I've Been Awarded £8,000.00 - Well Nearly!

[wiltsman]

Must tell you - I had a call an hour ago from a gentleman who said he was calling from British Government Grants, saying that as a good citizen, with no criminal convictions, and no financial problems, the Government has authorised for 1000 British pensioners, by means of a draw, to receive an £8000 grant as a reward for being honest and upright members of the public. I thought that's fantastic, I could put that amount of money to good use. Then things went downhill, I had to take a means of identification to my local Post Office to pick the money up. Fair enough, I don't want it to go to the wrong person - oh, and I had to pay a £210 handling fee and provide my bank details. And that's when the call ended ... lol. So, no £8000 for me today - never mind!

[Svejk]

Cor, talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face. ;-(

[andy-hughes]

Give me his number, I'll have the money. Now, where is that bank card ...

[Canary42]

I don't suppose the caller's name was ERNIE ?

[Georgiesmum]

If he had called me the phone call would have ended a lot sooner, long before he asked for my bank details!

Do people really still fall for this ploy?

[wiltsman]

I suppose they must do Georgiesmum or else they wouldn't do it. I knew it was a scam, but the whole process was a bit longer than I originally described. It involved taking down a reference number and then having to ring back the 'Government' on a London number.

The first call is designed to draw the victim in, especially a greedy one. No mention was made about requesting money. It was only when I made the return call was a 'handling' fee and bank details requested. As I say, I knew it was a scam from the start, especially the Indian voice giving his name as Henry Brown! Oh goodness gracious me!