Scam Warning

[slinger]

I had a cold call from a company yesterday telling me that I may be eligible for a grant to make my home more energy efficient.
This company does "Logic Foam". They spray it to the underside of the roof to improve heat insulation.

After the call I put my brain into gear and realised that this foam appeared to have the same fundamental flaw as many other modern techniques and materials that are applied to Victorian homes. Plastic paints, modern mortars, silicon damp proofing. All rubbish because they don't allow the house to breath. They might provide a quick fix, but in the long term create more issues than they solve.

This morning I did a quick google on foam roof insulation and found that UK mortgage companies tend to be unwilling to give a mortgage on any home with it. There's 2 main types: closed cell and open cell. Open cell is better, mainly because it's easier to remove when you want a mortgage.

This afternoon, the rep turned up for his appointment with me. The conversation went like this:
(initial greetings and warm-up questions)
What are the downsides to foam roof insulation?
The Cost.
(pause of a few seconds)
What about mortgage companies?
(Launches into a speech) In the past other companies have done improper closed cell installations We do open cell, install it properly, get it certified, inspect it blah blah blah.
That's bullshit!
(Continues his speech)
That's the end of this conversation.
(Tries to continue his speech).
I don't do business with companies that lie to me.
(Tries to continue his speech).
Get off my property.
This is ridiculous.
Get off my property. Now!
(Tries to continue his speech).
Get off my property.
(Tries to continue his speech).
Get off my property. Now!
(Goes back to his car and leaves).

[CN211276]

Had a call from someone claiming to be my credit card company advising of unauthorised transactions of £700 and £2,000. I was immediately suspicious and he hung up when I mentioned the word scam. For info the number is a London one 02081571374.

[CN211276]

This is one I am sad to admit I fell for. Because it was only a couple of quid and I have had recent problems with the Royal Mail with items being lost my suspicions were not aroused. On Thursday I received a text saying that a parcel could not be delivered because no one was home and was given what looked like a genuine Royal Mail link to arrange redelivery for a small fee. I complained to Royal Mail and this morning received a reply saying it was a scam and a lot of these bogus texts are being sent. Although it is a small amount If enough people are being taken in the scammers will be making a fortune. Had I not ordered the oak speaker stands I think I would have been wise to it, but I was not expecting them this soon. My wife was in fact home at the time of the alleged delivery but as it was s nice day would have been in the back garden as the granddaughters were here. Deliverers do not always knock loud enough and do not hang about.

[CN211276]

A heads up to those with a Sky Yahoo email account. A message is going round saying you have to access a link to prevent cancelation. Received it today. An obvious scam as if it is Sky it is personally addressed.

[CN211276]

A heads up to those with a Sky Yahoo email account. A message is going round saying you have to access a link to prevent cancelation. Received it today. An obvious scam as if it is Sky it is personally addressed.

I am being targeted.
Received a variation of the above saying there has been a log in from another account and providing a link to rectify.

[slinger]

You're on a "list" someone's selling.

Fortunately, I've got my landline set up so that it only accepts direct calls from people in my "phone book," and anyone else gets the option of simply buggering off before my phone is even rung, or "announcing" themselves. If they do the latter my phone rings and tells me it's an "announced call." I listen to the message, and if it sounds genuine I press "1" to connect, or I simply hang up, and add the number to my permanent block list, so they can't call back.

[CN211276]

The phone calls have thankfully dried up but the emails have not. For some time I have been bombarded with virus protection ones which are so obvious it is laughable.

[CN211276]

https://clerdig.one/faq.php

I got caught by these Charleston's. Found a £30 deduction on my credit card statement and had no idea where it came from. It looks like I will be refunded by my credit card company, but it was a time consuming process. Clerdig do not respond to emails or answer the phone.

The only on line transaction I made on the day was the purchase of my ticket for the Bristol show through Ticketmaster. It seems more than a coincidence. Can't remember the last time I used Ticketmaster, if ever. Won't go near them again.

[antonio66]

My hosting service have warned me of a serious security leak in Windows for Office / Word and Outlook mail.

Defender needs to get the latest update ASAP.

[Grumpytim]

Weird one:

I was contacted this afternoon on Facebook by the revered ex-Genesis guitar god Steve Hackett. He sent me a friend request and then started up a conversation when I accepted it.

Written English was a bit stilted but when he invited me to join a special VIP Club and sent a link to something called Zangi, then I got suspicious.

Apparently Zangi is an encrypted message service much used by scammers.

Also Hackett himself is playing a concert in Hungary this evening - won't have much time to idly chat to fans beforehand.

Anyhow this character is active under a profile name @steve.hackett.426547
I have reported him to FB as a possible scammer.