
>
> However if this diatribe helps you then it's done its job
>
> UPDATE 8/4/24
> DHL inform me that the phone is on it's way.
>
> WHAT DO i DO?
> REFUSE TO ACCEPT (How do I know the van driver wn't keep it?)
> Sign for it and ask O2 to send a return envelope? (Have you tried
> contacting O2 by phone or text?)

The bank has stopped you being charged for it so if you get sent it then you
have a freebie phone. Phone the fraud department of O2 and give them the
option of arranging its collection, if they don't then presumably it's
"unsolicited goods."

--
Bernard Peek
bap@shrdlu.com
Wigan

On 10 Apr 2024 12:48:46 GMT, Bernard Peek wrote:

> On 2024-04-08, Jim the Geordie <jim@jimXscott.co.uk> wrote:
>> It'll never happen to me - A word of warning!
>>
>> Yes, it did. I got caught!
>>
>> Initially, the call claimed to be from O2, but because it caught me in
>> Morrisons I missed the POSSIBLE SPAM warning on my mobile.
>> They rang me back later and the SPAM warning didn't show. They offered
>> me a 30% discount on my monthly charges, which, since I am SIM only,
>> wasn't very much, but heigh ho.
>>
>> They seemed to go through all the security stuff, but I fancy I might
>> have confirmed my email (which they probably didn't have!). They asked
>> me to change my password and I refused, but they did ask for my O2
>> secret question - well they would, wouldn't they? They then asked me
>> whether I needed a new phone, and I said no. They said they would send
>> me the latest offer anyhow, and I thought no more of it.
>> A while later a contract appeared in an email, and again I ignored it.
>> However, the next email said that the phone was on its way and the
>> charges would appear on my next O2 monthly direct debit.
>>
>> At that point, I rang what I knew for sure was O2 who checked me out and
>> assured me it wasn't them and said they would sort it out and handed me
>> to their Fraud department.
>>
>> They explained that this is a common scam and it goes like this: The
>> item (in this case a phone) arrives and you phone the bogus number who
>> say they will arrange collection. A man arrives hi-vis jacket etc. to
>> collect the phone, but he is part of the setup i.e. he keeps the phone
>> and you still pay for it.
>>
>> Anyhoo O2 said that they will stop the dispatch and prevent any Direct
>> Debit setup, mainly, I think because I acted quickly. I
>> T DIDN'T
>>
>> I got another email this morning saying the phone is on its way -
>> followed by a phonecall saying the same. I asked them for the security
>> code that O2 gave me yesterday and they hung up - so I guess they know
>> I'm on to them.
>>
>> How they have my sort code and account number I don't know, but my bank
>> has assured me that since O2 won't allow the direct debit to be set up
>> then it will be okay and to keep an eye on it.
>>
>> I checked the two phone numbers the fraudsters used using who-
>> called.co.uk who say that these numbers are used to carry out this type
>> of fraud and have been doing it for years. They include O2, Curry's,
>> Virgin Media etc etc in their trawl.
>> Why they cannot prevent them as it is a London number, I don't
>> understand
>>
>> However if this diatribe helps you then it's done its job
>>
>> UPDATE 8/4/24
>> DHL inform me that the phone is on it's way.
>>
>> WHAT DO i DO?
>> REFUSE TO ACCEPT (How do I know the van driver wn't keep it?)
>> Sign for it and ask O2 to send a return envelope? (Have you tried
>> contacting O2 by phone or text?)
>
> The bank has stopped you being charged for it so if you get sent it then you
> have a freebie phone. Phone the fraud department of O2 and give them the
> option of arranging its collection, if they don't then presumably it's
> "unsolicited goods."

I contacted DHL who agreed to 'Return to sender'
I was texted by the scammers today to say - that they had installed a new
direct debit on my babk account.
Then I had an email from them saying that my bank had refused to set up the
new direct debit and that I now owe £1290 and would I contact my bank - no
chance!
I contacted O2 fraud section, who had my details from Friday. They said
they were 'on it' and to do nothing (including not deleting the email as it
is evidence) They assured me that the whole episode witl cost mr nothing.
--
Jim the Geordie