is this a scam HBC letter...

[stooz]

I dont have a bank account with HSBC, so I thought it odd.

HSBC letter head paper, "please create security details for our new phone system..blah blah...."

second page of filling in very personal details (DOB mothers maiden name etc..)

Pre-paid envelope to a PO BOX in Sheffield.

Is this odd , its certainly elaborate!

[mr_tony]

It's a scam.
They always are, your bank would never contact you for these details. I suggest you contact HSBC ASAP, many other poor unfortunates will fall for this.

It's a well known tactic, usually done via email (phishing it's called) - though I've heard of phone calls as well 'Mr Jones can you confirm you PIN number...'

[meeja]

mr_tony said:

Though I've heard of phone calls as well 'Mr Jones can you confirm you PIN number...'

I once had a call like this a few months after the theft of my wallet.

The person who called me was very, very good.... the cheeky git even called me back after realising the number I had given him bore no resemblence to my actual pin!

On the second call, I was less than polite.

[tonyhetherington]

Yup, its a scam.

Report it to HSBC.

Credit card companies, banks etc, always say "we will never ask you for your pin number".

Bloody O2 do tho......tossers

[simpo two]

I've had loads from 'the Halifax' - I don't have an account with them. Down the spam chute they go.

[mcflurry]

Send them spambots with automated rubbish replies

[mr_tony]

mcflurry said:

Send them spambots with automated rubbish replies

If you note it was a paper letter - I'd sent them a jiffy bag full of excremement personally

[Don]

mr_tony said:

mcflurry said: Send them spambots with automated rubbish replies If you note it was a paper letter - I'd sent them a jiffy bag full of excremement personally

Better - a plastic bag rigged to tear when they open it filled with talcum powder.

Labelled "Anthrax".

[J_S_G]

mr_tony said:

mcflurry said: Send them spambots with automated rubbish replies If you note it was a paper letter - I'd sent them a jiffy bag full of excremement personally

Or you could attach the envelope to a huuuuuuge jiffy bag with a breeze block in it. Make 'em pay the postage.

[stooz]

I called HSBC, it IS NOT a scam, they are asking all there customers to update their details.

I explained Im not even a customer, but she insisted I send it back. I told her I won't be bothering.

HSBC are really stupid for doing this!

[stooz]

Im not that daft
I tracked it down independantly.

[birdbrain]

I had to make a serious complaint to Lloyds last year because even though I no longer have an account with them they kept sending me pre-approved forms for credit cards and loans, complete with my name, address, DOB, account number, sort code, telephone number etc., in short everything any fraudster would have needed to open an account in my name.

Idiots.

[tonyhetherington]

stooz said:

I called HSBC, it IS NOT a scam

Wow! My faith in HSBC has just gone down somewhat....

[Buffalo]

If that isn't a scam - its a pretty fcking silly thing to be asking people to do via post.

Mind y ou - am i the only one that reckons this chip and pin system is LESS safe than a signature..? I refuse to use it...

[TheLemming]

Buffalo said:

Mind y ou - am i the only one that reckons this chip and pin system is LESS safe than a signature..? I refuse to use it...

I've had endless arguements and debates on this one, arguing just that point. In the end, I've conceded.

In theory, were the signature system used correctly, its more secure in some ways than the chip / pin. Its not that easy to forge some signatures and if it were checked appropriately by retail staff then a lot of fraud would be detected.

Unfortunately they dont check it.

The signature strip on my card has slowly wiped itself, as these things tend to do. I've been asked for additional signature Id on two occasions in the past 6 months. Thats using a card with no visible signature on it...

The pin is (in theory) not disclosed to anyone else, as a result, its also checked every time the card is used (by the system).

The Chip / Pin system when implemented on the continent cut card fraud by a huge amount and although there will be teething troubles while people get used to it, once everyone is using it I believe it can only be a good thing.