New scam Ofgem

Just got a very convincing email from Ofgem, the scammers have even got my name correct. Its about claiming your rebate.

Bob

I wouldn't worry about it, however thick you are in getting scammed it is now the banks fault even if you have been warned multiple times!! It seems in our current society any issues you have it isn't your fault but always some one else. Do I sound jaded yes I am, is this old age creeping up?

Tony

The victim may've been naive, but it's the fraudster who practised deception by their own choice to steal said victim's money, so it's their fault.

And anyone - like a bank - who holds someone else's money for payment and to their own advantage has a duty of care to prevent theft.

It is an age thing tony, the blame game has superseded getting the show on the road. and greed and stupidity are regarded as virtues.

Regards Ian.

I was brought up to manage my affairs with care and any reckless behaviour on my part was my fault, no-one else's

Regards Brian

Well said

It's "not wrong" rather than "well said".

It's everyone's job to fight crime, so of course individuals have to keep their countermeasures up to date.

But as scamming is a specialised subject, most people are bound to be naive, and might make a foolish security mistake like using their real name on an internet forum. Let's hope "Anthony Knights", "Brian Wood", and "Tony Pratt" are all pseudonyms! Named individuals are a much easier target than "Circlip".

Agree everyone has to do their best not to fall for a trick, but as I've explained in other posts, confidence in ones own genius absolutely isn't good enough. It can happen to anybody!

Victims aren't particularly feather-bedded. It#s stressful because the mistake has to be explained, bank accounts will be locked, and there's no certainty the money will be returned. Web advice on what to do after being successfully scammed suggests contacting the Samaritans.

But the main reason for not expecting individuals to carry the can on their own is practical. It is that individuals have no way of improving the system or getting back at the fraudsters. That requires an organised response, which private citizens can't do.

Banks are far better at countering fraud than amateurs and laws that make them do it cut crime. They have the skills and wherewithal to trace the bad guys, recover money, and alter systems to make fraudulent transactions more difficult, for example by making it difficult to set up accounts without suitable credentials, and by monitoring account transactions for money movements characteristic of fraud.

For the same reason the UK has a Defence Budget and organised Armed Forces rather than giving citizens £800 each and telling them to defend themselves!

Dave

I wouldn't worry about it, however thick you are in getting scammed it is now the banks fault even if you have been warned multiple times!! It seems in our current society any issues you have it isn't your fault but always some one else. Do I sound jaded yes I am, is this old age creeping up?

Tony

The banks must accept some responsibility for the current suitation they have closed their branches in the smaller towns around here if I wish to go to a branch its a 20 mile round trip.

Internet banking is their preferred/only alternative hence I need to adopt it but their systems are old and creaking and comprise mostly add ons to existing systems written decades ago and originally designed for closed operations in their own 'intranet systems' not for public use. I presume they update their systems much like microsoft does with windows and look at the trouble that causes.

The money flows through their systems why is it so difficult to trace the end recipient? If it means delays then so be it; the banks presumably allowed the scammer to open an account they need to be held to account for their actions and the only way is via their bottem line witness the misselling scandal for credit card protection. If they are allowed to avoid responsibility for their failures nothing will improve and it is unfortunately pensioners like myself who will be the most affected.

The last time I googled "Anthony Knights", I read he owned Farnborough football club.

No, Circlip was targeted and fell for a 'Genuine' Microsoft letter to change passwords. It clicked about ten minutes later when wife, sat six feet away on her own laptop (Different surname- living in sin) announced 'Do you realise that to get out of the Spanish hotel you are now in needs me to send you a 'loan' of £1000' Fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me.

Anything unsolicited Gets the Phising button, mail wise recycling bin.

And you don't have to be paranoid to realise clever unscrupolous b******s ARE out to get you. And Banks have no excuses where they have a yearly allowance for 'lost' money.

Regards Ian