Sorry this happened to you, it's so stressful. I had one like yours while I was in NICU the day after giving birth - and even when I explained that this was why I might sound distracted they carried on... Though I've actually had a really similar sounding call, which was from the real Nationwide fraud team. So it's very hard to know when you're on the spot!
This happened to me and I fell for it. I’m a sensible, smart, grown up with a job and children and juggle life. Interestingly they called me at about 19:30 pm too…..the time a mother is harassed and distracted getting dinner, planning tomorrow, giving instructions to get to bed. I was devastated and felt ridiculous. Luckily they didn’t drain my bank account, but they got a f*king bonus for nothing at my expense. And when I clicked and said “I’m putting the phone down now”, they dropped the gentle accent and said aggressively “thanks for the money you stupid bitch”, which made me feel like I’d been punched in the street. It was a year ago and I can talk about it more easily now, at the time I felt so stupid. But FORCED myself to speak out loud to people to help protect them too. You’ve done that too. With a megaphone. Thank you.
I can see myself being susceptible to scams in much the same situation.
One thing that has helped is normalizing hanging up mid call without any notice to the other party. I have done this multiple times when the tone gets weird or if I have concerns with no guilt or emotions.
This happened to me too 🙈 they were so convincing! Thank goodness, like you, I found my bank to be so helpful once I had realised what had taken place. 😏
Her 11-year-old was waving at her going, "It's a scam!" But she felt pressured - she was having dinner at her mum's and her mum was nagging her to hurry up with the call. So she didn't stop and think.
Fortunately, I'm deaf, so scammers can't get anywhere with me on the phone because I never answer!
Not sure that is the case with all banks. I have twice recently received a text about activity on my card from Tesco bank. Once I have responded to the text to say that I don't recognise the transaction they then say they will call me from a given number. The first time this happened I was in France and didn't trust the text so phoned the number on my card. They then confirmed that the text was genuine.
I had something like this happen to me on my birthday morning, in the US. It’s rampant and you should not feel gullible. They spend all their time thinking about how to scam while you spend all your time thinking about how to live, with kindness and respect. ♥️
This happened to me, too! Well my husband, but unfortunately for him I picked up his phone. I even said, how do I know you are not a scam? And like you, got scammed by a fraudulent scam team. It's terrifying, really, as if we are being scammed (semi-sentient), how many much older people with no tech literacy are, too? (My brother worries about my dad constantly, he's also forwarding weird emails and my brother has to reply to the whole family going DON'T OPEN IT, PLEASE STOP SENDING THESE ON)
From my own experience, banks NEVER phone you about so-called fraud. I have had my card details nabbed a great many times and what always happens is the bank's computer sees something is wrong and they stop your card. YOU then have to phone your bank, not the other way round. I’d put the phone down immediately on anyone saying anything about your bank or building society account.
But not denying the scammers are so bloody clever. Was listening on radio 4 to an ex-scam villain who’d done time. Well-spoken annd plausible, he gave fascinating insight into the complex psychology they use.
It just confirms, always listen to your gut. You knew!
Sorry this happened to you, it's so stressful. I had one like yours while I was in NICU the day after giving birth - and even when I explained that this was why I might sound distracted they carried on... Though I've actually had a really similar sounding call, which was from the real Nationwide fraud team. So it's very hard to know when you're on the spot!
This happened to me and I fell for it. I’m a sensible, smart, grown up with a job and children and juggle life. Interestingly they called me at about 19:30 pm too…..the time a mother is harassed and distracted getting dinner, planning tomorrow, giving instructions to get to bed. I was devastated and felt ridiculous. Luckily they didn’t drain my bank account, but they got a f*king bonus for nothing at my expense. And when I clicked and said “I’m putting the phone down now”, they dropped the gentle accent and said aggressively “thanks for the money you stupid bitch”, which made me feel like I’d been punched in the street. It was a year ago and I can talk about it more easily now, at the time I felt so stupid. But FORCED myself to speak out loud to people to help protect them too. You’ve done that too. With a megaphone. Thank you.
What a service to others your essay is! Sending you love 🥰
I can see myself being susceptible to scams in much the same situation.
One thing that has helped is normalizing hanging up mid call without any notice to the other party. I have done this multiple times when the tone gets weird or if I have concerns with no guilt or emotions.
This happened to me too 🙈 they were so convincing! Thank goodness, like you, I found my bank to be so helpful once I had realised what had taken place. 😏
They did this to my friend and took £2,000.
Her 11-year-old was waving at her going, "It's a scam!" But she felt pressured - she was having dinner at her mum's and her mum was nagging her to hurry up with the call. So she didn't stop and think.
Fortunately, I'm deaf, so scammers can't get anywhere with me on the phone because I never answer!
Not sure that is the case with all banks. I have twice recently received a text about activity on my card from Tesco bank. Once I have responded to the text to say that I don't recognise the transaction they then say they will call me from a given number. The first time this happened I was in France and didn't trust the text so phoned the number on my card. They then confirmed that the text was genuine.
I had something like this happen to me on my birthday morning, in the US. It’s rampant and you should not feel gullible. They spend all their time thinking about how to scam while you spend all your time thinking about how to live, with kindness and respect. ♥️
This happened to me, too! Well my husband, but unfortunately for him I picked up his phone. I even said, how do I know you are not a scam? And like you, got scammed by a fraudulent scam team. It's terrifying, really, as if we are being scammed (semi-sentient), how many much older people with no tech literacy are, too? (My brother worries about my dad constantly, he's also forwarding weird emails and my brother has to reply to the whole family going DON'T OPEN IT, PLEASE STOP SENDING THESE ON)
Awful! They called me back a few days later too but I was too excited to do anything brilliant
From my own experience, banks NEVER phone you about so-called fraud. I have had my card details nabbed a great many times and what always happens is the bank's computer sees something is wrong and they stop your card. YOU then have to phone your bank, not the other way round. I’d put the phone down immediately on anyone saying anything about your bank or building society account.
Oh I’d like to hear that
Called Scam Secrets on BBC Sounds
Interesting!
But not denying the scammers are so bloody clever. Was listening on radio 4 to an ex-scam villain who’d done time. Well-spoken annd plausible, he gave fascinating insight into the complex psychology they use.
What did you say to them!? Did you at least let them know they were busted?
I recorded it! But was too flustered to be anything but charming, then they hung up