Give this wide distribution. This scam is actually very clever. Just when you thought you'd heard it all. Be very careful out there!
Beware of people bearing gifts. The following is an account of the incident from the victim:
Wednesday a week ago, I had a phone call from someone saying that he was from some outfit called: "Express Couriers,"(The name could be any courier company) He asked if I was going to be home because there was a package for me that required a signature .
The caller said that the delivery would arrive at my home in roughly an hour. Sure enough, about an hour later, a uniformed delivery man turned up with a beautiful basket of flowers and a bottle of wine. I was very surprised since there was no special occasion or holiday, and I certainly didn't expect anything like it. Intrigued, I inquired as to who the sender was. The courier replied, "I don't know, I'm only delivering the package." Apparently, a card was being sent separately... (the card has never arrived!) There was also a consignment note with the gift.
He then went on to explain that because the gift contained alcohol, there was a $3.50 "delivery/ verification charge," providing proof that he had actually delivered the package to an adult (of legal drinking age), and not just left it on the doorstep where it could be stolen or taken by anyone, especially a minor.
This sounded logical and I offered to pay him cash. He then said that the delivery company required payment to be by credit or debit card only, so that everything is properly accounted for, and this would help in keeping a legal record of the transaction. He added couriers don't carry cash to avoid loss or likely targets for robbery.
My husband, who by this time was standing beside me, pulled out his credit card, and 'John,' the "delivery man," asked him to swipe the card on a small mobile card machine with a small screen and keypad. Frank, my husband, was asked to enter his PIN number and a receipt was printed out. He was given a copy of the transaction. He guy said everything was in order, and wished us good day.
To our horrible surprise, between Thursday and the following Monday, $4,000 had been charged/withdrawn from our credit/debit account at various ATM machines.
Apparently the "mobile credit card machine," which the deliveryman carried now had all the info necessary to create a "dummy" card with all our card details including the PIN number.
Upon finding out about the illegal transactions on our card, we immediately notified the bank which issued us a new card, and our credit/debit account was closed.
We also personally went to the Police, where it was confirmed that it is definitely a scam because several households had been similarly hit.
WARNING: Be wary of accepting any "surprise gift or package," which you neither expected nor personally ordered, especially if it involves any kind of payment as a condition of receiving the gift or package. Also, never accept anything if you do not personally know or there is no proper identification of who the sender is.
Above all, the only time you should give out any personal credit/debit card information is when you yourself initiated the purchase or transaction!
PLEASE Pass this on, it may just prevent someone else from being swindled.
Yes Troopy, point taken re Snopes etc BUT it can happen.
Aussie Paul.
03_Troopy said
03:19 PM Nov 19, 2015
haha, yes it can.. it happened in 2008 at least ;)
deverall11 said
05:24 PM Nov 19, 2015
Why did you accept it in the first place? Remember what your parents always said: If its too good to be true then it probably isn't.
Hope you enjoyed your $4000 bottle of wine. Not even the bottle of Grange Barry O'Farrell got done with was worth that much.
Ha Ha
Larry
dishlicker said
08:33 PM Nov 19, 2015
Hi Aussie Paul. That's tough i would have probably gone for it to as we have friends that do send gifts similar to us of the cuff and so we are and our friends are also vunerable thanks for the heads up. All the trouble involved in ordering new cards ect is a bit of a pain. Best of luck these scams are out there at this time of year, bloody xmas cheers and thanks.
Big Gorilla said
08:43 PM Nov 19, 2015
It didn't actually happen to Aussie Paul, he was only relaying a story. My reaction would have been to tell him to F&%k off and taken the number of his vehicle and called Police. And I have a silent line at my home so the number is not readily available to anyone.. Having lived in the Philippines for almost 20 years, you learn not to trust anyone.
Good story Paul to put us on full alert...
deverall11 said
10:47 AM Nov 20, 2015
Big Gorilla wrote:
It didn't actually happen to Aussie Paul, he was only relaying a story. My reaction would have been to tell him to F&%k off and taken the number of his vehicle and called Police. And I have a silent line at my home so the number is not readily available to anyone.. Having lived in the Philippines for almost 20 years, you learn not to trust anyone.
Good story Paul to put us on full alert...
That is exactly how I would've reported the event, rather then implicate myself. Also taken his number plate and get on the police straight away. Also asked him for his boss's phone number.
Larry
KFT said
11:46 AM Nov 20, 2015
In Australia, as I understand it it is illegal to NOT accept cash(Legal Tender) for payment so someone saying to me it must be a ccard would make me suspicious.
not that anyone would want to send me flowers and champas anyway!!!
Very Clever Credit Card Scam!
Give this wide distribution.
This scam is actually very clever.
Just when you thought you'd heard it all.
Be very careful out there!
Beware of people bearing gifts.
The following is an account of the incident from the victim:
Wednesday a week ago, I had a phone call from someone saying that he was
from some outfit called: "Express Couriers,"(The name could be any courier
company) He asked if I was going to be home because there was a package for
me that required a signature .
The caller said that the delivery would arrive at my home in roughly an
hour. Sure enough, about an hour later, a uniformed delivery man turned up
with a beautiful basket of flowers and a bottle of wine. I was very
surprised since there was no special occasion or holiday, and I certainly
didn't expect anything like it. Intrigued, I inquired as to who the sender
was.
The courier replied, "I don't know, I'm only delivering the package."
Apparently, a card was being sent separately... (the card has never
arrived!) There was also a consignment note with the gift.
He then went on to explain that because the gift contained alcohol, there
was a $3.50 "delivery/ verification charge," providing proof that he had
actually delivered the package to an adult (of legal drinking age), and not
just left it on the doorstep where it could be stolen or taken by anyone,
especially a minor.
This sounded logical and I offered to pay him cash. He then said that the
delivery company required payment to be by credit or debit card only, so
that everything is properly accounted for, and this would help in keeping a
legal record of the transaction.
He added couriers don't carry cash to avoid loss or likely targets for
robbery.
My husband, who by this time was standing beside me, pulled out his credit
card, and 'John,' the "delivery man," asked him to swipe the card on a small
mobile card machine with a small screen and keypad. Frank, my husband, was
asked to enter his PIN number and a receipt was printed out. He was given a
copy of the transaction. He guy said everything was in order, and wished us
good day.
To our horrible surprise, between Thursday and the following Monday, $4,000
had been charged/withdrawn from our credit/debit account at various ATM
machines.
Apparently the "mobile credit card machine," which the deliveryman carried
now had all the info necessary to create a "dummy" card with all our card
details including the PIN number.
Upon finding out about the illegal transactions on our card, we immediately
notified the bank which issued us a new card, and our credit/debit account
was closed.
We also personally went to the Police, where it was confirmed that it is
definitely a scam because several households had been similarly hit.
WARNING: Be wary of accepting any "surprise gift or package," which you
neither expected nor personally ordered, especially if it involves any kind
of payment as a condition of receiving the gift or package. Also, never
accept anything if you do not personally know or there is no proper
identification of who the sender is.
Above all, the only time you should give out any personal credit/debit card
information is when you yourself initiated the purchase or transaction!
PLEASE Pass this on, it may just prevent someone else from being swindled.
Aussie Paul.
Not saying it can't happen, but read this"
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/flowers-wine-credit-card-scam.shtml
And this
http://www.snopes.com/Fraud/sales/express.asp
Yes Troopy, point taken re Snopes etc BUT it can happen.
Aussie Paul.
Hope you enjoyed your $4000 bottle of wine. Not even the bottle of Grange Barry O'Farrell got done with was worth that much.
Ha Ha
Larry
Hi Aussie Paul. That's tough i would have probably gone for it to as we have friends that do send gifts similar to us of the cuff and so we are and our friends are also vunerable thanks for the heads up. All the trouble involved in ordering new cards ect is a bit of a pain. Best of luck these scams are out there at this time of year, bloody xmas cheers and thanks.
It didn't actually happen to Aussie Paul, he was only relaying a story. My reaction would have been to tell him to F&%k off and taken the number of his vehicle and called Police. And I have a silent line at my home so the number is not readily available to anyone.. Having lived in the Philippines for almost 20 years, you learn not to trust anyone.
Good story Paul to put us on full alert...
That is exactly how I would've reported the event, rather then implicate myself. Also taken his number plate and get on the police straight away. Also asked him for his boss's phone number.
Larry
not that anyone would want to send me flowers and champas anyway!!!
frank