General Chat

Some scammers do get caught

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-37564408 :-D

We got a weird one today.
Not an email or a phone call but a.... letter from the bank.

Writing to tell us that....
Our Personal Advisor Miss XXX has apparently moved on and from now on, our account be handled by: Mr XXX.

Odd?
Neither OH or I have ever had any accts with this bank or any of their affiliated ones?

How much do we have in the acct???

:-D :-D Suemaid.

I had a call this morning, from 'Paul' - he checked my name, then said he was calling from somewhere or other - I couldn't understand him, so said 'pardon', he repeated it.
'Who' I asked again - I genuinely couldn't understand him. Not wanting to strain myself to understand an obvious scammer, I just said 'Oh my God - I have to go', and put the phone down.
Looked the number up - it's people insisting your TV or other electrical appliance needs the insurance renewing.

I had one of these earlier in the year and on being told my TV insurance needed renewing, I asked how I could reinsure an appliance I don't have!! He didn't believe me (well, I was lying).
I then I asked him how many electrical appliances he thought I had in my tent! :-D

:-D :-D :-D

Me: Hello

Caller: Hello - I am ringing about your problem with Microsoft.

Me: My microwave?

Caller: No...no...Microsoft.

Me: My microwave is working just fine...I just used it and it heated up my food just fine.

Caller: NO!! Microsoft...you have problem with Microsoft.

Me: Well food can go soft in the micro....

Caller hangs up :-D

Well, I'm miffed - I rarely get any of these on my computer :-|

Perhaps I'm more computer savvy than I think, and have done something with my settings :-D

Edit: and that last comment is probably a cue for an inundation :-S

Surprise surprise one from Barclays a few minutes ago:-


New Barclays Account Warning

Unfortunately we cannot complete your transaction at this time.

Multiple Pin failure automatically places your account on hold.

Log in To Left Restrictions.



Left restrictions?

We regularly get emails from Barclays along similar lines.

We do not and never have had an account with Barclays!! :-S :-S

OH wants to tell them they are welcome to suspend our online accounts, but so far I have persuaded him not to do anything so daft! :-|

Oh dear, those helpful people at the Nat West are having a go this morning:-


Logo: NatWestHelpful Banking

Dear Customer,

Security machinery at National Westminster Bank has been upgraded to provide customers with a faster, easier and more efficient online experience.

All customers are required to update their account information.

Click here to Login to complete the update process.

Note: Failure to update your information will lead to online service suspension.

Yours sincerely,
Online Customer Service
National Westminster Bank plc

"Sara Thornton, who joined the Met Police in 1986 and went on to become vice president of the Association of Cheif Police Officers, narrowly missed out on the top job at the Met in 2008."

from the Daily Blue
whoosh straight in the bin
:-|

Yep - had that the other day. Whooosh - straight in the bin :-D

What's a 'Mechanical Turk'? The Turkish guy who works in the local garage? :-S

Today's offering:-

Welcome to Amazon

We take you to note that your account has been Closed for protection, Where the password was entered more than once In order to protect , account has been suspended . Please update your Account Information To verify the account.

About Closing Your Account

After your account is closed, it is no longer accessible by you or anyone else This includes any Seller, Mechanical Turk, Associates, Web Services, or Amazon Payments accounts associated with your purchasing account. If you ever wanted to order from us again, or if you'd like to use website features that require a password,

Confirm your account now

Once your account is closed, it's no longer accessible by you or anyone else. You won't have access to your account history (including credit card information, order history, etc. Returns and refunds can't be processed for orders on closed accounts
(including textbook rentals).

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I remember when these scams first started, in the 90's I think. They were Nigerian, beautifully written, tailored to the recipient and extremely plausible.

It was only after people began being caught out that the fact that they were scams became more generally known.

We sent copies of all the ones we received (by post, as pre email days) to the local police, who forwarded them to The Fraud Squad in London.

After this, more people who didn't speak good English joined in, the subjects became more and more far-fetched and I sometimes wonder how anyone can fall for it. :-( :-(

Heard a policeman talk about these scams, the grammar is deliberate according to him. If you don't notice poor grammar or bad spelling you are more liable to believe the scam. :-(

'Words are the dress of thoughts, which should no more be presented in rags, tatters and dirt, than your person should'. (Earl of Chesterfield).

Off topic just a wee bit but Sharron reminded me...

My son in law is dyslexic.
With a longer words, rather than attempt to break them into sections, he simply says what he thinks the word could be.
Daughter gets frustrated and insists he should read it slowly, one syllable at a time and eventually he will get the right word.

Last week, he asks her... What is Man Get Out ?

Man Get Out ? I don't know, what are you reading?

"The weekly Lidl leaflet and Man Get Out is on offer"


Well he did break it up into syllables...... mangetout

I wonder if fewer people would notice the bad grammar than would have done when we were in education.

Recently there has been a very exciting theme in the Archers which I have been listening to, the one about the narcissistic husband.

It was extremely gripping and believable until the scene in the jury room where Eileen Atkins was portraying a female academic of my kind of vintage who said " If........had not happened you would not be sat here now."

That leapt out and bit me hard. it was the end of plausibility for me.

I have given up now I answer the phone
in a Chinese voice saying

This take away waa day want
what numba whoo want
ann is dat with fiyed lice

They soon hang up :-D :-D

Begorrah! 'Words' are my favourite insanity.

Don't you just love it when they're lost for words, Glasgow? :-S