A cautionary tale...
Discussion
toon10 said:
Can't offer any advice but a similar thing happened to me some years ago. I called a tree surgeon on my mobile to remove some large trees in my back garden. The giy I called said he would call in the following week to give a quote. A couple of days later while I was at work, two big blokes came claiming to be from the same company and spoke to my ex. She let them in and they started work there and then. They did an awful job. They actually damaged a cherry tree that I did want to keep.
As we weren't expecting them so soon, we didn't have any money on hand so they said they would come back later for payment. I called the guy to ask what was going on and he knew nothing of it. It wasn't him or anyone that worked for him. He suspected that some travellers were in the area intercepting mobile calls. If someone calls asking for a job to be done, they turn up sharpish, bodge it, get the cash and move on before anyone knows anything about it.
I called in some big mates for when they came for their money. I said I wans't happy, accused them of fraud and they left empty handed (after seeing the back up I had.) A bit risky but nothing ever came of it in the end.
I fail to believe there are gangs of travellers sitting in vans with chainsaws at the ready intercepting mobile phone calls to see if anyone requires a tree surgeon in the area.As we weren't expecting them so soon, we didn't have any money on hand so they said they would come back later for payment. I called the guy to ask what was going on and he knew nothing of it. It wasn't him or anyone that worked for him. He suspected that some travellers were in the area intercepting mobile calls. If someone calls asking for a job to be done, they turn up sharpish, bodge it, get the cash and move on before anyone knows anything about it.
I called in some big mates for when they came for their money. I said I wans't happy, accused them of fraud and they left empty handed (after seeing the back up I had.) A bit risky but nothing ever came of it in the end.
I think situations like this are almost always down to a 'leak' in the company you first approached even if it's just a lad working
there as a labourer who hears phone calls and quickly texts his "mates".
CGJJ said:
I fail to believe there are gangs of travellers sitting in vans with chainsaws at the ready intercepting mobile phone calls to see if anyone requires a tree surgeon in the area.
I think situations like this are almost always down to a 'leak' in the company you first approached even if it's just a lad working
there as a labourer who hears phone calls and quickly texts his "mates".
I love the idea of 3.14keys roaming around with sophisticated telephone interception kit just waiting for that call to a tree surgeon. I think situations like this are almost always down to a 'leak' in the company you first approached even if it's just a lad working
there as a labourer who hears phone calls and quickly texts his "mates".
CGJJ said:
Don't use the year of your birth as the code to access your mobile phone messages.
I am convinced this is how all the Royal phone hacking took place.
I doubt it - they're not that smart.I am convinced this is how all the Royal phone hacking took place.
The vast majority just never changed it from the default having no idea that such a PIN even existed.
Unless you are accessing your vmail from a different phone you never need it.
walm said:
CGJJ said:
Don't use the year of your birth as the code to access your mobile phone messages.
I am convinced this is how all the Royal phone hacking took place.
I doubt it - they're not that smart.I am convinced this is how all the Royal phone hacking took place.
The vast majority just never changed it from the default having no idea that such a PIN even existed.
Unless you are accessing your vmail from a different phone you never need it.
CGJJ said:
I fail to believe there are gangs of travellers sitting in vans with chainsaws at the ready intercepting mobile phone calls to see if anyone requires a tree surgeon in the area.
I think situations like this are almost always down to a 'leak' in the company you first approached even if it's just a lad working
there as a labourer who hears phone calls and quickly texts his "mates".
You could be right, I'll never know. I assumed they were living in the area using scanners listening to mobile calls in the area. If someone wanted roofing, paving, gardening work, etc. then they'd just turn up with their unmarked van and carry out some manual labour before the real companies showed up. Doesn't seem that far fetched to me but yes, it could well be the young labourer dropping a quick text to his mates.I think situations like this are almost always down to a 'leak' in the company you first approached even if it's just a lad working
there as a labourer who hears phone calls and quickly texts his "mates".
La Liga said:
jamesc_1729 said:
I'm not convinced the police will be interested given there disinterest in all things civil/fraud.
V8RX7 said:
Police won't care in the least.
jamesc_1729 said:
I google Craig and he was convicted of fraud in my town and sent to prison three years ago (since released).
How did that occur before then? A private prosecution? What I should have said was - I'm not convinced the police / trading standards will be interested in this instance as it is such a minor level of fraud. I.e. Not in the same order of magnitude and not as PR friendly as a conviction of someone who rips off old ladies of their life savings.
I have no axe to grind with regards police. I accept that my dissatisfaction with the quality of my patio isn't as important as say, a murder case, and rightfully so, given resource/financial constraints...
toon10 said:
Can't offer any advice but a similar thing happened to me some years ago. I called a tree surgeon on my mobile to remove some large trees in my back garden. The giy I called said he would call in the following week to give a quote. A couple of days later while I was at work, two big blokes came claiming to be from the same company and spoke to my ex. She let them in and they started work there and then. They did an awful job. They actually damaged a cherry tree that I did want to keep.
As we weren't expecting them so soon, we didn't have any money on hand so they said they would come back later for payment. I called the guy to ask what was going on and he knew nothing of it. It wasn't him or anyone that worked for him. He suspected that some travellers were in the area intercepting mobile calls. If someone calls asking for a job to be done, they turn up sharpish, bodge it, get the cash and move on before anyone knows anything about it.
I called in some big mates for when they came for their money. I said I wans't happy, accused them of fraud and they left empty handed (after seeing the back up I had.) A bit risky but nothing ever came of it in the end.
Chap, thank you sincerely for contributing it makes me feel a lot better that someone has had something similar happen to them.As we weren't expecting them so soon, we didn't have any money on hand so they said they would come back later for payment. I called the guy to ask what was going on and he knew nothing of it. It wasn't him or anyone that worked for him. He suspected that some travellers were in the area intercepting mobile calls. If someone calls asking for a job to be done, they turn up sharpish, bodge it, get the cash and move on before anyone knows anything about it.
I called in some big mates for when they came for their money. I said I wans't happy, accused them of fraud and they left empty handed (after seeing the back up I had.) A bit risky but nothing ever came of it in the end.
But from the way you tell the story, it sounds like the guy wasn't willing to stand by his work over the phone. In my opinion that is dissimilar to this story where the alex guy came to my house, looked me in the eye and swore he wasn't involved. He went away only after I supplied him with the evidence to; put before police/his company lawyer/his gang for retribution.
Another poster suggest alex could be involved. He's a damn good actor if that's true... He mentioned an alternate scam was that traveller gangs alter boards outside people's houses to change the mobile number to their own, which is also worth people being aware of....
jamesc_1729 said:
The previous conviction was for ripping off an OAP lady to the tune of 20k of life savings.
What I should have said was - I'm not convinced the police / trading standards will be interested in this instance as it is such a minor level of fraud. I.e. Not in the same order of magnitude and not as PR friendly as a conviction of someone who rips off old ladies of their life savings.
No, it's not as aggravated as scamming an elderly lady, for certain. However, with him having previous convictions and being more of a risk (will he scam the elderly again?) that will likely ramp interest up. Is he still on licence etc too? What I should have said was - I'm not convinced the police / trading standards will be interested in this instance as it is such a minor level of fraud. I.e. Not in the same order of magnitude and not as PR friendly as a conviction of someone who rips off old ladies of their life savings.
Mk3Spitfire said:
It's like saying "they're palming that man with a broken leg off to A&E"
So one broken leg (possibly not the guy we're discussing) will be fixed, with enough plaster to mend 50. The other 49 will need to buy their own splints, but will be able to use the successful plastering to show that they need one.
Variomatic said:
No, it's more like saying.....
That's a beautiful story. Unfortunately though, not very accurate, and I hasten to add, shows your naivety in how AF works.I'll give you a real life example, although your fantasy was much more amusing.
Mr A buys a new iPhone off an online auction site. Pays the money via card. Shock horror, phone never arrives.
Case gets referred to action fraud.
AF do a lot of the leg work to see if offender is identifiable/scope for prosecution.
AF identify offender and PASS IT BACK TO POLICE, i.e me.
I then go out and arrest offender. My workload has been cut down dramatically leaving me instead to deal with Facebook complaints.
So that's one individual, with individual circumstances, getting IMO fantastic service.
Passing yuorself of as another trader can be an offence under the Fraud Act or Consuemr Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 - dealth with by the Polcie and Trading Standards respectivley.
Whether they do anythign baout it is probably more a resource issue.
I presume you rang the proper number of Alex and somehow this Craig accessed his vociemail and got your contact details that way?
You can pursue Craig through the small claims if you can find him - pointless if he doesn't money to pay back of course.
Whether they do anythign baout it is probably more a resource issue.
I presume you rang the proper number of Alex and somehow this Craig accessed his vociemail and got your contact details that way?
You can pursue Craig through the small claims if you can find him - pointless if he doesn't money to pay back of course.
If you are reporting fraud to the Police they will probably direct you to Action Fraud - or they may take the details down for you and forward them on.
You can also report direct to your local Trading Standards.
As this is a business to consumer transatcion Action Fraud/Police may say that it is a Trading Standards issue and say they won't investigate any further.
You can also report direct to your local Trading Standards.
As this is a business to consumer transatcion Action Fraud/Police may say that it is a Trading Standards issue and say they won't investigate any further.
Mr GrimNasty said:
V8RX7 said:
Police won't care in the least.
Nor will Trading Standards etc
Well if they don't, neither are doing their job, and you can report that too!Nor will Trading Standards etc
It is fraud by false representation, clearly a police matter, although these days they will try to palm you off to Action Fraud or whatever they call it.
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