Did I Do The Right Thing?

[Caran]

This afternoon I had a phone call from someone to say I had reached the last stage in a comp for £5000. She said I had asked for their competition booklet full of comps for £1. I gave her my card details and she said I would get it 5/10 days due to strikes and wished me luck in the ongoing comp.
OH got very twitchy this evening saying it could have been a con.
I gave in and rang my card co. Told them the tale. Very helpful, said £1 had gone through. Asked if I wanted to cancel my card. I said yes. He agreed saying these cons are on the go all the time.
To be honest I have no recollection of me entering this comp but I am having a lot of memory problems at the moment.
I realise we are going to be cardless for quite a while.
What do you think? Have I been an idiot?

[Canary42]

No you're not an idiot, you did the right thing. The wait for a replacement is irritating, but better that than your account milked.

[Ellipsis]

You've done the right thing. They should not have been able to take money off your card if their intent was to put money into your card.

[Ellipsis]

Onto* your card ... autocorrect, sorry

[david small]

Definitely the right action taken. Safe, than sorry. Well done you.

[Maydup]

Well done for recognising that if it’s too good to be true it probably is. The new cards will be with you eventually but if you go into a branch they may we’ll help you withdraw some cash to get you through.

[anneasquith]

We all need to stay alert especially this time of year. You did the right thing cancelling your card .

[Barsel]

Caran, you did the right thing in cancelling your card, but I really don't think you should have given your card details in the first place over the phone to someone you don't know.

[Maydup]

Beware too of the potential follow up scam which is also common.

This is where they say they are the bank calling about the problem with your account and are here to help you move your money to a safe account.

Don’t do it. Hang up. It will not be the bank.

[Hazlinny]

Yes, you did right. It's a scam that's doing the rounds. Take care.

[bhg481]

You don't say whether it was a credit or debit card you used; I assume credit card because you referred to the Card Company. It's always worth having more than one credit card. They're free and it gives you an option if one is refused for any reason. Other than that you've done exactly the right thing. Well done.

[Peter Pedant]

yes
obvious scam
AND it is a push-fraud ( you gave the details) so any loss MAY not be recoverable

10/10 for doing a whoopsie and cancelling
and also learning from this experience.

we get one or two a day

[lady-janine]

You did the right thing. Obviously a scam. Too good to be true? then too good to be TRUE.

[William51]

You just fell for a scam, it happens to us all. You were right in ringing the card company and cancelling the card.

[andy-hughes]

No you haven't been an idiot.

It's a measure of how plausible scams are that there are so many of them, and so many people are taken in.

We just have to be extra careful, and not let crooks take advantage of our basic human nature which is to be trusting and helpful when people ring or mail us.