Wireless fraud and scams PLEASE READ AND PASS ON

Sorry for not blogging yesterday, but I was kind of busy sorting out the mess that I am about to warn you of in this blog.

 If you use a contact less card, you can lose money out of your account without even taking you car out of you bag let alone out of your purse, as my poor mother found out to the cost of £50. We went shopping twice over the week and fortunately could tell the bank what shops, at what time and amount was spent. Yet whilst we were out and her card was in her handbag some one cloned the card and helped themselves to her money. How you ask, easy, apparently there are such things as remote readers that can gain this information just by brushing past your bag. In a split second your card details are stored and your money is theirs.

Although we are lucky and can prove it wasn't mum who spent that amount, it still has to be processed through the fraud department and the chances of mum seeing her money till 10 working days time is unlikely, as the money has to leave your account first then be tracked, only then can she have it refunded. Then it is likely to become a police matter and more hassle for my poor mum.

In a way we are fortunate they only took £50 and not cleared her account as there was a whole pension on her account at that time. But the bank believe they were going take £50 daily and hope we wouldn't notice till it was too late.

So I have a few tips for everyone else especially in this busy shopping season.

1) If possible request a none contact less card to save the danger of this happening at all.

2) If that is not possible make sure your card is not in a bag, try to sore it as close to your body as possible, but not in back pockets.

3)  Check your balance daily and match it to your receipts, if there is a dubious transaction request the name of the recipient from your bank.

4) If the transaction is still not recognised particularly on cash withdrawal or card purchase ask to be put through to your banks fraud department.

5) Change any old standing PIN numbers any way before your are victim and destroy and record of this number by burning or shredding

6) DO NOT give anyone access to your card or PIN. Not even your partner or close family member.

The reason for point 5 and 6 being, if you don't abide by either of those and the worse happens you are a victim of fraud, you will have no case for a refund as you have exposed yourself to fraud already.

7) May I also recommend that on any shopping trip you make a note of what shops you pop into and at what time. It makes it easier for the bank to confirm your case.

8) I would also only take the cards you really need and maybe a small amount of cash separately.

9) Finally I would keep an emergency amount of cash locked at home in case you are a victim of fraud, that way you still have enough to live on until the matter is resolved and hopefully you are refunded.

Sorry for the formality in this post but I thought it would be wise to pass this on to everyone to help you all.

There is also another big fraud going on regarding the Royal Mail, I wish to alert you to. If you get a card through your door from PDS Parcel Delivery Service, requesting you call regarding delivery of a package and the number reads 09066611911 DO NOT ring it. It is a premium rate number and by just calling it you will get a bill for £315. The company is not a mail company it is a scam based in Belize, and you will be liable for the phone bill. lease take the card and notify either Royal Mail or the Police, they are aware of the scam and are trying to trace the company and stop this.

I request you print this blog and pass it on to everyone and anyone you know as the last thing we want this season is people falling victim to either of these scams.