How On Earth Do Scammers Manage ?

[Canary42]

I suspect I've been scammed. I got an e-mail from Royal Mail (allegedly) asking for small fee payment to deliver a parcel (which I am expecting). Without thinking it through I paid the fee online.  I then tried to track the item and it came up "tracking code unknown". It then occurred to me the Royal Mail wouldn't know my e-mail address so I then realised I'd been scammed (**&%$$£***).

Now comes the difficult bit. I immediately rang my Credit Card provider to stop the card I had paid with.  That's when I got a third degree interrogation and because my responses didn't tie in with their records they said they couldn't proceed.  Getting somewhat angry I eventually got them to lock the card, but before I get a new one I have to respond to something they're sending me in the post.  I will now get a deluge of "payment refused" complaints from regular payment transactions on that card until I can give them the new number.  

 

If genuine customers like me have such a problem, why do scammers find it so easy ?  

 

Why is e-life so painful. 

 

I HATE SCAMMERS.

[Canary42]

End of Rant

[ToraToraTora]

You have a lot of regular payments on your credit card? That's unusual but as they bounce you'll be notified then you can give them an alternative. I would advise against having regular automated payments on a credit card. Very difficult to cancel unless you cancel the whole card like you have done. DDs are much better and safer.

[Canary42]

Yes, I agree TTT, I do tend to use DDs now rather than credit card regular payments, but I still have a few in existence.

[barry1010]

I agree with TTT.  Continuous payment authorities are not the best way to make regular payments.

I don't know how scammers find it so easy, I suppose they use your credit card details until it stops working.  Or sell your details on a 'sucker list' - be aware that you will probably get a lot more scam emails now.

[barry1010]

Email the companies that are expecting payments from you to tell them what's happening and ask if you can set up a direct debit instead.

[gingejbee]

Scammers find it so easy because there are gullible, foolish and easily-duped people in abundance...ring any bells?

[Canary42]

Yes Barry, my spam rate has recently soared so obviously somebody sold it on.  

[barry1010]

No need for that, ginge - and that is not what Canary is asking.

[Canary42]

Ding dong - thanks ginge 😀

[ToraToraTora]

16:06, this is a blessing in disguise then! you can probably pre empt the payments that are going to bounce before you get the snotty letter/email then convert to DD and you are sorted.

PS Royal mail and probably all the others will not ask for payment by email. They put a card though your door and that tells you how to pay any excess postage.

[Auntypoll]

Small point, Royal Mail could known your email address. When I send parcels using online labels I can add the email of the recipient if I want to. This is in case it gets delayed or damaged. 

[Canary42]

Thanks TTT, an encouraging positive spin there.

[gingejbee]

"that's not what Canary is asking"...yes, it is.

"Why do scammers find it so easy?"

 

[barry1010]

Canary is asking how do scammers find it so easy to get money out of other people's bank accounts when he found it so hard to stop his own card.

[Redhelen72]

Always check the sender's email address, if you click on the address it will show their email and not just their name. I had one that was from HMRC but the email was gutstgirl@btinternet.

[ToraToraTora]

Yep good advice from RH, they usually give you a link or button to press, just hover over it and the email will be some gobledegook or an unfamiliar name.

[Prudie]

Although it's maybe not in the spirit of how we are supposed to say things on here gingebeee is absolutely right. It may seem a backhanded compliment but I'm amazed that someone who seems so astute in the news threads will have fallen for this very well known scam that's been publicised a lot, including on here. Same as the one where a child texts that they need money. It keeps happening because the small percentage who fall for it make the whole thing worthwhile.

How do they find it easy? Not sure but I asume some very illegal but easily obtained software is involved.

[andy-hughes]

Scammers are adept at offering a plausible reason for you to part with a small amount of money.

If they succeed one per cent of the time with the millions of hits they send, they win.

The manage because the law of averages is on their side.

Statistically they can't lose,they need a tiny proportion of hits to work to make it worthwhile, which is why their trade is expanding. 

Remember, the proportion of the world population using the Internet is only ever going to go up, so their hit rate is only going to grow.

[bhg481]

I assume the "Third degree interrogation" you got was the credit card company trying to get you to prove your identity by answering the security questions you provided them with the answers to when you applied for the card. Am important fiirst step before discussing your account.

[Moorea7]

Sorry to read the above, Canary.  Report it as per link.

https://www.royalmail.com/help/scam-protection