Voicemail from the Halifax. Scam?

[MitchT]

Had a call on my mobile at lunchtime from 0800 032 7329 which I missed. They left a voicemail ...

• Said they were calling from the Halifax in Leeds - not my nearest branch or the one where I set up my account, but I do deal with one of the numerous Leeds branches in the rare event of having to call in, as it's the easiest to get to.
• Said it was a call for Mr x, x being my first name, not my surname. Hmmmm.
• Asked me to call them back on 0113 215 0645 (Leeds number), which I haven't as I suspect it's a chancer hoping to avail themself of a Christmas bonus at my expense.

I'm in Leeds tomorrow so I can call into the branch and tell them, but does this sound like a scam to the PH community?

[carlpea]

http://badnumbers.co.uk/0800-032-7329/

[Dave Hedgehog]

if i every get calls from any financial company i tell them i will ring them back via the number on their website and the switchboard

[Dave Hedgehog]

carlpea said:

http://badnumbers.co.uk/0800-032-7329/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA3zhzT1wDo

[KevinCamaroSS]

How do you call the branches you use? Check online for the branch telephone number. If not available online call the general service desk and ask if that is the number to one of their branches. If it was the bank/building society there should also be a contact name? Do you have phone banking set up?

In my view probably a scam attempt, but, you never know.

[MitchT]

KevinCamaroSS said:

How do you call the branches you use? Check online for the branch telephone number.

I don't think I've ever called the branch that I use. I've checked on the website and the branch phone number is different to the one in the voicemail which also doesn't match any of the numbers for the numerous branches across Leeds.

KevinCamaroSS said:

Do you have phone banking set up?

I've never set it up myself, or used it, so unless it's set up by default then, no, I don't.

[MitchT]

If it's not legit then it's interesting that they managed to acquire my name (albeit my first name, not my surname), my mobile number and the city in which I have the most contact with my bank (for withdrawing cash, paying cheques in and the odd visit to speak to someone).

[KevinCamaroSS]

Almost certainly a scam attempt

[krisdelta]

MitchT said:

If it's not legit then it's interesting that they managed to acquire my name (albeit my first name, not my surname), my mobile number and the city in which I have the most contact with my bank (for withdrawing cash, paying cheques in and the odd visit to speak to someone).

Your job appears from your profile to have some online presence, could someone look you up and get your number from one of your sites? They'd know your name, your approx location and have your number.

[anonymous-user]

the banks don't help themselves sometimes thou. it could be a targeted way to get footfall into the banks or not.

I get emails form Barclays that look like scammer ones, with a dodgy attachment and poor wording, but they are legit.

[Richard-390a0]

Probably Howard on the scam as he's had a rough time of it since they're stopped using him in their telly ads!.

[MitchT]

krisdelta said:

Your job appears from your profile to have some online presence, could someone look you up and get your number from one of your sites? They'd know your name, your approx location and have your number.

My number isn't advertised anywhere. It's saved in one or two places online purely for the purpose of 'multi factor authentication', but isn't visible.

[Riley Blue]

Ask for their mother's maiden name, that'll confuse them.

[Spare tyre]

I guess in theory you should report the detail to the bank, they might be able to do something about it and stop a granny being scammed

[surveyor]

Not sure how anyone can know it's a scam from the info.

Unless the OP speaks to them and they ask for stuff which they should not, in which case the OP would already by alerted and go no further.

Personally I'd check that bad number first, and if not listed ring back, but take care what information I release.

If you know which branch they are from though ringing back on the listed number is sensible.

[4x4Tyke]

Dave Hedgehog said:

if i every get calls from any financial company i tell them i will ring them back via the number on their website and the switchboard

Make this the routine practice.

I also use a different phone, just in case they hold the line open and play a dial tone, which some scammers use.

[MitchT]

Went into the branch today. Turns out it was genuine. Apparently they were just phoning me up as they think they can better deploy my money.

[anonymous-user]

MitchT said:

Went into the branch today. Turns out it was genuine. Apparently they were just phoning me up as they think they can better deploy my money.

this is what I thought, honestly the banks don't help themselves.

[dukeboy749r]

No they don't.

And in light of all of the scams that are out there - when I say no I am not giving you my personal details, I'll call back, they often get shirty. as if me giving my address, DoB, etc, is a right they have to demand of me, without me being able to verify who they are first.

Twonks

[megaphone]

Not a bank but Virgin Media, called me to try and offer me a deal, I listen to the blah blah from a foreign call centre, I agreed to take the deal, she then asked me for my account password! I explained that she had called me and I never give my passwords out, she got quite shirty explaining she could not proceed unless I could ID myself. I refused and told her to think about the security implications of what she was asking. Call ended.

I'm 99% sure it was a genuine call, I sent a complaint to Virgin explaining what was going on, never heard back. No, they don't help themselves.