Martin Lewis/Assistant
78 posts
Today's Poll: How many of your ten nearest neighbours do you both know by name and regularly or occasionally chat to?
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Got a perfect credit score and wondering why you get rejected sometimes...
Martin Lewis@MartinSLewis
The hidden reason many are rejected for credit… Far more help, including how to see your credit and affordability scores for free in my how to boost your credit worthiness guide… moneysavingexpert.com/loans/credit-r…
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Scams can happen to anyone! I nearly got caught by one yesterday.
I was in the studio, rushed in between recording my two podcasts. I got a Whatsapp call from 'Amazon'. Brain elsewhere, man on phone asked 'had I ordered a new iPhone?' as they had reports of suspected fraud.
I said no. He said to cancel he'd sent me a six-digit code to reply to. I was feeling rushed and pressured, as the team needed to record, but finally enough of my brain turned onto the call and alarm bells started.
I said I wanted to first check that this call was legit. He got pushy and said if I didn't send the code he wouldn't stop the iPhone being sent. This felt wrong to me... why would he want to risk sending a high value item, if the customer says it wasn't ordered.
So while talking & prepping the podcast, I managed to search the telephone number and yes, it was a recognised 'Amazon scam number.'
Clearly, had I replied with the code he'd sent he would have then asked for further details and that would've started the data mine. Of course, by answering (not something I normally do to unknown numbers, but did by reflex) I did inadvertently confirm that my number is a real one, so I'll have to cope with that.
The real lesson here is how sophisticated and plausible it was. And even though I'm obviously hyper-alert to scams as my face is in half of them, catch someone at the wrong time, when they're not paying attention, and anyone can be caught out!
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I want to apologise. I've had a few people criticise this post as 'it is obvious' or 'why you tweeting this'. And clearly they must be right.
I picked up the phone on reflex while in a studio. I started talking and with brain focused on the work i was doing next it sounded plausible. Alarm bells rang pretty quickly and i got the team to record it (my side only, so its pretty boring) as it felt scammy.
Yet that of course lessens me, so to those who replied questioning my actions - who must never have their attention elsewhere, whether for work, or new babies, or stress, or the myriad of other reasons. I am so sorry. I hadn't realised my imperfections so to be plain...
- I apologise for the failings of we mere mortals. Sorry
- I apologise too for putting a warning about a scam out there and sullying your feed, with notes only applicable to lesser humans. As a consumer finance journalist to warn about scams is an obvious error. Sorry.
- I apologise for a note saying it could happen to anyone. As someone who gets 1000s messages from scam victims who are so upset and suffering mental health issues on the back, my intention was to help people be alert, not feel bad if they may be inattentive, and to highlight to terrible lack of protections out there for the vulnerable and not vulnerable. I shouldn't have done this as it is offensive to the community of those who are above it all. Sorry.
Martin Lewis@MartinSLewis
Scams can happen to anyone! I nearly got caught by one yesterday. I was in the studio, rushed in between recording my two podcasts. I got a Whatsapp call from 'Amazon'. Brain elsewhere, man on phone asked 'had I ordered a new iPhone?' as they had reports of suspected fraud. I said no. He said to cancel he'd sent me a six-digit code to reply to. I was feeling rushed and pressured, as the team needed to record, but finally enough of my brain turned onto the call and alarm bells started. I said I wanted to first check that this call was legit. He got pushy and said if I didn't send the code he wouldn't stop the iPhone being sent. This felt wrong to me... why would he want to risk sending a high value item, if the customer says it wasn't ordered. So while talking & prepping the podcast, I managed to search the telephone number and yes, it was a recognised 'Amazon scam number.' Clearly, had I replied with the code he'd sent he would have then asked for further details and that would've started the data mine. Of course, by answering (not something I normally do to unknown numbers, but did by reflex) I did inadvertently confirm that my number is a real one, so I'll have to cope with that. The real lesson here is how sophisticated and plausible it was. And even though I'm obviously hyper-alert to scams as my face is in half of them, catch someone at the wrong time, when they're not paying attention, and anyone can be caught out!
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Martin Lewis/Assistant retweetledi
Martin Lewis/Assistant retweetledi
Martin Lewis/Assistant retweetledi
Martin Lewis/Assistant retweetledi
“Should I avoid switching bank accounts or credit cards to protect my Credit score?”
A clip of Martin’s answer in his latest Question Time Podcast … listen to the full thing for free on BBC Sounds, Apple, Spotify and elsewhere other good & mediocre pods are available.
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If you've got a mortgage and savings this is worth a listen, I go through both when you should and shouldn't overpay, plus when the best timing is.
Martin Lewis@MartinSLewis
Is now the time to overpay my mortgage with savings? Is bank switching a credit score killer? How do I find husband’s lost pensions? Answers to these listener Qs & more in new Martin's Question Time pod podcasts.APPLE.com/gb/podcast/the… open.SPOTIFY.com/show/6tsU1ycEN… BBC.co.uk/sounds/brand/p…
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Is now the time to overpay my mortgage with savings?
Is bank switching a credit score killer?
How do I find husband’s lost pensions?
Answers to these listener Qs & more in new Martin's Question Time pod
podcasts.APPLE.com/gb/podcast/the…
open.SPOTIFY.com/show/6tsU1ycEN…
BBC.co.uk/sounds/brand/p…
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TELL US: What is it about money, personal finance & consumer rights you just can’t get your head around?
It's back to basics... pensions, debt, student finance, energy, broadband & more. Tell us what you want a briefing on and why, & podcast producer Simon will collate
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