TPS Scam 0203 1291533

Posted by: Dungassin on 09 October 2015

SWMBO fell victim to this this morning.  I was busy sorting out a few things and heard her on the phone, apparently arguing with somebody.  I thought it was the local vicar making a mess of ordering the Parish Magazines (don't know why we have anything to do with that, as we're both atheists!), so I didn't interfere.

 

She eventually put down the phone and told me she'd paid £50 to the Telephone Preference Service by her debit card (on our joint account).  I immediately said "but that's free!", and then embarked on phone calls etc to try to cancel the payment.  I finished up being abusive to the person at the purported company and rang NatWest.  Alas, I wasn't quick enough, only eventually getting through to the appropriate person at after being on hold for 10 minutes then being informed that the payment had gone out 2 minutes before!  I cancelled her debit card, and she should receive a new one soon.

 

I think the chances of recovering the money are about zero, and have reported the case to Action Fraud and TPS themselves.

 

Just remember that companies here sell 0203 to overseas organisations hence facilitating these scams.

 

Hopefully SWMBO will have learnt her lesson and not fall for similar scams again.  Next time I hear her arguing on the phone, I'll ask her who she's talking to.

 

Posted on: 09 October 2015 by Steve J

Commiserations. The lesson here is to never give any bank details to cold callers whoever they say they are.

Posted on: 10 October 2015 by Dungassin

I know that, and you know that, but it doesn't seem to have penetrated into SWMBO's brain.  (sigh)

Posted on: 10 October 2015 by Chris G

Hi Dungassin, I sympathise.  My elderly mother fell victim to a similar scam some years ago and gave her debit card details to the crooks, who pinched around £60 from her account.  I contacted her bank saying the scum at the other end must have signed up to a user agreement to participate in the credit/debit card system.  I took that tack and argued with the bank that the other party was clearly in breach of their agreement with the card issuer(s); after some pressure, the bank (NatWest) refunded all my mother's money.  We stopped the card and got her a new one and she learnt her lesson.  It took several phone calls and letters to the bank.  Good luck and it's worth pushing the bank about this.